a friend of mine sent me this. it made me cry.



>> A man in Grand Rapids, Michigan incredibly took out a $7000 full page ad
>> in
>> the paper to present the following essay to the people of his community.

>> HOW COULD YOU? By Jim Willis, 2001
>>
>>
>>
>> When I was a puppy, I entertained you with my antics and made you laugh.
>> You
>> called me your child, and despite a number of chewed shoes and a couple
>> of
>> murdered throw pillows, I became your best friend. Whenever I was "bad,"
>> you
>> d shake your finger at me and ask How could you?" -- but then you'd
>> relent
>> and roll me over for a bellyrub.
>>
>>
>>
>> My housebreaking took a little longer than expected, because you were
>> terribly busy, but we worked on that together. I re member those n ights of
>> nuzzling y ou in bed and listening to your confidences and secret dreams,
>> and I believed that life could not be any more perfect.
>>
>>
>>
>> We went for long walks and runs in the park, car rides, stops for ice
>> cream
>>
>> (I only got the cone because "ice cream is bad for dogs" you said), and I
>> took long naps in the sun waiting for you to come home at the end of the
>> day
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Gradually, you began spending more time at work and on your career, and
>> more
>> time searching for a human mate. I waited for you patiently, comforted
>> you
>> through heartbreaks and disappointments, never chided you about bad
>> decisions, and romped with glee at your homecomings, and when you fell in
>> love.
>>
>>
>>
& gt;> She, now your wife, is not a "dog person" -- still I welcomed her into
>> our
>> home, tried to show her affection, and obeyed her. I was happy because
>> you
>> were happy. Then the human babies came along and I shared your
>> excitement... I
>> was fascinated by their pinkness, how they smelled, and I wanted to
>> mother
>> them, too. Only she and you worried that I might hurt them, and I spent
>> most
>> of my time banished to another room, or to a dog crate.
>>
>>
>>
>> Oh, how I wanted to love them, but I became a prisoner of love." As they
>> began to grow, I became their friend. They clung to my fur and pulled
>> themselves up on wobbly legs, poked fingers in my eyes, investigated my
>> ears
>> and gave me kisses on my nose. I loved everything about them and their
>> touch
> ;> -- because your touch was now so infrequent -- and I would've defended
>> them
>> with my life if need be. I would sneak into their beds and listen to
>>
>> their worries and secret dreams, and together we waited for the sound of
>> your car in the driveway. There had been a time, when others asked you if
>> you had a dog, that you produced a photo of me from your wallet and told
>> them stories about me. These past few years, you just answered "yes" and
>> changed the subject.
>>
>>
>>
>> I had gone from being "your dog" to "just a dog," and you resented every
>> expenditure on my behalf. Now, you have a new career opportunity in
>> another
>> city, and you and they will be moving to an apartment that does not allow
>> pets. You've made the right decision for your "family," but there was a
>> t ime
>& gt; when I was your only family. I was excited about the car ride until we
>> arrived at the animal shelter. It smelled of dogs and cats, of fear, of
>> hopelessness.
>>
>> You filled out the paperwork and said "I know you will find a good home
>> for
>> her." They shrugged and gave you a pained look. They understand the
>> realities facing a middle-aged dog, even one with "papers." You had to
>> pry
>> your son's fingers loose from my collar as he screamed "No, Daddy! Please
>> don't let them take my dog!" And I worried for him, and what lessons you
>> had
>> just taught him about friendship and loyalty, about love and
>> responsibility,
>> and about respect for all life.
>>
>>
>>
>> You gave me a good-bye pat on the head, avoided my eyes, and politely
>> refused to take my collar and leash wit h you. You had a deadline to meet
>> and
>> now I ha ve one, too. After you left, the two nice ladies said you
>> probably
>> knew about your upcoming move months ago and made no attempt to find me
>> another good home. They shook their heads and asked, "How could you?"
>>
>>
>>
>> They are as attentive to us here in the shelter as their busy schedules
>> allow. They feed us, of course, but I lost my appetite days ago. At
>> first,
>> whenever anyone passed my pen, I rushed to the front, hoping it was you
>> that
>> you had changed your mind -- that this was all a bad dream... or I hoped
>> it
>> would at least be someone who cared, anyone who might save me.
>>
>>
>>
>> When I realized I could not compete with the frolicking for attention of
>> happy puppies, obl ivious to th eir own fate, I retreated to a far corner
>> and
>> waited. I heard her footsteps as she came for me at the end of the day,
>> and
>> I padded along the aisle after her to a separate room.
>>
>>
>>
>> A blissfully quiet room. She placed me on the table and rubbed my ears,
>> and
>> told me not to worry. My heart pounded in an ticipation of what was to
>> come,
>> but there was also a sense of relief. The prisoner of love had run out of
>> days.
>>
>>
>>
>> As is my nature, I was more concerned about her. The burden which she
>> bears
>> weighs heavily on her, and I know that, the same way I knew your every
>> mood.
>> She gently placed a tourniquet around my foreleg as a tear ran down her
>> cheek. I licked her hand in the same way I used to comfort you so many
>> years
>> ago. She expertly slid the hypodermic needle into my vein. As I felt the
>> sting and the cool liquid coursing through my body, I lay down sleepily,
>>
>> looked into her kind eyes and murmured "How could you?"
>>
>>
>>
>> Perhaps because she understood my dogspeak, she said "I'm so sorry."
>>
>>
>>
>> She hugged me, and hurriedly explained it was her job to make sure I went
>> to
>> a better place, where I wouldn't be ignored or abused or abandoned, or
>> have
>> to fend for myself -- a place of love and light so very different from
>> this
>> earthly place. And with my last bit of energy, I tried to convey to her
>> with
>> a thump of my tail that my "How could you?" was not directed at her.
>>
>>
>>
>> It was dire cted at you , My Beloved Master, I was thinking of you. I will
>> think of you and wait for you forever. May everyone in your life continue
>> to
>> show you so much loyalty.
>>
>>
>>
>> A Note from the Author: If "How Could You?" brought tears to your eyes as
>> you read it, as it did to mine as I wrote it, it is because it is the
>> composite story of the millions of formerly "owned" pets who die each
>> year
>> in American & Canadian animal shelters. Please use this to help educate,
>> on
>> your websites, in newsletters, on animal shelter and vet office bulletin
>> boards. Tell the public that the decision to add a pet to the family is
>> an
>> important one for life, that animals deserve our love and sensible care,
>> that finding another appropriate home for your animal is your
>> responsibility
>> ; and any local humane society or animal welfare league can offer you good
>> advice, and that all life is precious. Ple ase do your part to stop the
>> killing, and encourage all spay & neuter campaigns in order to prevent
>> unwanted animals.
>>
>>
>>
>> Please pass this on to everyone, not to hurt them or make them sad, but
>> it
>> could save maybe, even one, unwanted pet.
>>
>>
>>
>> Remember...They love UNCONDITIONALLY.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

pretty sad today. a friend of my family's died of cancer. very unexpected. she was a sweet lady, very kind and generous, and LOVED animal. the world lost a wonderful person.

Holy smokes!! Even with the wonderful Thanksgiving feast my mom made, I still managed to lose another 3.4 lbs, for a total of 12.2!!! I couldn't believe it!!!!!!

How was everyones Thanksgiving??? Hope it was as good as mine!

It's days like today that I wonder why I even bother. Sometimes I really hate men.

This is just weird and sick, and god I hope he doesn't have a traditional wedding night!

http://www6.comcast.net/news/articles/odd/2007/11/13/India.Man.Weds.Dog/?cvqh=ht_india

Hey Everyone!

It's been awhile huh? Sorry I haven't been around for awhile, I've just not been in a blogging mood, plus I have been pretty busy.

I'm still doing weight watchers. I've lost almost 9 lbs now, yay me! It's getting harder the closer to the holidays it gets. I went to the store the other day and it is just chock full of all my favorite holiday treats! :-( But I resisted!!!! I don't always resist though. I've cheated a few times, and I really should exercise more.

I've been thinking of going back to school. I'm not rushing into anything, it's a big decision, but its really been on my mind lately. I've been looking into the respiratory therapy program at Ivy Tech. I've always wanted to help people, and it seem very interesting. I've also been looking at the Human Services program. I wouldn't mind being a case worker or something like that. I will probably go down to the school after the holidays, and talk to someone. If I do this, it will probably be for the spring semester.

Joe and I did our fall cleaning. We cleaned out closets, and rearranged the bedroom, cleaning all the nooks and crannies and finding all sorts of things under the bed, mainly all the socks Joe whined about not being able to find. I think there were about 5 pairs of socks under the damn bed!

I go back to the doc after Thanksgiving for a check up on my diabetes. I keep forgetting to take my meds though. I don't mean to, It just completely slips my mind. I know I need to take it, but I have always been bad about taking pills. I also can't test my sugar anymore. I ran out of test strips and I checked on the price of them at the store, and they cost more than 40 bucks! And insurance doesn't cover them either! What kinda bull is that??

Well, thats all for now. Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving, in case I don't manage to blog again before that.