Saw this somewhere else and it made me cry when i read it.

>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 remember those nights of nuzzling you 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.
>
>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 time 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
>with you. You had a deadline to meet and now I have
>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, oblivious
>to their 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
>anticipation 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 directed 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. Please 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.