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 belly rub.

My housebreaking took a little longer than expected, because you were terribly busy, but we worked on that together. I remember those nights 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 icecreams (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 throught heartbreaks and disappointments, never chided you about bad decisions, and romped with glee at 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 cam 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 their 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 now so infrequent - and I would have 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 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!' 00
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 in life.

You gave me a good-bye pat on the head, avoided my eyes, and politely refused to take my coillar 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 your upcoming move months ago and had made no attempt to find me another good home. They shook their heads and said '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, whenevery 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 hear footsteps as she came for me at the end of the day, and I padded along the aisle after her to a seperate room. A blissfully quiet.0 She placed me on the table and rubbed my ears, and told me not to worry. My heart pounded in anticipated 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 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 may years ago. she expertly slid the hypodermic needle in to my vein. As I felt the stind and the cool liquid courseing through my body, I lay down sleepily, looked in to her kind eyes and murmered 'How could you'.