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HOW COULD YOU T_T
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 dog speak, 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.
Anyone is welcome to distribute the essay for a non-commercial purpose, as long as it is properly attributed with the copyright notice.
Please use it 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.
Planned Nigel on Monday, November 2, 2009
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Running Mileage
Preparation for Standard Charted Marathon Week 1 20-26 of July 2009 Tuesday, 3 km - 22 minutes Friday, 7.5km - 55 minutes Saturday 4.5km - 35 minutes Total mileage = 15KM
Planned Nigel on Sunday, July 26, 2009
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1st letter??
Intructions: Use the 1st letter of your name to answer each of the following questions. They have to be real places, names &/or objects, but nothing made up! Try to use different answers if the person you got this from has the same 1st initial. You CAN'T use your name for the boy/girl name question. Have fun with it and tag 5 person to do this! :D 1) 4 LETTER WORD : Nice2) BOY NAME : Nicolas3) GIRL NAME : Nancy4) OCCUPATION : Ns men5) A COLOUR : Navy Blue6) SOMETHING YOU WEAR : Nothing!!!7) BEVERAGE : No IDEA8) FOOD : NOTHING!!!9) SOMETHING FOUND IN A BATHROOM : Nothing, i really can't find anything10) A PLACE : New Zealand11) REASON FOR BEING LATE : No alarm CLOCK12) SOMETHING YOU SHOUT :NEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ( what the?! )
Planned Nigel on Wednesday, May 20, 2009
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We're taking over
1. Put your iTunes/Napster/Zune Player/WinAmp/etc on shuffle. 2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer. 3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS! 4. Tag 10 or more friends who might enjoy doing this as well as the person you got it from. IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY? When you're gone (Arvil) WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL? Hui You Na Me Yi Tian (Jun Jie) HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY? Heart of a dragon (Dragonforce) WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE? I'm with you (Avril) WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO? What time is it? (HSM) WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU? Less than a pearl (enya) WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR PARENTS? How to save a life (they fray) WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN? Ride (lost prophets) WHAT IS 2+2? Apologise (timberland) WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND? I can't take my eyes of you (HSM) WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE? Dance hall drug (boys like girls) WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY? Dance, Dance (Fall out boys) WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP? Born for this (paramore) WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE? Last Summer (lost prophets) WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU? Here we go again (Paramore) WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING? This is how I dissappear (Chemical romance) WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL? soldiers of the wasteland (dragon force) WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST? Emergency (Paramore) WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS? Keep Holding on (avril) WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN? 5 mins to midnight (boys like girls) HOW WILL YOU DIE? Red Moon (disgaea) WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET? The Anthem (good charlotte) WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH? The Sharpest life( chemical romance) WHAT MAKES YOU CRY? wake up (lost prophets) WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED? Franklin (Paramore) WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST? When it rains (paramore) DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU? Wo you zui (Wu Ke Qun) IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE? Run away (avril) WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW? Innoncence (avril) WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS? We're taking over (Dj Khaled)
Planned Nigel on Wednesday, February 4, 2009
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リアルエイリアン！ 顎ごと飛び出して噛みつくモンスター ゴブリン・シャーク（和名：ミツ�
Planned Nigel on Monday, August 18, 2008
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Revival of blog
Heya friends, time to update by blog with my weekly activities. I will try to update my blog weekly. ^^ Been surfing the net recently, came across some "motivational poster" and I though i'll post them here.     
Planned Nigel on Thursday, July 31, 2008
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Woooo today celebrated my birthday with my friends(Kah June, Vishaal, Liang Ying, Kenny and Melissa) and woot it was fun!!!. Stupid seoul garden, we walked around marina square 2 times only to find that it was right behind the escalator. ROAR.. Finally settled down and then when about to pay, NO NETS, WTH, Had to go to the 3rd floor of marina square and right on the opposite end!!!. BOO seoul garden for not accepting nets. ever heard of "good thing there's nets* well Me and Melswee bought a eyor bolster for kenny. went back to seoul garden and finally started eating. MELSWEE!!! *stares at Melswee*, ROAR. melswee plays too much with the food but at least it brought us entertainment haha. after eating we went to get MY PRESENT!!! Mel led us to the crumpler shop and sadly, the complete seed was too big for my build. so i got a smaller size. LOVE THE COLOUR. then went to raffles mrt to send Liang Ying, vish and kenny off. then me kj and mel went to shop for clothes. I got 2 collared shirt thanks to KJ great fashion sense (THANKS BRO) haha. Oh well time for pictures My crumpler( its shiney) .jpg) woo Me kj and Melswee .jpg) team ACE .jpg) Done blogging PS: dun bring melswee to a buffet
Planned Nigel on Sunday, August 26, 2007
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