The Unloved

[mouseatthebusstop]

TO THE OWNER

I found your dog today. No, he has not been adopted by anyone. Most of us who live out here own as many dogs as we want, those who do not own dogs do so because they choose not to. I know you hoped he would find a good home when you left him out here, but he did not.

When I first saw him he was miles from the nearest house and he was alone, thirsty, thin, and limping from a cactus in his paw. How I wish I could have been you as I stood before him. To have seen his tail wag and his eyes brighten as he bounded into your arms, knowing you would find him, knowing you had not forgotten him. To see the forgiveness in his eyes for the pain and suffering he had known in his never-ending quest to find you…but I was not you. And despite all my persuasion, his eyes beheld a stranger. He did not trust, he would not come.

He turned and continued his journey; one he was sure would bring him to you. He does not understand that you are not looking for him. He only knows you are not there, he only knows he must find you. This is more important than food or water or the stranger who gave him these things. Persuasion and pursuit seem futile; I did not even know his name. I drove home filled a bucket with water and a bowl of food and returned to where we met. I could see no sign of him, but I left my offering under the tree where he sought shelter from the sun and a chance to rest. You see, he is not of the desert. When you domesticated him, you took away any instinct of survival out here. His purpose demands that he travel during the day. He doesn’t know that the sun and heat will claim his life. He only knows he has to find you.

I waited hoping he would return to the tree; hoping my gift would build an element of trust so I might bring him home, remove the burr from his paw and give him a cool place to lie and help him to understand that the part of his life with you is now over. He did not return that morning and at dusk the water and food were still there untouched. And I worried. You must understand that many people would not attempt to help your dog. Some would run him off, others would call the county and the fate you thought you saved him from would be preempted by his suffering from days without food and water. I returned again before dark. I did not see him. I went again, early the next morning, only to find the food and water still untouched. If only you were here so you could call his name. Your voice is so familiar to him.

I began pursuit in the direction he had taken yesterday, doubt overshadowing my hope of finding him. His search for you was desperate, it could take him many miles in 24 hours. It is hours later and a good distance from where we first met, but I have found your dog. His thirst has been stopped, it is no longer a torment to him. His hunger has disappeared, he no longer aches. The burrs in his paw bother him no more. Your dog has been set free from his burdens, you see your dog has died. I kneel next to him and curse you for not being here yesterday so you could have seen the glow, if just for a moment in those now vacant eyes. I pray that his journey has taken him to that place I think he hoped he would find. If only you knew what he went through to reach it…and I agonize, for I know, that were he to awaken at this moment, and if I were to be you, his eyes would sparkle with recognition and his tail would wag with forgiveness.

- Author Unknown

[behle]

So sad, Mouse.... :cry:

[Aroura]

*sniff* so sad, if only it were fictional then it would still be sad, but the fact that it happens every day makes it absolutly heart breaking :cry:

[Rowie-the-Pooh]

Aroura napisał(a):

*sniff* so sad, if only it were fictional then it would still be sad, but the fact that it happens every day makes it absolutly heart breaking :cry:

Exactly Auroura! :cry: It's so sad..there's one I found a while back that was kinda like this one...if I find it i'll paste it here...

Thanks mouse! Hopefully some horrible dog owner who abandones his/hers will see this and realize what he/she has done.

Rowie-the-Pooh :angel:

[julie45]

that was so sad but oh so true, i own dogs and if one went missing i would go out there until i found it.but not evryone is a dog lover they either have one to please there kids them get fed up with it or have a nice sweet little pup . then when it gets bigger than they thought they dump it, i hate to hear of cruelty to any animal it really get to me and make me sick. :agrue:

[bk_blue]

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:
Every time I hear stories like this my heart breaks. :cry: