Today I shed a tear for you...a dog that I've never even met. I cried that we were able to help you after working so hard to save you. Someone gave you up because they couldn't deal with the hard fact that you were ill. Someone gave you up because you were old and your body was failing after you spent so many years being a faithful companion to them. Someone gave you up because they didn't want to deal with your behavior issues; that they hadn't showed you were wrong when you were a baby. Someone gave you up because they were having a human child and couldn't deal with you any longer. Someone gave you up because you couldn't produce puppies they could sell anymore. Someone gave you up because they didn't have the means to keep you. Someone gave you up not wanting to find out why you peed in the house, chewed up their furniture, protected the food bowl, ran away from the house, ate books, chased the cat, cried all night long, didn't like their dad, tried to bite other dogs. Someone didn't care enough to keep you now that you weren't the cute puppy with the big floppy ears or the cute little body.
Today I shed a tear for you....a dog that I've never even met. I cried that we were able to find you a home who would love you even though you were sick, even though you were old. Someone who would give you a new life...a better home. Someone who wanted to raise a baby with their dog and teach each love from one another. Someone who wouldn't think of giving you up because you couldn't bear another puppy. Someone who loves that you sleep most of the day on the couch. Someone who would take the time to find out why you peed in the house, barked at the neighbor, tried to eat the cat and why you hated other dogs. Someone who let you run around the back yard and sleep in bed with them. Someone willing to give you a good life and love you as much as they could.
Today I shed a tear for you...a dog that I've never met. I cried because we couldn't save you. We weren't able to help you through the troubled life that you lead. The terrible conditions that you came from weren't able to be overcome. I cried that you never knew the comforts of a house and the feeling of grass under your feet or the love of a family who wanted you. I cried that the only peace you could have was the warmth of that person there with you when you passed to "the bridge"...that rescuer who would never have thought of letting you go all alone. That rescuer who would've paid a million dollars to save you; if they could've, but realized that some times you have to let them go...sometimes it has to be done...sometimes you can't save them.
Today I shed a tear for you...a dog that I didn't get to meet or give you a belly rub, but I know your story. I read it every day. I live it every day trying to help dogs just like you. I continue to try to help...never thinking that I would feel so many emotions about a dog that I've never even met. Yet I do...