Dear Mom & Dad
Dear Mom and Dad,
I died today. You got tired of me and took me to the shelter. They were overcrowded and I drew an unlucky number. I am in a black plastic bag in a landfill now. Some other puppy will get the barely used leash you left. My collar was dirty and too small, but the lady took it off before she sent me to the Rainbow Bridge .
Would I still be at home if I hadn’t chewed your shoe? I didn’t know what it was, but it was leather, and it was on the floor. I was just playing. You forgot to get puppy toys.
Would I still be at home if I had been housebroken? Rubbing my nose in what I did only made me ashamed that I had to go at all. There are books and obedience teachers that would have taught you how to teach me to go to the door.
Would I still be at home if I hadn’t brought fleas into the house? Without anti-flea medicine, I couldn’t get them off of me after you left me in the yard for days.
Would I still be at home if I hadn’t barked? I was only saying, “I’m scared, I’m lonely, I’m here, I’m here! I want to be your best friend.”
Would I still be at home if I had made you happy? Hitting me didn’t make me learn how.
Would I still be at home if you had taken the time to care for me and to teach manners to me? You didn’t pay attention to me after the first week or so, but I spent all my time waiting for you to love me.
I died today.
Love,
Your Puppy
( Via Barbara Blackman on Facebook )
Please support us so that we can continue to bring you more Dharma:
If you are in the United States, please note that your offerings and contributions are tax deductible. ~ the tsemrinpoche.com blog team
Animals can be a best friend they are always there for you & they feel when your sad. an animal can be much more than an animal if you give it time they can become youer kid in a way once you leave them their spirit can be crushed & they are left with nothing at all
this is very sad. i wouldn’t blame it on the dog at all!! it is the owners fault. if i get a dog i will definitely take care of him/her and love him/her forever. i will never give cruelty to a dog or any other animal ever!!
Its sad how people dont care for their pets. If you are not responsible enough, then whats the point of getting a pet in the first place. You might as well dont get a pet and let somebody else love it. I really dislike how animals are being treated around the world. It should stop.
It’s very heart breaking to read letters like this. I feel so sorry for the abandoned puppies. People who are not ready to have a pet, please don’t adopt/buy one. They a lives, not toys.
Thank You for sharing Rinpoche.
Love, beatrix.
Sad ~~and it so True…people has lost their responsibility once they tire of taking care them,once they grow old and feel trouble,and yet left them aside,neglect them,ill-treat them…please think twice and be responsible once you really want to keep a pet…they have the right to live and care with love…yet they breath the same air as us as well…treat animals kindly….
Let these animals live. They have a right to live like we do. Imagine we were thrown into these rubbish dumps like these animals who were alive.
Heart-wretching reading this. Human beings can be so cruel that they easily give up those who never fail to bring them happiness and loyalty.
Animals cannot speak our language, but they have brains, they think and they feel. When abandoned, they do not know how to take care of themselves and most often early death for them is the answer
This world, however, is not that entirely grey. I would like to share a loving poem here by Sherrill Wardrip from Facebook:
I cannot see you Mommy, when you cuddle me so near.
And yet I know you love me, it’s in the words I hear.
I cannot see you Daddy, when you hold me by your side
But still I know you love me when you tell me so with pride.
I cannot see to run and play out in the sun so bright
For here inside my tiny head it’s always dark as night.
I cannot see the treats you give when I am extra good
But I can wag my tail in Thanks just like a good dog should.
“She cannot see. The dogs no good” is what some folks might say
“She can’t be trained, she’ll never learn She must be put away.”
But not you, Mom and Daddy You know that it’s alright
Because I love you just as much as any dog with sight.
You took me in, you gave me love and we will never part
Because I’m blind with just my eyes, I see you in my heart.
Take good care of our own till the end of their days.
This is a very sad letter to read. The picture reminds me of the Earthling video that a life dog was trown in to rubish trak and are crushed and the blood spilling out from the trak… Not sure what are these people thinking… I hope people would always think twice about buying pets (not only dogs but all kind of animals) Dont love them for a short term and when they grow they are un wanted.
Dont buy pet as present to give away cuz we dont know if the receipent really want them. I have know of people when they need to do spring clean of home they spring clean the pets as well… It is very sad and I do pray all this will stop.
Doggie is the most beautiful creature on earth.
They will give all their best love, compassion and attention to you…and why we cant to do the same to them.
OMG this life is full of suffering.When is all this going to end?? I suffer so much when I see animals suffering. When I analize all this,I always come to the conclusion,that it is humanity the One and Only perpetrator of this suffering to the animals.I know that one day the Earth will cure itself from this cancer that is humanity.Blessings to All the Animals and All the kind and compassionate Human Souls that exist on Earth.
Shelly tai on 29jul2011at6:495pm
Is very sad I hope all the pets owners will be sensible to theirs pets.
The saddest thing about this letter is that it is all true and that it is happening all the time, probably right in our own neighbourhood. People forget that they feel as much as we do – fear, loneliness, sadness, happiness.
Rinpoche had also sent me this a while ago:
NECESSARY BUT PRACTICAL OF HOW TO LOVE A DOG
1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years; any separation from you will be painful for me. Remember that before you buy me.
2. Give me time to understand what you want from me; don’t be impatient, short-tempered, or irritable.
3. Place your trust in me… and I will always trust you back. Respect is earned not given as an inalienable right.
4. Don’t be angry with me for long and don’t lock me up as punishment; I am not capable of understanding why. I only know I have been rejected. You have your work, entertainment, and friends, but I only have you.
5. Talk to me sometimes. Even if I don’t understand your words, I do understand your voice and your tone. You only have to look at my tail.
6. Be aware that however you treat me, I’ll never forget it, and if it’s cruel, it may affect me forever.
7. Please don’t hit me. I can’t hit back, but I can bite and scratch, and I really don’t ever want to do that.
8. Before you scold me for being uncooperative, obstinate, or lazy, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I’m not getting the right foods or I’ve been out in the sun too long, or my heart is getting old and weak. It may be I am just dog-tired.
9. Take care of me when I get old. You too will grow old and may also need love, care, comfort, and attention.
i find this story very sad. But is so true. It happens in every country. I wish that this will stop happening.
This is something that happens perhaps every minute in many / every country, so true but still it pains my heart when i read this.
What a beautiful letter on a sad reality! Please watch the “Dog Whisperer” on NatGeo.
Got tears in my eyes….