This wonderful and touching piece of writing was submitted
to me by one of my readers and friend, Thomas Johnson, with the
permission to publish it. Get our tissues out for this one!
I Saw You
© 2003 Thomas H.
Johnston
I saw you abandon and try to kill your best friend
yesterday. I was sitting on my front porch when you pulled
up to the tennis courts and parked under the big oak
tree.
I watched as you opened the door, got out and let your
best friend get out of the car. He was dancing around your
feet with joy at the thought of a run in the park with
you.
You let him run over to the softball field, then jumped
back in your car and sped off. Your best friend looked
after you in consternation, then chased you as far and as
fast as his little legs would go. You almost wrecked your
car pulling out into traffic. Your best friend almost got
killed by the next car to turn into the park as he stood
there and stared after you.
I thought you should know that the little dog you
abandoned went back to the big oak tree, there he stayed
for the rest of the day. When he first went back to the
tree, he sat down, threw his head back and howled his grief
and fear to the heavens, then he settled down, and loyal to
a fault, waited for you to return. You never did, you never
intended to return to the little animal who had given you
his heart, his soul and his loyalty.
Animal Control was called but never came. Your dog
waited there for you through thunderstorms and pouring
rain. He never went more than 100 feet from where you left
him, never sought shelter and would not approach anyone,
rather he ran from them and made it clear he intended to
wait for you.
I fed him twice, once before I went to work, once when I
returned. He would not come to me.
One child was able to pet your best friend. He went home
to see if he could keep your dog and was told he could
bring him home long enough for Animal Control to come get
him.
I wasn’t satisfied with that answer, so, I took your
best friend in. I have seen abused animals before, but he
was terrified. He cringed at any sudden movement or loud
voice. His expressive eyes told the whole story…desperately
afraid, yet so very hopeful that maybe, just maybe, this
time he wouldn’t get hurt.
I stayed home from work today. Your former best friend
and I took a trip to my vet. He was so scared, his little
heart pounding. Afraid that he was going to be abandoned
again.
As I expected, he was full of parasites, hook, round and
pin worms. He has now had all his shots and is scheduled
for surgery next week. The day I take him in for surgery, I
will license him. I hope he doesn’t have heartworms, but if
he does, I’ll see that he is treated for those as well.
If you should see this article, be warned. If you show
your face or vehicle around my home, your license tag
number will be noted and I will take a warrant for your
arrest for Cruelty to Animals. Should I get the chance to
do this, I will push for you to receive the maximum
punishment that the law allows.
The Bible says that man was given dominion over the
earth and the animals thereupon. If you look up the word
dominion, it means stewardship. Stewardship means that man
is the caretaker appointed to care for the Master’s
property until the Master returns. Your brand of
"stewardship" is unacceptable.
The Native Americans have a legend that says that when a
person dies, before he or she is admitted into Heaven; they
are judged by the animals they knew here on earth. If I
were judging you, you would be consigned to the deepest
pits of Hell. Knowing the love and loyalty your best friend
had for you, I suspect he would forgive you. I wish I
could.
Please note that “Li’l Bit” still lives with me. His
greatest pleasure now (Besides howling at fire and ice
cream trucks) is to sleep at my side. I am now “owned” by 4
rescued “Furry Children.” In my younger days I didn’t want
a dog sleeping beside me on the bed. Now I get great
comfort from having him beside me and being able to reach
out and give him a rub without fully awakening.
Tom is a true advocate for canine welfare. In 1990 he led
the fight that got the Federal laws changed so that the
military can no longer arbitrarily kill their Military Working
Dogs, but now must at least offer them the chance to be
adopted.
Now he's working with his Congressman for an addition to the
Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) to make animal abuse
(read abuse of dogs) a court-martial offense.
