There is a deadly disease stalking your dog, a
hideous, stealthy thing just waiting its chance to steal your beloved friend.
It is not a new disease, or one for which there are inoculations. The disease
is called "Trust".
You knew before you ever took your puppy home that it
could not be trusted. The breeder who provided you with this precious animal
warned you, drummed it into your head. Puppies steal off counters, destroy
anything expensive, chase cats, take forever to house train, and must never be allowed
off lead!
When the big day finally arrived, heeding the sage
advice of the breeder, you escorted your puppy to his new home, properly
collared and tagged, the lead held tightly in your hand.
At home the house was "puppy-proofed".
Everything of value was stored in the spare bedroom, garbage stowed on top of
the refrigerator, cats separated, and a gate placed across the living room to
keep at least one part of the house puddle free. All windows and doors had been
properly secured, and signs placed in all strategic points reminding all to
"Close the door!"
Soon it becomes second nature to make sure the door
closes nine tenths of a second after it was opened and that it is really
latched. "Don't let the dog out" is your second most verbalized
expression. (The first is "No!")
You worry and fuss constantly, terrified that your
darling will get out and disaster will surely follow. Your friends comment
about who you love most, your family or the dog. You know that to relax your
vigil for a moment might lose him to you forever.
And so the weeks and months pass, with your puppy
becoming more civilized every day, and the seeds of trust are planted. It seems
that each new day brings less destruction, less breakage. Almost before you
know it, your gangly, slurpy puppy has turned into an elegant, dignified
friend.
Now that he is a more reliable, sedate companion, you
take him more places. No longer does he chew the steering wheel when left in
the car. And darned if that cake wasn't still on the counter this morning. And,
oh yes, wasn't that the cat he was sleeping with so cozily on your pillow last
night?
At this point you are beginning to become infected,
the disease is spreading its roots deep into your mind.
And then one of your friends suggest obedience
classes, and, after a time you even let him run loose from the car into the
house when you get home. Why not, he always runs straight to the door, dancing
a frenzy of joy and waits to be let in. And, remember he comes every time he is
called. You know he is the exception that disproves the rule. (And sometimes
late at night, you even let him slip out the front door to go potty and then
right back in.)
Years pass - it is hard to remember why you ever
worried so much when he was a puppy. He would never think of running out the
door left open while you bring in the packages from the car. It would be
beneath his dignity to jump out the window of the car while you run into the
convenience store. And when you take him for those wonderful long walks at dawn,
it only takes one whistle to send him racing back to you in a burst of speed
when the walk comes too close to the highway. (He still gets in the garbage,
but nobody is perfect!)
This is the time the disease has waited for so
patiently. Sometimes it only has to wait a year or two, but often it takes much
longer. He spies the neighbour dog across the street, and suddenly forgets
everything he ever knew about not slipping out doors, jumping out windows or
coming when called due to traffic. Perhaps it was only a paper fluttering in
the breeze, or even just the sheer joy of running ...
Stopped in an instant. Stilled forever - Your heart is
broken at the sight of his still beautiful body.
The disease is trust. The final outcome, hit by a car.
Every morning my dog bounced around off lead
exploring. Every morning for seven years he came back when he was called. He
was perfectly obedient, perfectly trustworthy. He died fourteen hours after
being hit by a car.
Please do not risk your friend and your heart. Save
the trust for things that do not matter.
Please read this every year on your puppy's birthday,
lest we forget.
(Sharon Mathers, permission to use granted;
Author’s note:
“In case you still missed the point of this piece,
this means do not let your dog off lead in unfenced areas like your front yard,
or any place there are moving objects that can hit and kill your dog. Too many
dogs have been killed as a result of owner negligence or carelessness by
letting dogs of lead in unfenced/unprotected areas. Prevent the tragic death of
your dog and keep them on lead or in fenced areas. All it takes is once and you
have to live with this the rest of your life.”)
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