How Could You?

By  Jim Willis, forward by Janet Bennett

Although this is a fictional story, it is, sadly, an all-too-common occurrence. This story was originally written about a puppy, however it applies to any family pet.  Millions of formerly owned pets die each year in America's shelters. Please help us tell the public that the decision to add a pet to the family is an important one for life, that animals deserve our love and sensible care, that finding another appropriate home for your animal is your responsibility and any local humane society or animal welfare league can offer you good advice, and that all life is precious. Please do your part to stop the killing, and encourage all spay & neuter campaigns in order to prevent unwanted animals. Thank you.

Janet Bennett

When I was a kitten, I entertained you with my antics and made you laugh. You called me your child, and despite a number of clawed shoes and a couple of murdered throw pillows, I became your best friend. Whenever I was "bad," you'd shake your finger at me and ask "How could you?" - but then you'd relent, and scratch me behind the ears.

Training me to use a scratching post took a little longer than expected, because you were terribly busy, but we worked on that together. I remember those nights of  nuzzling you in bed and listening to your confidences and secret dreams, and I believed that life could not be any more perfect. I had my own cat bed, you bought me entertaining cat toys, we'd snuggle on the couch and watch TV, and I took long naps in the sun waiting for you to come home at the end of the day.

Gradually, you began spending more time at work and on your career, and more
time searching for a human mate. I waited for you patiently, comforted you through

heartbreaks and disappointments, never chided you about bad decisions, and purred with glee at your homecomings, and when you fell in love.

He, now your husband, is not a "cat person" - still I welcomed him into our home, tried to show him affection, and obeyed him. I was happy because

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