下面這篇是一位也愛狗的朋友傳給我的。是一篇非常感人的狗語。我不知道是那一位熱心的朋友翻譯的，我覺得翻得蠻不錯的。原文附在中文譯文後。養過狗、愛過狗的您，一定也會為這文章的故事感動的。
你怎可以這樣呢？
二零零一年，密西根州一名男子以七千美元刊登的全版廣告：
當我還是一頭小狗的時候，我的頑皮滑稽行徑每每惹來你的笑聲，為你帶來歡樂。雖然家裡的鞋子和枕頭都給我咬至殘缺不全，你依然把我視作你最好的朋友，甚至把我喚作你的孩子。每當到處搗蛋，你總會對著我搖搖手指說：「你怎可以這樣呢？」不過最後你都會向我投降，鬧著玩地搓我的肚皮。
你忙得翻天的時候，百無聊賴的我只好把家裡弄作一團糟。我的無聲抗議對你總是管用的。每晚睡覺前我都會跳到你的床上，倚著你撒嬌，聽你細訴自己的夢想和秘密。我們常常到公園散步、追逐，偶爾也會駕車兜兜風。有時我們會停下來吃杯冰淇淋──你總是說冰淇淋對狗兒的健康不好，所以每次我只能吃到雪榚筒。每天午後我都會在斜陽下打盹，準備迎接你回家。這些日子，我確信是我一生中最快樂的時光。
漸漸地，你花更多時間在工作上，再花更多時間去找尋你的另一半。無論你怎樣繁忙、怎樣困惱，我都會耐心守候你，陪你渡過每個絕望心碎的日子，並支持你的每一個選擇──儘管那是一個糟透的決定──無論發生什麼事，每天你踏進家門，我還是會一樣興奮地撲向你，熱烈迎接你回家。
終於你談戀愛了，我為你感到無比的欣慰。你的她──你現在的妻子──並不是愛狗之人，對我這頭狗兒總有點冷漠，但我還是衷心地歡迎她到家裡來。對著她，我也絕對服從，偶爾還會撒撒嬌；我要讓她知道我也很愛她。
後來你們添了小娃娃，我也跟你一樣感到萬分雀躍。我被他們精緻的面孔、他們的一顰一笑攝住了。我真想疼一下他們，好像愛你般愛你的孩子，然而你和你的妻子卻深怕我弄傷他們，整天把我關在門外，甚至把我關到籠裡去。
你的孩子慢慢長大，我也成為了他們的好朋友。他們每每喜歡抓著我的毛皮蹣跚地站起來、喜歡用幼小的指頭戳我的眼睛、喜歡為我檢查耳朵、也喜歡吻我的鼻子。我尤其喜歡他們的撫摸──因為你已經很少觸碰我了。有時候我會跳上他們的床，倚著他們撒嬌，細聽他們的心事和小秘密，一起靜待你把車子駛進車道，回家的聲音。我喜歡他們的一切一切；如有需要的話，我甚至願意以自己的性命去保護他們。
我總是深信你的快樂就是我的快樂，我是如何如何愛你的和你的家人呢……這樣的想法，令我最終成了「愛的俘虜」。
曾幾何時人們問起你家裡可有寵物的時候，你總是毫不遲疑地從錢包掏出我的照片，向他們娓娓道出我的軼事。不過，近幾年有人問起同一個問題，你只冷冷的回答「是」，隨即轉向別的話題了。我已經從「你的狗兒」變成只是「一頭狗兒」了。你甚至對我的開支變得吝嗇。後來你的仕途來了個新轉機，你極可能要到另一城巿工作，移居到一幢不許豢養寵物的公寓去。
終於，你為「家庭」作出正確的抉擇。可是，你可還記得我曾幾何時就是你「家庭」的詮釋？
你的車子出發了。我不知就裡，在旅途中充滿期待。終於我們抵達的是一家動物收容所。裡面傳來不只是貓兒和狗兒的氣味，還有恐懼、絕望的氣味。你邊寫著文件，邊對那裡人說：「我知道你們一定可以為牠找個好歸宿的」。
看著你，他們聳聳肩，露出一個很難過的神情──對於這裡的老犬最終會走的路，他們瞭如指掌；縱使老犬們身懷著各種各樣的證書，又奈何。你的兒子緊抓著我的頸圈，哭喊著：「不要！爸爸，求你別讓他們帶走我的狗兒！」你狠下心前去撬開他的小手指，直至他再也觸不到我。我擔心他，更擔心你為他教的人生課：什麼是友情、什麼是忠誠、什麼是愛、什麼是責任、什麼是……對生命的尊重！
你始終要走了。你躲開我的目光，最後一次輕輕拍我的頭說再現。你禮貌地婉拒保留我的頸圈及拉繩，頭也不回的走了。
我知道你有你的期限，我也知道自己的期限將至。你走了以後，收容所那兩位好心腸的女士說，你既然早知道要離開這城巿，應該為我的未來作出打算。她們搖搖頭歎息道：「你怎可以這樣呢？」
這裡的人整天到晚都忙得團團轉。但倘若時間許可，他們總會抽空照料我們。在這裡我食物不缺，可是這幾天以來我已吞不下嚥了。
最初每當有人經過這牢籠，我都會滿心期待的跑過去，以為是你回心轉意把我接回去。我多渴望這一切一切只是一場噩夢啊！後來我退而求其次，只盼望有誰會來救救我，或者只是關心一下我已心滿意足了。更多更多的小狗被送到這裡來，我這頭老狗唯有撤退到最遠的一角。可悲的是牠們仍天真活潑，似乎對將要面對的命運毫無知覺。
我聽到她的腳步聲，一步一步私迎著我而來；我知道那一天終於來臨了。她帶著我輕輕走過長廊，走進一所異常寂靜的密室裡。她輕輕抱我放在一張桌子上，揉著我的耳朵叫我不要擔心。我清楚聽到我的心因為預期即將發生的事而怦烈跳動，可是同時腦裡隱隱浮現一種解脫的感覺。
「愛的俘虜」時日無多了。但是本性使然，我還是為她擔心。我能感到她肩上負著十分沈重的擔子，就像我能感應你一切的喜怒哀樂一樣。她淌著淚，溫柔地在我的前腿套上止血帶；我也溫柔地舐她的手，猶如許多年以前我在你悲傷的時候安慰你一樣。然後，她以熟練的手勢把注射針插入我的靜脈裡。一陣刺痛以後，一股冷流走遍我全身。我開始暈眩，我感到倦了，躺下了。我看著她慈悲的眼睛，喃喃地說：「你怎可以這樣呢？」她好像理解我的話，擁著我連聲道歉，並急忙解釋她必須要這樣做以保證能帶我到一個更好的地方--一個充滿愛和光明、跟塵世不同的世界，在那裡我不會再受冷落、遭遺棄、被欺凌，不用再到處閃躲，不需再自謀生存。
我用盡全身最後一分力氣向她搖了搖尾巴，我竭力想她知道這句「你怎可以這樣呢？」並不是對她說的，對象其實是你──我最愛的主人。我想念你。我會永遠懷念你，永遠等待你。我只希望你生命中的每一個人也可以同樣忠誠的對待你。別了，我最愛的主人。
作者按：
如果這篇文章讓你淌下感動的淚，我可以告訴你我當時也是邊哭邊寫的，因為這是真實的故事，是千千萬萬個發生在美加動物收容所的故事。其中大部份被人道毀滅的寵物本來都是為人豢養的！
這篇文章受版權法保護，不過該法已列明所有人士可以在不牟利或非商業用途下發佈或傳播。所以懇請大家把這篇文章張貼在網上、動物收容所以及獸醫診所的告示板上，教育人們對待寵物的正確態度。
要知道為家裡添一頭寵物是生命裡一個重要的決定，他們應該獲得我們的愛及關心。倘若有一天你決定捨棄他們的時候，你必須為牠們尋找另一個好歸宿。如需尋求協助，可到慈善機構或動物權益組織查詢，這是你應有的責任。
敬請把這個信息傳播給所有人。不要傷害寵物，或讓牠們難過。這或許可以拯救到即使只是一隻將被遺棄的寵物。
世上所有生命都是寶貴的。懇請各位負起自己的責任，停止殺戮，並為寵物進行絕育手術，以防止牠們過度繁殖，衍生出被遺棄的一群。
占‧韋利斯
謹記︰若我們待寵物以愛，牠們也會無條件的愛我們。
A writer in Grand Rapids, Michigan took out a $7000 full-page ad inthe paper to present the following essay to the people of thecommunity.
How Could You?
When I was a puppy, I entertained you with my antics and made you laugh.
You called me your child, and despite a number of chewed 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 roll me over for a belly rub. My housebreaking 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. We went for long walks and runs in the park, car rides, stops for ice cream (I only got the cone because "ice cream is bad for dogs," you said), 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 romped with glee at your homecomings, and when you fell in love.
She, now your wife, is not a "dog person" - still I welcomed her into our home, tried to show her affection, and obeyed her. I was happy because you were happy. Then the human babies came along and I shared your excitement. I was fascinated by their pinkness, how they smelled, and I wanted to mother them, too. Only she and you worried that I might hurt them, and I spent most of my time banished to another room, or to a dog crate. Oh, how I wanted to love them, but I became "prisoner of love."
As they began to grow, I became their friend. They clung to my fur and pulled themselves up on wobbly legs, poked fingers in my eyes, investigated my ears, and gave me kisses on my nose. I loved everything about them and their touch -- because your touch was now so infrequent -- and I would have defended them with my life if need be. I would sneak into their beds and listen to their worries and secret dreams, and together we waited for the sound of your car in the driveway. There had been a time, when others asked you if you had a dog, that you produced a photo of me from your wallet and told them stories about me.
These past few years, you just answered "yes" and changed the subject. I had gone from being "your dog" to "just a dog," and you resented every expenditure on my behalf. Now, you have a new career opportunity in another city, and you and they will be moving to an apartment that does not allow pets. You've made the right decision for your "family," but there was a time when I was your only family. I was excited about the car ride until we arrived at the animal shelter. It smelled of dogs and cats, of fear, of hopelessness. You filled out the paperwork and said "I know you will find a good home for her." They shrugged and gave you a pained look. They understand the realities facing a middle-aged dog, even one with "papers."
You had to pry your son's fingers loose from my collar as he screamed, "No, Daddy! Please don't let them take my dog!" And I worried for him, and what lessons you had just taught him about friendship and loyalty, about love and responsibility, and about respect for all life.
You gave me a good-bye pat on the head, avoided my eyes, and politely refused to take my collar and leash with you. You had a deadline to meet and now I have one, too. After you left, the two nice ladies said you probably knew about your upcoming move months ago and made no attempt to find me another good home. They shook their heads and asked, "How could you?" They are as attentive to us here in the shelter as their busy schedules allow. They feed us, of course, but I lost my appetite days ago. At first, whenever anyone passed my pen, I rushed to the front, hoping it was you that you had changed your mind -- that this was all a bad dream ...or I hoped it would at least be someone who cared, anyone who might save me.
When I realized I could not compete with the frolicking for attention of happy puppies, oblivious to their own fate, I retreated to a far corner and waited. I heard her footsteps as she came for me at the end of the day, and I padded along the aisle after her to a separate room. A blissfully quiet room. She placed me on the table and rubbed my ears, and told me not to worry. My heart pounded in anticipation of what was to come, but there was also a sense of relief. The prisoner of love had run out of days. As is my nature, I was more concerned about her. The burden which she bears weighs heavily on her, and I know that, the same way I knew your every mood. She gently placed a tourniquet around my foreleg as a tear ran down her cheek.
I licked her hand in the same way I used to comfort you so many years ago. She expertly slid the hypodermic needle into my vein. As I felt the sting and the cool liquid coursing through my body, I lay down sleepily, looked into her kind eyes and murmured, "How could you?" Perhaps because she understood my dogspeak, she said, "I'm so sorry." She hugged me, and hurriedly explained it was her job to make sure I went to a better place, where I wouldn't be ignored or abused or abandoned, or have to fend for myself -- a place of love and light so very different from this earthly place. And with my last bit of energy, I tried to convey to her with a thump of my tail that my "How could you?" was not directed at her. It was you, My Beloved Master, I was thinking of. I will think of you and wait for you forever. May everyone in your life continue to show you so much loyalty.
Copyright Jim Willis 2001 www.crean.com/jimwillis
A note from the author:
If "How Could You?" brought tears to your eyes as you read it, as it did to mine as I wrote it, it is because it is the composite story of the millions of formerly owned pets who die each year in America's shelters.
Anyone is welcome to distribute the essay for a non-commercial purpose, as long as it is properly attributed with the copyright notice. Please use it to help educate, on your websites, in newsletters, on animal shelter and vet office bulletin boards. I appreciate receiving copies of newsletters which reprint "How Could You?" or "The Animals' Savior," sent to me at the last postal address below.
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,
Jim Willis
Director, The Tiergarten Sanctuary Trust,
accredited member of The American Sanctuary Association, and
Program Coordinator, International Society for Animal Rights.
email: jwillis@bellatlantic.net
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