Re: [PyrNet-L] Fw: worth reading (Tear Jerker)

[Jean A Boyd <rvrgrove@erols.com>]

Hi,
I'm crying so much I can hardly type this.
I couldn't do that.
I feel so bad for all those little mutts and they are all so cute.
jean

"Barb Bowes, Bo, Molly, Chelsea & Flopsy" wrote:

> >
> >
> >
> >I know that many of you belong to other lists and may have read this
> already
> >but.......
> >
> >
> >>Permission to cross post is granted. Author Unknown.
> >>
> >>
> >>                "My Name is Sam"
> >>
> >>
> >>After I was discharged from the Navy, Jim and I moved back to
> Detroit to
> >use
> >>
> >>our GI bill benefits to get some schooling. Jim was going for a
> degree in
> >>
> >>Electronics and I after much debating decided to get mine in
> Computer
> >>
> >>Science. One of the classes that was a requirement was Speech.
> >>
> >>Like many people I had no fondness for getting up in front of people
> for
> >any
> >>
> >>reason let alone to be the center of attention as I stuttered my way
> >through
> >>
> >>some unfamiliar subject, but I couldn't get out of the requirement
> and so I
> >>
> >>found myself in my last semester before graduation with Speech as
> one of my
> >>
> >>classes.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>On the first day of class our professor explained to us that he was
> >>
> >>going to leave the subject manner of our talks up to us, but he was
> >>
> >>going to provide the motivation of the speech. We would be
> responsible for
> >>
> >>six speeches, each with a different motivation. For instance our
> first
> >>
> >>speech's purpose was to inform. He advised us to pick subjects that
> we were
> >>
> >>interested in and knowledgeable about. I decided to center my six
> speeches
> >>
> >>around animals especially dogs.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>For my first speech to inform, I talked about the equestrian art of
> >>
> >>dressage. For my speech to demonstrate, I brought my German
> Shepherd,
> >Bodger
> >>
> >>to class and demonstrated obedience commands. Finally the semester
> was
> >>
> >>almost over and I had but one more speech to give. This speech was
> to take
> >>
> >>the place of a written final exam and was to count for fifty per
> cent of
> >our
> >>
> >>grade.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>The speeches motivation was to persuade.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>After agonising over a subject matter, and keeping with my animal
> theme, I
> >>
> >>decided on the topic of spaying and neutering pets. My goal was to
> try to
> >>
> >>persuade my classmates to neuter their pets. So I started
> researching the
> >>
> >>topic. There was plenty of material, articles that told of the
> millions of
> >>
> >>dogs and cats that were euthanised every year, of supposedly beloved
> pets
> >>
> >>that were turned in to various animal control facilities for the
> lamest of
> >>
> >>reason, or worse dropped off far from home, bewildered and scared.
> Death
> >was
> >>
> >>usually a blessing. The final speech was looming closer, but I felt
> well
> >>
> >>prepared. My notes were full of facts and statistics that I felt
> sure would
> >>
> >>motivate even the most naive of pet owner to succumb to my plea.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>A couple of days before our speeches were due, I had the bright idea
> of
> >>
> >>going to the local branch of the Humane Society and borrowing a
> puppy to
> >use
> >>
> >>as a sort of a visual aid. I called the Humane Society and explained
> what I
> >>
> >>wanted. They were very happy to accommodate me. I made arrangements
> to pick
> >>
> >>up a puppy the day before my speech.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>The day before my speech, I went to pick up the puppy. I was feeling
> very
> >>
> >>confident. I could quote all the statistics and numbers without ever
> >looking
> >>
> >>at my notes. The puppy, I felt, would add the final emotional touch.
> When I
> >>
> >>arrived at the Humane Society I was met by a young guy, named Ron.
> He
> >>
> >>explained that he was the public relations person for the Humane
> Society.
> >He
> >>
> >>was very excited about my speech and asked if I would like a tour of
> the
> >>
> >>facilities before I picked up the puppy. I enthusiastically agreed.
> We
> >>
> >>started out in the reception area, which was the general public's
> initial
> >>
> >>encounter with the Humane Society. The lobby was full, mostly with
> people
> >>
> >>dropping off various animals that they no longer wanted. Ron
> explained to
> >me
> >>
> >>that this branch of the Humane society took in about fifty animal a
> day and
> >>
> >>adopted out twenty.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>As we stood there I heard snatches of conversation, "I can't
> >>
> >>keep him, he digs holes in my garden" "There such cute puppies, I
> know you
> >>
> >>will have no trouble finding homes for them." "She is wild , I can't
> >control
> >>
> >>her." I heard one of Humane Society's volunteer explain to the lady
> with
> >the
> >>
> >>litter of puppies that the Society was filled with puppies and that
> these
> >>
> >>puppies, being black, would immediately be put to sleep.
> >>
> >>Black puppies, she explained, had little chance of being adopted.
> The
> >>
> >>woman who brought the puppies in just shrugged, "I can't help it"
> she
> >whined
> >>
> >>" They are getting too big, I don't have room for them."
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>We left the reception area, Ron lead me into the staging area where
> all the
> >>
> >>incoming animal were evaluated for adoptability. Over half never
> even made
> >>
> >>it to the adoption centre. There were just too many. Not only were
> people
> >>
> >>bringing in their own animal, but strays were also dropped off. By
> law the
> >>
> >>humane society had to hold a stray for three days. If the animal was
> not
> >>
> >>claimed by then it was euthanised, since there was no background
> >information
> >>
> >>on the animal. There were already too many animals that had a known
> history
> >>
> >>eagerly provided by their soon to be x owners. As we went through
> the
> >>
> >>different areas, I felt more and more depressed. No amount of
> statistics,
> >>
> >>could take the place of seeing the reality of what this throw away
> attitude
> >>
> >>did to the living breathing animal. It was over overwhelming.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>Finally Ron stopped in front of a closed door. "That's it." He said.
> >"Except
> >>
> >>for this." I read the sign on the door. "Euthanization Area." "Do
> you want
> >>
> >>to see one.? He asked.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>Before I could decline, he interjected, "You really should, you
> can't
> >>
> >>tell the whole story unless you experience the end." I reluctantly
> >>
> >>agreed. "Good." He said " I already cleared it and Peggy is
> expecting you."
> >>
> >>He knocked firmly on the door. It was opened immediately by a middle
> aged
> >>
> >>woman, in a white lab coat. "Here's the girl I was telling you
> about." Ron
> >>
> >>explained. Peggy looked me over. "Well I'll leave you here with
> Peggy and
> >>
> >>meet you in the reception area in about fifteen minutes. I'll have
> the
> >puppy
> >>
> >>ready." With that Ron departed, leaving me standing in front of the
> stern
> >>
> >>looking Peggy.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>Peggy motioned me in. As I walked into the room, I gave a audible
> gasp. The
> >>
> >>room was small and sparten. There were a couple of cages on the wall
> and a
> >>
> >>cabinet with syringes and vials of a clear liquid. In the middle of
> the
> >room
> >>
> >>was a examining table with a rubber mat on top. There were two doors
> other
> >>
> >>then the one I had entered. Both were closed, one said to
> incinerator room,
> >>
> >>and the other had no sign, but I could hear various animals noises
> coming
> >>
> >>for behind the closed door. In the back of the room, near the door
> that was
> >>
> >>marked incinerator, were the objects that caused my distress. two
> wheel
> >>
> >>barrels, filled with the bodies of dead
> >>
> >>kittens and puppies. I stared in horror. Nothing had prepared me for
> this,
> >I
> >>
> >>felt my legs grow weak and my breathing become rapid and shallow. I
> wanted
> >>
> >>to run from that room, screaming. Peggy seemed not to notice my
> state of
> >>
> >>shock. She started talking about the euthanizaton process, but I
> wasn't
> >>
> >>hearing her. I could not tear my gaze away from the wheel barrels
> and those
> >>
> >>dozens of pathetic little bodies. Finally, Peggy seemed to noticed
> that I
> >>
> >>was not paying attention to her. "Are you listening?" She asked
> irritably.
> >>
> >>"I'm only going to go through this once. I tore my gaze from the
> back of
> >the
> >>
> >>room and looked at her. I opened my mouth to say something, but
> nothing
> >>
> >>would come out, so I nodded. She told me that behind the unmarked
> door were
> >>
> >>the animals that were scheduled for euthanasia that day. She picked
> up the
> >a
> >>
> >>chart that was hanging from the wall. "One fifty three is next." She
> said
> >as
> >>
> >>she looked at the chart. "I'll go get him." She laid down the chart
> on the
> >>
> >>examining table and started for the unmarked door. Before she got to
> the
> >>
> >>door she stopped and turned around. "You aren't going to get
> hysterical are
> >>
> >>you?" She asked " Because that will only upset the animals." I shook
> my
> >>
> >>head. I had not said a word since I walked into that room. I still
> felt
> >>
> >>unsure if I would be able to without breaking down into tears.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>As Peggy open the unmarked door I peered into the room beyond. It
> was a
> >>
> >>small room, but the walls were lined and stacked with cages. It
> looked like
> >>
> >>they were all occupied. Peggy opened the door of one of the lower
> cages and
> >>
> >>removed the occupant. From what I could see it looked like a medium
> size
> >>
> >>dog. She attached a leash and ushered the dog into the room in which
> I
> >>
> >>stood. As Peggy brought the dog into the room I could see that the
> dog was
> >>
> >>no more than a puppy maybe five or six months old. The pup looked to
> be a
> >>
> >>cross between a Lab and a German shepherd. He was mostly black, with
> a
> >small
> >>
> >>amount of tan above his eyes and on his feet.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>He was very excited and bouncing up and down, trying to sniff
> everything in
> >>
> >>this new environment. Peggy lifted the pup onto the table. She had a
> card
> >in
> >>
> >>her hand. which she laid on the table next to me. I read the card.
> It said
> >>
> >>that number one fifty three was a mixed Shepherd, 6 months old. He
> was
> >>
> >>surrendered two days ago by a family. Reason of surrender was given
> as
> >jumps
> >>
> >>on children. At the bottom was a note that said Name: Sam.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>Peggy was quick and efficient , from lots of practice, I guessed.
> >>
> >>She laid one fifty three down on his side and tied a rubber
> tourniquet
> >>
> >>around his front leg. She turned to fill the syringe from the vial
> of clear
> >>
> >>liquid. All this time I was standing at the head of the table. I
> could see
> >>
> >>the moment that one fifty three went from a curious puppy to a
> terrified
> >>
> >>puppy. He did not like being held down and he started to struggle.
> It was
> >>
> >>then that I finally found my voice. I bent over the struggling puppy
> and
> >>
> >>whispered "Sam." " Your name is Sam." At the sound of his name Sam
> quit
> >>
> >>struggling. He wagged his tail tentatively and his soft pink tongue
> darted
> >>
> >>out and licked my hand And that is how he spent his last moment. I
> watched
> >>
> >>his eyes fade from hopefulness to nothingness. It was over very
> quickly. I
> >>
> >>had never even seen Peggy give the lethal shot. The tears could not
> be
> >>
> >>contained any longer. I kept my head down so as not to embarrass
> myself in
> >>
> >>front of the stoic Peggy. My tears fell onto the still body on the
> table.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>"Now you know." Peggy said softly. Then she turned away. "Ron will
> be
> >>
> >>waiting for you."
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>I left the room. Although it seem like it had been hours, only
> fifteen
> >>
> >>minutes had gone by since Ron had left me at the door. I made my way
> back
> >to
> >>
> >>the reception area. True to his word, Ron had the puppy already to
> go.
> >After
> >>
> >>giving me some instructions about what to feed the puppy , he handed
> the
> >>
> >>carrying cage over to me and wished me good luck on my speech That
> night I
> >>
> >>went home and spent many hours playing with the orphan puppy. I went
> to bed
> >>
> >>that night but I could not sleep. After awhile I got up and looked
> at my
> >>
> >>speech notes with their numbers and statistics. Without second
> thought I
> >>
> >>tore them up and threw them away. I went back to bed. Sometime
> during the
> >>
> >>night I finally fell asleep.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>The next morning I arrived at my Speech class with Puppy Doe. When
> my turn
> >>
> >>came to give my speech. I walked up to the front the class with the
> puppy
> >in
> >>
> >>my arms. I took a deep breath, and I told the class about the life
> and
> >death
> >>
> >>of Sam. When I finished my speech I became aware that I was crying.
> I
> >>
> >>apologized to the class and took my seat. After class the teacher
> handed
> >out
> >>
> >>a critique with our grades. I had got a "A". His comments said "Very
> moving
> >>
> >>and persuasive." Two days latter, on the last day of class, one of
> my
> >>
> >>classmates came up to me. She was a older lady that I had never
> spoken to
> >in
> >>
> >>class. She stopped me on our way out of
> >>
> >>the class room. "I want you to know that I adopted the puppy you
> brought to
> >>
> >>class." She said. "His name is Sam."
> >>
> >
> Barb Bowes, NJ down at the shore!
> Bo, Molly, Chelsea & Flopsy the Pyr Shep
> The more people I meet, the more I like my dog!
> bamb@monmouth.com
>
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