2001 - 2002
This is the unfortunate story of an abandoned stray puppy who wandered into our lives for a few short weeks and then was gone just as suddenly as he had appeared. His unnecessary death is the result of someone's uncaring act of "dumping" a puppy on the side of the road. Some of the details of this story are disturbing--but I feel this puppy's story needs to be told. I have posthumously given him the name Tyler because he had such a charming personality--he didn't deserve to die homeless and nameless. He was such a sweet little guy.
Loving and caring for animals can be such a rewarding experience, but sometimes it can be quite painful.....
The story of Tyler
Tyler was a silly
little mix breed pup who showed up at our front gate around the 4th of July and
begged for a meal. He was so cute with his furiously wagging tail and speckled
belly that I couldn't refuse. He was small enough to wiggle through the bars of
our front gate and he visited us every day for the morning and evening feeding
time. We welcomed him and fed him along with our other two dogs. He immediately
got along with our younger dog Aspen and they played constantly together for the
next 2 weeks. We decided not to officially name him at the time because we
thought if we didn't name him we wouldn't get too attached (a nice try).
He was probably around 8 or 9 months old when we met him. I thought he was so cute that I would easily be able to find him a home. I put ads on the internet at petfinder and internet lost and found to try and get him a home. I put up flyers around work and took pictures and sent them around to everyone I knew. I contacted pet rescue agencies and no-kill animal shelters seeking assistance in finding this puppy a home. No one could help me because there are already so many other homeless animals who need to be rescued. I found people who wanted to help, but they had no room for another animal. I could only ask myself, Why don't people spay or neuter their pets? Why are there so many homeless animals in this world? Why don't more people treat animals with the respect they deserve? How could someone just dump this sweet puppy on the side of the road?
Click Here
to view an Apple Quicktime Movie of
Tyler
(to download, right-click and choose save-target-as)
The evening of July 21, Tyler had squeezed through the gate and was playing with some kids who live across the highway from us. It is not known whether it was an accident or intentional, but a ball was thrown into the road and Tyler went after it. He was hit by a car at over 65 mph. He was very seriously wounded and thrown 30 feet to the side of the road. There was nothing anyone could do--it happened so quickly. As my husband walked out to the road to check on the puppy, two men got out of the car that had hit him and decided to "end his suffering" by stomping on him and crushing his little chest and taking his life. How quickly and easily his little life was ended. The men in the car that had killed him showed no remorse and did not even apologize for his death. They were even less compassionate when they found he was a stray. They threw his broken little body into a dumpster like he was garbage and drove away. I was absolutely horrified by this and I wanted to give him a proper burial because he deserved at least that much. I believe all creatures deserve respect, even a little stray.
Tyler was laid to rest at Pine Hill Pet Cemetery in Bowie, TX on July 21, 2002. The caretaker of the Pet Cemetery made an interesting comment as he placed Tyler's lifeless little body into his truck. He said "If humans treated each other like we treat stray dogs, what a sad world this would be." I take some comfort knowing that at least his last few weeks consisted of plenty of belly scratching, petting, loving, a full tummy, and companionship with both humans and other dogs.
My life was so touched by this little stray puppy. Although Tyler was only with us for a few weeks, I miss him already.
TO THE PERSON WHO ABANDONED THIS PUPPY ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD:
A pet is forever. Before you take on the responsibility of a pet, be sure you can commit to care for him for LIFE. Although you will probably never see this message, it is because of people like you that dogs and cats are made to suffer needlessly every day. PLEASE don't condemn another animal to die a senseless death alone and abandoned on the side of the road.
AN OPEN LETTER TO "DUMPERS" (To the people who think dumping an unwanted dog or cat out on the road is the answer From the Animal Angels website)
How Could You? (an Essay by Jim Wright, from the Animal Angels Website)
Please support your local animal rescue agencies. They are non-profit and need your assistance in order to continue to protect innocent animals who are the victims of human cruelty and neglect.
"Just this side of Heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are
meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food and
water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who had been ill and old are restored
to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in
our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing: they miss someone very special to them; who had
to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. The bright
eyes are intent; the eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to break away from the group, flying over the green
grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. YOU have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally
meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your
hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from
your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together......."
(~Anonymous)
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A MESSAGE FROM THE RAINBOW BRIDGE
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Last Revised: Thursday May 07, 2009