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Sometimes it can really be cathartic to get something off your chest and admit that what you did was wrong. It can also be instructive to others who may be engaging in the same type of behavior without really thinking about it. Maybe they need a swift kick in the pants, and your confession is just the thing to jolt them out of their complacency.
I'll start things off. When I adopted my first dog, Koro, in 1980, I knew nothing whatsoever about dog care. I was in college, and puppy Koro was roaming around on a street corner. Someone scooped her up and said that she was going to try to find out where Koro lived, and I said, well, if you can't find out where she lives, bring her to me. It was that casual.
One day, when she was 6 months old, a friend said that he was going on an errand and asked if he could take Koro along. Without a thought, I said sure. And out the door they went, with the leash in his hand but not attached to Koro. Moments later, she had been struck by a van. She ran back to my apartment in terror, but the next day it came to light that she had actually broken her back. Literally smashed a vertebra.
What followed were two surgeries and, I'm sure, a lot of pain for my innocent little puppy. And then arthritis at age 5 and occasional flare-ups of joint inflammation throughout the remaining 12 years of her life. All because of my ignorant negligence!
I'm so sorry, Koro.
For the rest of her life, I tried to make it up to her. Thankfully, I discovered holistic medicine a few years later and was able to keep her mostly pain-free and limber through the use of nutritional supplements in spite of the arthritis that resulted from the trauma to her backbone.
But I'm still trying to make it up to her. Why do you think I write this dog blog?
If you have a confession to make about the way that you treated an animal, please visit PETA's new "I Confess" Web feature, where you can tell the whole world how sorry you are. Why don't you leave us a comment here, too, just for good measure?
Comments ( 5 )
wow your gay! its a dog
Posted by Anonymous | May 9, 2008 9:25 AM
Posted on May 9, 2008 09:25
I love the ever so intelligent and ever so emotionally charged comments such as Anonymous provided for us.
Can't tell you how proud it made me feel to be a part of the human race.
Posted by Jaclyn | May 9, 2008 12:08 PM
Posted on May 9, 2008 12:08
KP-
Why is Anonymous even reading this blog? He/she should instead consult a dictionary- none of the definitions of "gay" work here.
Know this- many dogs are injured every day due to ignorance and neglect. Yours was not one of them. It was a terrible, terrible accident. You then proceeded to take excellent care of your dog. Dogs don't hold grudges or cast blame. Isn't that one of the reasons we love them so much?
>>>KP's Response:
Hi Rhonda!
That's very sweet of you. Thank you so much!
KP
Posted by Rhonda | May 9, 2008 12:13 PM
Posted on May 9, 2008 12:13
You did the right thing by taking care of beautiful Koro. Too many times we do the wrong thing to our pets without making amends. I have also learned from my mistakes and now have the most pampered three beautiful male labs. Thank you!
Posted by Maria | May 27, 2008 10:24 PM
Posted on May 27, 2008 22:24
My daughter has pet rats...two of the babies were in a cage alone...I was outside watering and a bit of the water got in to the cage....I kept seeing one of the rats on the cage and did not think much of it....later it got cold and I told my daughter to cover the cage.....she did not listen and I assumed they would be okay.....well...the next day they passed away and I feel soooo guilty....I assumed my daughter was taking care of them....I am always after her to do so...I was outside late hanging clothes and feel so bad I did not check up on them....the guilt is haunting me so bad. please Patches and Squirt forgive me....I will never assume an animal will just be alright again...I have learned from my mistakes....please rest in peace little ones...I am so sorry!
Posted by Kristina | June 10, 2008 10:12 AM
Posted on June 10, 2008 10:12