By Margarete Crysel

When you met me at the front door, my heart soared. I thought you were finally going to spend some time with me.
We talked together in a distant field. Suddenly, you reached down, grabbed my neck and chained me to a post.
At first, I was surprised, then you simply walked away without a word. The blazing sun was beating down on my head and body. I looked around and realized there was no shade, not even a tree
I kept waiting for you to return, but you didn’t. The minutes turned to hours. I could not escape. You did leave some food and water, but you knew it wouldn’t last.
Night was a relief from the sun’s rays, but not the heat. The next morning it started again. Even though you had done this to me, I eagerly waited for your return. I had not anger toward you. I just wanted to be with you.
When there was no more food, I started wandering in circles in hopes of finding something to fill the gnawing pain in my belly. The chain became impossibly tangled, and I could no longer reach the water. My body was so weak, my desire to stay alive was leaving me. I could hear voices in the distance, but they paid no attention to me.
As I was fading away, I wondered about the life we could have had. I would have done anything for you. I would have given my life for you. Instead, I died alone, for no reason or purpose. I am gone and forgotten.
I wrote this story in memory of the dog who was discovered in a vacant field and all the other abused and abandoned animals that we read about.
This is only my interpretation of what occurred in a few days of his life. No one really knows the pain and agony he endured.
According to reports, the dog’s owner moved away a year ago and came back every two weeks to leave food and water. This means the dog suffered through freezing winter days and nights as well as the hot summer. We can only imagine.
This dog was forgotten in life. Please don’t let him be forgotten in death. Keep you eyes and your ears open for any abuse. Call the authorities if you suspect abuse or neglect is occurring. It is better to make an error than to let an innocent animal die.
There are laws to punish child abusers, but animal abusers simply get a slap on the wrist. This is just another example of injustice in our laws.

Margarete Crysel lives in Salisbury. She and her husband, Ken, formerly operated Creative Teaching Aids.