Post by Aquablue on Jun 9, 2016 5:30:55 GMT -5
On June 9 2016, Howlglan, my dog, a Rottweiler, was found dead outside my house.
Howlglan was a good dog, and had always be. He had been with us for more than 4 years. He'd helped me fetch my slippers, nuzzled me when I'm crying, or when I'm just bored out of my wits. The Rottweiler wasn't considered a dog at all. He was one of our family, in my opinion.
How Howlglan died
Howlglan was a pup when I was 11. Some friend of my dad gave it to him as the Mother-Dog had too much pups to take care of, and furthermore, my country was packed with robbers. We needed a dog. When Howlglan was a pup, his body was just the size of the holes in the gate, so he could sneak out anytime. One day some dog-hunters caught him and put him on slaughtering sale. We begged the hunters to let him go after giving a sum of money, and we did, in order to retrieve Howlglan back.
When Howlglan was 5 years old, he was already a very big, and heavy dog. When he was 5, I was 13. Dad didn't practically allowed me to walk Howlglan, since he was several times heavy than me (I think I was about 32kg when I was 13).
So Dad did it himself. He walked Howlglan to the park, but it was his first time outside the gate, so he was the one pulling my dad, not the other way round. Dad tried to pull him back, but Howlglan was too strong. He tugged at the chain and began dashing towards the playground where children were playing. My dad lost his balance and fell, resulting in him scarring his underchin and nearly fracturing an elbow.
He called my elder brother, Ben, who was not at all responsible for Howlglan, for help. When Ben rushed there, dad was lying on the ground with bloodied chin and he was holding the part above his elbow in pain. As an elder brother, Ben somehow possess strength that was stronger than my father. And he tugged at Howlglan, who almost got strangled by the metallic chain.
--
From that day on, Howlglan was chained up every day, every moment, and every time. Dad and Ben did not let him out anymore. But this Rottweiler was smart. I used to just wonder how he actually takes off that chain. I mean, he's got no hands and no feet. There wasn't a way for him to take off that chain. So one day I hid behind the curtain, which was half seen-through. And I saw Howlglan pouncing up to the wall he was chained to, standing up on two hindpaws, tucking his head in his chest and pulling himself back with force. The chain just dropped, just like that. And he shooked himself. My dad was at work, my brother was sleeping. I pitied Howlglan, actually, so I didn't do anything. I just let him walk around, give him a little time of 'freedom'. But when Dad came back from work, not knowing Howlglan had came out of the chain, he opened the gate and drove the car in.
He saw Howlglan unchained, so he decided to add a few more chains (which Howlglan was still smart enough to take off).
Each time my dog, seeing the chance to go out, will dash out of the door without looking back.
Howlglan knew his way back home, so we closed an eye. He always came back safe, uninjured.
My dad just shrugged and let him go, so he was allowed freedom for a little while. But things were short-lived.
--
One particular night, Howlglan ran off, again. But he didn't return the next morning, which he would every time he sneaked out. He didn't return the following morning either, and we searched the whole area which he usually would go, and there wasn't any traces.
Published in Country's newspaper. But no signs.
Called a Dog Finder for help, no news.
My mother and I cried badly, we didn't sleep much at all. We couldn't stop thinking where is Howlglan, is he safe, is he going to come back at all.
Until... June 9 2016, when my father drove us out for lunch, we spotted a Rottweiler dog, who had the disfigurements of Howlglan. He had the same loose collar, and he was lying motionless on the ground, jaws apart, eyes wide open. There was a bullet right there, in his shoulder, and dried blood was clogged there, but the gray rock ground beneath him was stained red.
We all knew what exactly happened.
Howlglan was shot by a hunter.
My father and Ben didn't feel sad or anything, all they said was, "He's only a dog." and "Why are you wasting tears for him?"
Howlglan prevented burglary 3 whole times! Guarded the house, with a starved belly, and next a filled belly. He wasn't fed on fixed timings. He would starve a day, eat a day, starve a day, and eat another day. I couldn't do anything, I couldn't get out of the house to feed Howlglan. My key was taken away by Ben. And my mother couldn't go out either. She had her key taken away by dad.
--
Everytime I think of this, I just will cry, and even now, typing this, I'm really saddened. It was probably my fault anyways. If I had not loosen up the chain. These things may not have happened. Or if we'd just beg dad and Ben to let us walk the dog, not minding if we get dragged or not.
Howlglan, you have helped us many times. I will forever be in your debt, and I apologize on the behalf of dad and Ben.
I'm sorry.
Howlglan, we'll miss you, every single day, every time. Stay safe, Howlglan, may you walk in the stars.
I'm sorry.
Howlglan, we'll miss you, every single day, every time. Stay safe, Howlglan, may you walk in the stars. 