本文选自美国作家Jim Willis的'畅销书《Pieces Of My Heart-----Writings Inspired by Animals and Nature》，该书以自述的形式讲述了一只家犬对昔日主人的真情告白。当年作者用七千美元以全版广告的形式在报纸上刊登了该文章，以一篇文章感动了所有的读者。
When I was a puppy, I entertained you with my antics and made you laugh. You called me your child, and despite a number of chewed shoes and a couple of murdered throw pillows, I became your best friend. Whenever I was "bad," you'd shake your finger at me and ask "How could you?"-but then you'd relent, and roll me over for a belly rub.
My housebreaking took a little longer than expected, because you were terribly busy, but we worked on that together. I remember those nights of nuzzling you in bed and listening to your confidences and secret dreams, and I believed that life could not be any more perfect. We went for long walks and runs in the park, car rides, stops for ice cream （I only got the cone because "ice cream is bad for dogs," you said）， and I took long naps in the sun waiting for you to come home at the end of the day.
Gradually, you began spending more time at work and on your career, and more time searching for a human mate. I waited for you patiently, comforted you through heartbreaks and disappointments, never chided you about bad decisions, and romped with glee at your homecomings, and when you fell in love. She, now your wife, is not a "dog person"-still I welcomed her into our home, tried to show her affection, and obeyed her. I was happy because you were happy.
Then the human babies came along and I shared your excitement. I was fascinated by their pinkness, how they smelled, and I wanted to mother them, too. Only she and you worried that I might hurt them, and I spent most of my time banished to another room, or to a dog crate. Oh, how I wanted to love them, but I became a "prisoner of love." As they began to grow, I became their friend. They clung to my fur and pulled themselves up on wobbly legs, poked fingers in my eyes, investigated my ears, and gave me kisses on my nose. I loved everything about them and their touch-because your touch was now so infrequent-and I would have defended them with my life if need be. I would sneak into their beds and listen to their worries and secret dreams, and together we waited for the sound of your car in the driveway.
There had been a time, when others asked you if you had a dog, that you produced a photo of me from your wallet and told them stories about me. These past few years, you just answered "yes" and changed the subject. I had gone from being "your dog" to "just a dog," and you resented every expenditure on my behalf. Now, you have a new career opportunity in another city, and you and they will be moving to an apartment that does not allow pets. You've made the right decision for your "family," but there was a time when I was your only family.
I was excited about the car ride until we arrived at the animal shelter. It smelled of dogs and cats, of fear, of hopelessness. You filled out the paperwork and said "I know you will find a good home for her". They shrugged and gave you a pained look. They understand the realities facing a middle-aged dog, even one with "papers". You had to pry your son's fingers loose from my collar, as he screamed "No, Daddy. Please don't let them take my dog!" And I worried for him, and what lessons you had just taught him about friendship and loyalty, about love and responsibility, and about respect for all life.
You gave me a good-bye pat on the head, avoided my eyes, and politely refused to take my collar and leash with you. You had a deadline to meet and now I have one, too. After you left, the two nice ladies said you probably knew about your upcoming move months ago and made no attempt to find me another good home. They shook their heads and asked "How could you?"
They are as attentive to us here in the shelter as their busy schedules allow. They feed us, of course, but I lost my appetite days ago. At first, whenever anyone passed my pen, I rushed to the front, hoping it was you-that you had changed your mind-that this was all a bad dream…or I hoped it would at least be someone who cared, anyone who might save me. When I realized I could not compete with the frolicking for attention of happy puppies, oblivious to their own fate, I retreated to a far corner and waited.
I heard her footsteps as she came for me at the end of the day, and I padded along the aisle after her to a separate room. A blissfully quiet room. She placed me on the table and rubbed my ears, and told me not to worry. My heart pounded in anticipation of what was to come, but there was also a sense of relief. The prisoner of love had run out of days. As is my nature, I was more concerned about her. The burden which she bears weighs heavily on her, and I know that, the same way I knew your every mood. She gently placed a tourniquet around my foreleg as a tear ran down her cheek. I licked her hand in the same way I used to comfort you so many years ago. She expertly slid the hypodermic needle into my vein. As I felt the sting and the cool liquid coursing through my body, I lay down sleepily, looked into her kind eyes and murmured "How could you?"
Perhaps because she understood my dogspeak, she said "I'm so sorry." She hugged me, and hurriedly explained it was her job to make sure I went to a better place, where I wouldn't be ignored or abused or abandoned, or have to fend for myself-a place of love and light so very different from this earthly place.
And with my last bit of energy, I tried to convey to her with a thump of my tail that my "How could you?" was not directed at her. It was you, My Beloved Master, I was thinking of. I will think of you and wait for you forever. May everyone in your life continue to show you so much loyalty.
读完《一只狗的遗嘱》之后，我深有感触。它使我看到的并不是一只狗在面临死亡时的悲伤和无助，而是坚强和乐观。它想像死后可以升入天堂，它以为那儿就是它美好的归宿。它有着美好的期望，就像它年轻时一样美好。狗的生命并不像我们人一样长久，可它依然可以令它那短暂的生命散发出光彩。它的·不惧令我倾佩。死亡并不可怕，可怕的是明知死亡却无力挽回，而它却能坦然面对。如果是我，我可能不会，更不会去想主人以后好不好。在死亡前，每个生物都想一只蚂蚁，如此卑微，可回想起以前，有没有做过令自己会后悔的是，是否可以死后进入天堂。
故事中的狗它是会进入天堂的，它的一生，都在做好自己的本职，没有逾越，没有后悔，有的只是担心，担心自己的`死亡会给自己的主人带来伤痛。其实我们也都应该向它一样，一生尽心尽力，在死前回忆起来才不会后悔。我们现在已经起跑了，在以后，路还长，能不能成功要靠自己，在终老时会明白，到底值得不值得。我们应该对小动物们好一些，它们其实很可爱，那怕金鱼只有三秒钟的记忆，那在这三秒里，一定有你对它的好。它们的一生也许比我们还要有价值，我们真的不应该歧视它们。你的一生，比它有价值吗？我只能说，我会努力。
在学习、工作乃至生活中，大家都不可避免地会接触到
老家隔壁的亲戚家只有两个老人在家，去年养了多年的狗老死了，所以一直想再养一只，可没找到合适的。而且这段时间家里养了不少小鸡小鸭，没个狗真的不行了，这不，前天就有一只小鸡被什么小动物给咬死了，等他们听到动静出来看时已经来不及了。
昨天早上我和妈妈打算去镇上吃早饭，正好亲戚骑着电动三轮车也要去镇上，就把我们也捎上了。回来时，无意中发现路边的花坛上，趴着一只小狗，瑟瑟发抖，眼神中写满了害怕与无助。这前不着村后不着店的，而且小狗很小，看上去也就刚出生20来天的样子，估计是被丢弃了。亲戚一见它可怜，自己又原本打算养条狗，就把车停在路边，决定走过去看看。这时，另一个老乡也走了过，把小狗抱了起来，打量来打量去，发现是条母狗，就又把小狗放了回去，离开了。亲戚倒没嫌弃，把小狗抱了回来，决定带回家好好养着，等长大些了好看家护院。
回家的路上，我抱着小狗，它很乖，安静地躺在我的腿上。一身棕色中夹杂着黑色的毛发，又细又软，尾巴上的毛也很蓬松，呆呆地看着我们这几个陌生人。突然它从我的怀中跑了出来，又从车子上跳了下去，车这么高，它这么小，会不会受伤了啊？我立刻叫亲戚停下车，又把它抱了回来。
由于亲戚这段时间白天都要出去干活，没法照顾小狗，就把小狗放在了我们家，让我们帮忙照顾，晚上再把小狗带回去。
不知是不是摔那一跤的'原因，虽说小狗很灵活也很欢实，但就是躺下后起来时，前腿总使不上力，要在地上翻跟斗，过好一会儿才站起来，还颤颤巍巍，要好一会，才像一只正常的小狗那样又跑又跳的。我们都想着小狗还小，养些日子就会好了。
为了让它早点好起来，我每天都给它弄好吃的，并开始训练它，想着法儿的带它玩，我俨然成了它的小主人，它也很喜欢我，我走到哪儿它就跟到哪儿。每天早上亲戚送它过来时，它都会颠颠地跑到我的脚边，不停地摇尾巴。
就这样十来天过去了，小狗的症状并没有消失，甚至是没有什么好转。亲戚来接它时，担心的摇着头：“也许它一出生就这样，所以才被主人丢弃了。这可咋办呀？”可我倒没觉得怎么样，除了躺着起来的时费点力，其它的时候都挺正常的呀。
第二天，亲戚没有把小狗送过来，我有点着急，就过去看看，可家里没人。中午，亲戚回来了，车厢里躺着一只小黑狗，那只棕色的小狗不见了。我疑惑的看着亲戚，亲戚只好说出了实情：原来他见小狗好不了了，以后肯定没法帮她看家护院，保护小鸡小鸭了，就又把小狗丢到了上次捡它的地方了，然后又找了一条小狗带了回来。我的心顿时堵得难受，可又不知道说什么，但我知道我再也见不到那只小狗了。
不知道多少天过去了，我都没再去过镇上。那天，实在拗不过妈妈，又一起去了镇上，路过那个花坛，我没敢看过去。坐在小饭馆里，我无神的望着外面的街道，恍然间，看见一只小狗，它好像才出生不久的样子，害怕又无助地缩在墙角边，眼神中露出一丝恐惧和忧伤。这时，一个人走了过去，抱了小狗，然后，离开了……
