A Tough Decision
Dad did what he had to do21 total reviews
Comment from light
This is a very good depiction of a lesson learned from a parent. Your story is well told with good dialog and great emotion. It was a very enjoyable read.
Elaine
reply by the author on 06-Sep-2016
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This is a very good depiction of a lesson learned from a parent. Your story is well told with good dialog and great emotion. It was a very enjoyable read.
Elaine
Comment Written 06-Sep-2016
reply by the author on 06-Sep-2016
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Thank you. My Dad hated to kill animals so I know this was tough for him.
Comment from Alex Rosel
A nice introductory paragraph that sets the scene and lets the reader know exactly what this piece is about.
As I recall, my brother Roger, and I, sat under the ancient Maple tree in our front yard. - Typo? No capitalisation.
We liked to watch fluffy clouds drift over while we picked out different animal shapes. - Evocative. Good :-)
"Get away from that dog," Roger yelled. "You know Dad said to stay away from strange dogs. You're going to get your head bit off one of these days." - Typo? Missing quotation punctuation.
There was a definite possibility Rinty could mame or kill someone in the future. - Typo?
What a lovely autobiographical piece. It's obviously written from the heart and it just begs empathy from the reader. Good luck with the competition. :-)
reply by the author on 06-Sep-2016
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A nice introductory paragraph that sets the scene and lets the reader know exactly what this piece is about.
As I recall, my brother Roger, and I, sat under the ancient Maple tree in our front yard. - Typo? No capitalisation.
We liked to watch fluffy clouds drift over while we picked out different animal shapes. - Evocative. Good :-)
"Get away from that dog," Roger yelled. "You know Dad said to stay away from strange dogs. You're going to get your head bit off one of these days." - Typo? Missing quotation punctuation.
There was a definite possibility Rinty could mame or kill someone in the future. - Typo?
What a lovely autobiographical piece. It's obviously written from the heart and it just begs empathy from the reader. Good luck with the competition. :-)
Comment Written 06-Sep-2016
reply by the author on 06-Sep-2016
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Thank you, my friend. Also, thanks for the catch in the grammar. sometimes I get in too much of a rush.
Comment from William Ross
This is a great and well written story of a boy and beloved dog, one that could not get along on a farm and disrupted things. a hard lesson for any child to learn. wonderful write Bob, enjoyed the story a lot. thanks for the share and have a wonderful day.
reply by the author on 06-Sep-2016
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This is a great and well written story of a boy and beloved dog, one that could not get along on a farm and disrupted things. a hard lesson for any child to learn. wonderful write Bob, enjoyed the story a lot. thanks for the share and have a wonderful day.
Comment Written 06-Sep-2016
reply by the author on 06-Sep-2016
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Thank you, William. I must make one correction for you, I'm a woman, not a man. I think I will edit and have Roger or Dad speak my name. Thanks for pointing this out, and thanks for the six stars.
Comment from Teri7
This is a very good story you have penned for the contest. I am so sorry your dog had to be killed. Sometimes we do things that have to be done. Very good wording and imagery. Good luck in the contest. Teri
reply by the author on 06-Sep-2016
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This is a very good story you have penned for the contest. I am so sorry your dog had to be killed. Sometimes we do things that have to be done. Very good wording and imagery. Good luck in the contest. Teri
Comment Written 06-Sep-2016
reply by the author on 06-Sep-2016
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Thank you. My Dad did what he had to do. Rinty was a dangerous animal.
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I am sure. I am just sorry you loved it and it had to be killed! hugs, Teri
Comment from Kelly2
This is a great story with excellent writing. And you were very intelligent for an 8 year old to understand what your father was telling you, even though you were filled with pain. I believe this story is true, because it rings so. Also, as an adult, I found a dog, emaciated, with a broken leg, who was scared of everyone and everything. I took him home after getting him treated by a vet. I named him Cassidy. Soon Cassidy grew comfortable with us, but he began exhibiting the same behavior as Rinty. I always thought it was a swinging of the pendulum too far to the other side of protectiveness. He only wanted to protect us, but he went too far. I had to take him to the pound after he bit the Terminix guy and bit my dad in the butt.
I really liked your story, though it was sad. I wish you luck in the contest.
Kelly
reply by the author on 06-Sep-2016
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This is a great story with excellent writing. And you were very intelligent for an 8 year old to understand what your father was telling you, even though you were filled with pain. I believe this story is true, because it rings so. Also, as an adult, I found a dog, emaciated, with a broken leg, who was scared of everyone and everything. I took him home after getting him treated by a vet. I named him Cassidy. Soon Cassidy grew comfortable with us, but he began exhibiting the same behavior as Rinty. I always thought it was a swinging of the pendulum too far to the other side of protectiveness. He only wanted to protect us, but he went too far. I had to take him to the pound after he bit the Terminix guy and bit my dad in the butt.
I really liked your story, though it was sad. I wish you luck in the contest.
Kelly
Comment Written 06-Sep-2016
reply by the author on 06-Sep-2016
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Thank you. This memory remains strong in my mind today. I think my dad liked the dog too, but he wouldn't admit it. Dad hated to kill animals unless necessary. I really loved Rinty but he was very aggressive towards all but me.
Comment from Heidi M
This is so sad, but your Dad did what he thought was best. How hard that must have been for him! I admire him for his honesty with you, even though he knew you might hate him for what he had done. What a tough way for you to learn a valuable life lesson.
You did a nice job writing your summation in the last paragraph.
reply by the author on 06-Sep-2016
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This is so sad, but your Dad did what he thought was best. How hard that must have been for him! I admire him for his honesty with you, even though he knew you might hate him for what he had done. What a tough way for you to learn a valuable life lesson.
You did a nice job writing your summation in the last paragraph.
Comment Written 05-Sep-2016
reply by the author on 06-Sep-2016
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Thank you. It was a good but painful lesson for me. Dad did what he had to for the good of the family.
Comment from emptypage
Being the 50s, I imagine it was the only thing that could have been done. Thank God for foster dog parents and for ni kill shelters.
This would have haunted me for the rest of my life. You are far more forgiving than I.
The writing is clear, concise, and interesting. I enjoyed it (except for the ending).
Keep writing!
reply by the author on 06-Sep-2016
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Being the 50s, I imagine it was the only thing that could have been done. Thank God for foster dog parents and for ni kill shelters.
This would have haunted me for the rest of my life. You are far more forgiving than I.
The writing is clear, concise, and interesting. I enjoyed it (except for the ending).
Keep writing!
Comment Written 05-Sep-2016
reply by the author on 06-Sep-2016
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Thank you. Yes, back in the fifties this was the normal and accepted way to end an animals life. I'm sure Dad made it instant and painless. I hope so.
Comment from damommy
Such a moving story. I can feel all the emotions on both sides.
You had a wonderful father who taught you a valuable lesson at what could have been his expense. You might have hated him forever.
This was such a pleasant read. It's very well written. Thank you for sharing this. Good luck in the contest. 8-)
reply by the author on 06-Sep-2016
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Such a moving story. I can feel all the emotions on both sides.
You had a wonderful father who taught you a valuable lesson at what could have been his expense. You might have hated him forever.
This was such a pleasant read. It's very well written. Thank you for sharing this. Good luck in the contest. 8-)
Comment Written 05-Sep-2016
reply by the author on 06-Sep-2016
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Thank you. Dad was always a fair man and very quiet. Earlier this year I wrote an ode to my father called A Man Of Few Words. For Dad to take the time to say that many words, was highly unusual.
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A wonderful tribute. 8-)
Comment from Thomas Bowling
Where's the dialog. For people to live together and not talk isn't natural. You wouldn't go to a silent movie. Why write a silent book?
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reply by the author on 06-Sep-2016
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Where's the dialog. For people to live together and not talk isn't natural. You wouldn't go to a silent movie. Why write a silent book?
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 05-Sep-2016
reply by the author on 06-Sep-2016
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Thank you. This is not a novel, I'm TELLING of my past experience. I didn't think a lot of dialogue was necessary, but thanks for your opinion.
Comment from LIJ Red
Some dogs just don't work out. My dog hates all humans but me, and would rather bite strangers than pork chops, but he has his house, his lot, a bad leg and he weighs twelve pounds, so fate has been merciful...good story and to prompt.
Either, move away, one comma too many?
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
reply by the author on 06-Sep-2016
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Some dogs just don't work out. My dog hates all humans but me, and would rather bite strangers than pork chops, but he has his house, his lot, a bad leg and he weighs twelve pounds, so fate has been merciful...good story and to prompt.
Either, move away, one comma too many?
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 05-Sep-2016
reply by the author on 06-Sep-2016
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Thank you. You're right, some dogs are naturally aggressive and don't belong in large families. Rinty was a dangerous animal
