---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I heard a choking sound behind me. When I…"
description: "\"“I heard a choking sound behind me. When I looked back, Cannoli was hanging from the backpack harness with her hind legs circling frantically in the ai..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc4/claire-cook-14781_dogs_i-heard-a-choking-sound-behind-me-when-i_1807594.jpg"
---

#  I heard a choking sound behind me. When I looked back…

![“I heard a choking sound behind me. When I looked back, Cannoli was hanging from the backpack harness with her hind legs circling frantically in the air. She looked like she was riding a bike just above ground level. &quot;Cannoli,&quot; I yelled. I unhooked her and made sure she was breathing on her own…” quote by Claire Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc4/claire-cook-14781_dogs_i-heard-a-choking-sound-behind-me-when-i_1807594.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc4/claire-cook-14781_dogs_i-heard-a-choking-sound-behind-me-when-i_1807594.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc4/claire-cook-14781_dogs_i-heard-a-choking-sound-behind-me-when-i_1807594.jpg)

> ““I heard a choking sound behind me. When I looked back, Cannoli was hanging from the backpack harness with her hind legs circling frantically in the air. She looked like she was riding a bike just above ground level. "Cannoli," I yelled. I unhooked her and made sure she was breathing on her own. When I tried to get her back in the backpack, she whimpered. I talked to her soothingly yet firmly, then tried again. This time she started howling like I was hurting her. People turned and stared as they walked by. "What are you looking at?" I said to one couple. I suddenly felt true remorse for every time I'd stared at a parent with a toddler throwing a tantrum. I made a vow to be a better aunt to Tulia's kids if I ever made it out of this parking garage. I pleaded with Cannoli one more time.””

[Claire Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-cook/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A moment of panic and empathy leads to a promise of better care for a child’s pet and, by extension, the child’s family.

**In simple terms:** A crisis reveals a commitment to be kinder to a child’s family.

Key Takeaway

Commit to caring for others in distress.

Themes

empathy responsibility family animal welfare

Mood

reflective determined

Type

personal narrative inspirational

When to use this quote

- parking garage incident
- helping a pet
- interacting with strangers
- making vows to family

Key Concepts

caregiving ethical commitment personal growth

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you turn empathy into lasting habits?
- What steps will you take to support Tulia’s kids?

A Different Perspective

The vow may be hard to keep without concrete actions.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Cannoli Yelled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cannoli-yelled-2085913/) [Dogs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dogs/) [Heard Choking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heard-choking-1839668/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Looked Cannoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looked-cannoli-2085917/) [Pleaded Cannoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleaded-cannoli-2085915/) [Started Howling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started-howling-2085918/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Travel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/travel/)

## Related quotes

> [My mouth opened. It happened. Yes, with my head thrown into the sky, I started howling. Arms stretched out next to me, I howled,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/my-mouth-opened-it-happened-yes-with-my-head-thrown-into-the-sky-i/)

[Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/)

> [“ "Heard you choking, are you all right?" "You're beautiful, a good kisser, this is our first date, my bed is in the room,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/heard-you-choking-are-you-all-right-you-re-beautiful-a-good-kisser/)

[Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/)

> [“I didn't say you were a bad person. I just don't like being a foregone conclusion for sole reason of having a vagina." I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/i-didn-t-say-you-were-a-bad-person-i-just-don-t-like-being-a-foregone/)

[Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/)

> [“Lebedev: France has a clear and defined policy... The French know what they want. They just want to wipe out the Krauts, finish, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/lebedev-france-has-a-clear-and-defined-policy-the-french-know-what/)

[Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/)

> [While your children are sleeping, your puppy is crappin'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/while-your-children-are-sleeping-your-puppy-is-crappin/)

[Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/)

> [It's pretty rare for them to not be in our fridge, I have usually a good supply of all-beef hot dogs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-chestnut/it-s-pretty-rare-for-them-to-not-be-in-our-fridge-i-have-usually-a/)

[Joey Chestnut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-chestnut/)

> [“Where are the ethical concerns, that so many people called animal lovers invoke, when you steal the children of wild dog mothers and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-nther-bloch/where-are-the-ethical-concerns-that-so-many-people-called-animal/)

[Günther Bloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-nther-bloch/)

> [My baby boo&lt;3](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-baby-boo-3/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I think if you look all across the country, the so-called Blue Dogs are all gone to kennel. There are no more Blue Dogs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-think-if-you-look-all-across-the-country-the-so-called-blue-dogs/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Dogs are great. Bad dogs, if you can really call them that, are perhaps the greatest of them all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grogan/dogs-are-great-bad-dogs-if-you-can-really-call-them-that-are-perhaps/)

[John Grogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grogan/)

> [I have 3 dogs myself - I actually have a kennel license in order to do so. I love them so much I couldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/i-have-3-dogs-myself-i-actually-have-a-kennel-license-in-order-to-do/)

[Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/)

> [I joined PETA for minks and dogs. I need my beef, my chicken, my seafood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waka-flocka-flame/i-joined-peta-for-minks-and-dogs-i-need-my-beef-my-chicken-my-seafood/)

[Waka Flocka Flame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waka-flocka-flame/)

> [Mr. Peabody is this genetic anomaly. He does have brothers and sisters, all of them non-speaking, not super-smart dogs. He's an outcast, but has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-minkoff/mr-peabody-is-this-genetic-anomaly-he-does-have-brothers-and-sisters/)

[Rob Minkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-minkoff/)

> [I know a lot of people want to buy puppies, but adopting a dog who needs a home is doing something good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manu-ginobili/i-know-a-lot-of-people-want-to-buy-puppies-but-adopting-a-dog-who/)

[Manu Ginobili](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manu-ginobili/)

> [My dogs can't do anything--and what a relief. I don't make any demands of them, and I don't try to shape them or their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-chua/my-dogs-can-t-do-anything-and-what-a-relief-i-don-t-make-any-demands/)

[Amy Chua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-chua/)

## More by Claire Cook

> [“even reflected glory can be intoxicating.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-cook/even-reflected-glory-can-be-intoxicating/)

[Claire Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-cook/)

> [Maybe part of find what you wanted was recognizing what you didn't want. Maybe there was hope for me yet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-cook/maybe-part-of-find-what-you-wanted-was-recognizing-what-you-didn-t/)

[Claire Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-cook/)

> [“You can try to avoid getting hurt six ways from Sunday, but it still might happen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-cook/you-can-try-to-avoid-getting-hurt-six-ways-from-sunday-but-it-still/)

[Claire Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-cook/)

> [“That’s the way it has to be. If you’re not really into something, you don’t put the time in, so you don’t get good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-cook/that-s-the-way-it-has-to-be-if-you-re-not-really-into-something-you/)

[Claire Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-cook/)

> [Relationships, the ones that last anyway, are really an extended game of Let's Make A Deal .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-cook/relationships-the-ones-that-last-anyway-are-really-an-extended-game/)

[Claire Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-cook/)

> [“There were lots of kinds of men in the world. There were lots of kinds of dogs in the world. There were lots of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-cook/there-were-lots-of-kinds-of-men-in-the-world-there-were-lots-of-kinds/)

[Claire Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-cook/)

> [“Why one human being is attracted to another is one of the great mysteries of the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-cook/why-one-human-being-is-attracted-to-another-is-one-of-the-great/)

[Claire Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-cook/)

> [“Your problem, my darling daughter, is that you're afraid you're going to miss something. But what you don't realize is that, by not making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-cook/your-problem-my-darling-daughter-is-that-you-re-afraid-you-re-going/)

[Claire Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-cook/)

> [If plan A doesn't work, the alphabet has 25 more letters - 204 if you're in Japan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-cook/if-plan-a-doesn-t-work-the-alphabet-has-25-more-letters-204-if-you-re/)

[Claire Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-cook/)

> [“I just figured that was the life I picked, so I had to make the most of it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-cook/i-just-figured-that-was-the-life-i-picked-so-i-had-to-make-the-most/)

[Claire Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-cook/)

> [“I opened both eyes. Dread was sitting on my chest as if it were an animal. I mean, dread so real it had physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-cook/i-opened-both-eyes-dread-was-sitting-on-my-chest-as-if-it-were-an/)

[Claire Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-cook/)

> [“I confronted the fact that I was not only talking to a dog, but answering for one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-cook/i-confronted-the-fact-that-i-was-not-only-talking-to-a-dog-but/)

[Claire Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-cook/)

> [Why is it that even when you're trying your hardest not to get attached, something still sneaks up on you?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-cook/why-is-it-that-even-when-you-re-trying-your-hardest-not-to-get/)

[Claire Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-cook/)

> [“You never know what you're going to get with a pinball game," John said. "It's a lot like life. You can't control it, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-cook/you-never-know-what-you-re-going-to-get-with-a-pinball-game-john-said/)

[Claire Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-cook/)

> [“I had a system, too, though I was pretty sure I’d ever acknowledged it before, even to myself. My closet was arranged by size:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-cook/i-had-a-system-too-though-i-was-pretty-sure-i-d-ever-acknowledged-it/)

[Claire Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-cook/)

[Explore all 45 Claire Cook quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-cook/)

## More Dogs quotes

> [My dogs can't do anything--and what a relief. I don't make any demands of them, and I don't try to shape them or their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-chua/my-dogs-can-t-do-anything-and-what-a-relief-i-don-t-make-any-demands/)

[Amy Chua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-chua/)

> [I know a lot of people want to buy puppies, but adopting a dog who needs a home is doing something good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manu-ginobili/i-know-a-lot-of-people-want-to-buy-puppies-but-adopting-a-dog-who/)

[Manu Ginobili](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manu-ginobili/)

> [Mr. Peabody is this genetic anomaly. He does have brothers and sisters, all of them non-speaking, not super-smart dogs. He's an outcast, but has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-minkoff/mr-peabody-is-this-genetic-anomaly-he-does-have-brothers-and-sisters/)

[Rob Minkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-minkoff/)

> [I joined PETA for minks and dogs. I need my beef, my chicken, my seafood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waka-flocka-flame/i-joined-peta-for-minks-and-dogs-i-need-my-beef-my-chicken-my-seafood/)

[Waka Flocka Flame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waka-flocka-flame/)

> [I have 3 dogs myself - I actually have a kennel license in order to do so. I love them so much I couldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/i-have-3-dogs-myself-i-actually-have-a-kennel-license-in-order-to-do/)

[Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/)

> [Dogs are great. Bad dogs, if you can really call them that, are perhaps the greatest of them all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grogan/dogs-are-great-bad-dogs-if-you-can-really-call-them-that-are-perhaps/)

[John Grogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grogan/)

> [I think if you look all across the country, the so-called Blue Dogs are all gone to kennel. There are no more Blue Dogs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-think-if-you-look-all-across-the-country-the-so-called-blue-dogs/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [My baby boo&lt;3](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-baby-boo-3/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Where are the ethical concerns, that so many people called animal lovers invoke, when you steal the children of wild dog mothers and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-nther-bloch/where-are-the-ethical-concerns-that-so-many-people-called-animal/)

[Günther Bloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-nther-bloch/)

> [It's pretty rare for them to not be in our fridge, I have usually a good supply of all-beef hot dogs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-chestnut/it-s-pretty-rare-for-them-to-not-be-in-our-fridge-i-have-usually-a/)

[Joey Chestnut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-chestnut/)

> [While your children are sleeping, your puppy is crappin'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/while-your-children-are-sleeping-your-puppy-is-crappin/)

[Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/)

> [“Lebedev: France has a clear and defined policy... The French know what they want. They just want to wipe out the Krauts, finish, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/lebedev-france-has-a-clear-and-defined-policy-the-french-know-what/)

[Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/)

> [My new puppy!!!!!!!!!!! luca &lt;333 6 weeks old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-new-puppy-luca-333-6-weeks-old/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I made a wedding planning book and a whole double page is dedicated to the dogs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-solomon/i-made-a-wedding-planning-book-and-a-whole-double-page-is-dedicated/)

[Stacey Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-solomon/)

> [Cannes is a sort of gladiators' arena, and that's the fun part of it. When you accept to come here to open the festival,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivier-dahan/cannes-is-a-sort-of-gladiators-arena-and-that-s-the-fun-part-of-it/)

[Olivier Dahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivier-dahan/)

[Browse all 1,621 Dogs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dogs/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“I heard a choking sound behind me. When I looked back, Cannoli was hanging from the backpack harness with her hind legs circling frantically in the air. She looked like she was riding a bike just above ground level. \"Cannoli,\" I yelled. I unhooked her and made sure she was breathing on her own. When I tried to get her back in the backpack, she whimpered. I talked to her soothingly yet firmly, then tried again. This time she started howling like I was hurting her. People turned and stared as they walked by. \"What are you looking at?\" I said to one couple. I suddenly felt true remorse for every time I'd stared at a parent with a toddler throwing a tantrum. I made a vow to be a better aunt to Tulia's kids if I ever made it out of this parking garage. I pleaded with Cannoli one more time.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Claire Cook"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-cook/i-heard-a-choking-sound-behind-me-when-i-looked-back-cannoli-was/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Dogs"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-cook/i-heard-a-choking-sound-behind-me-when-i-looked-back-cannoli-was/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc4/claire-cook-14781_dogs_i-heard-a-choking-sound-behind-me-when-i_1807594.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc4/claire-cook-14781_dogs_i-heard-a-choking-sound-behind-me-when-i_1807594.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc4/claire-cook-14781_dogs_i-heard-a-choking-sound-behind-me-when-i_1807594.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I heard a choking sound behind me. When I looked back, Cannoli was hanging from the backpack harness with…” — Claire Cook",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Claire Cook",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-cook/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“I heard a choking sound behind...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-cook/i-heard-a-choking-sound-behind-me-when-i-looked-back-cannoli-was/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-cook/i-heard-a-choking-sound-behind-me-when-i-looked-back-cannoli-was/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
