A Dog's Tale
*shivering*
Cold. Hungry. Thirsty. Scared. What happened? Once, a person came and put out food and filled a dish with water. I loved them, or tried to, but nothing I did seemed ever to please them. I’d get so lonely, barking for someone to come and play or talk to me, anything. It got so lonely out there. They’d come and I’d be so happy to see them, I’d leap madly at the end of the chain to get to them and they’d hit me, but it was attention. It was better than the loneliness. I thought if I just tried a little harder they’d let me join their pack. Tell me what to do, let me be with them.
One day, I thought my luck had finally changed. They came out with a leash and got me. I was so overjoyed I leaped around and pulled so hard trying to get them to run with me, go sniff the bushes just in sight but out of reach where the neighbor’s cat liked to hang out. Something new! Then they got me in their car and we went for a ride, and it was like magic! I couldn’t believe it, we were going somewhere! They’d let me IN! I was finally with the pack! I’d show them how good it would be, we would go somewhere and run and find stuff and run and explore, and we’d be best friends and maybe they’d start loving me!
When we got out to the country, there was a field and some woods and we stopped. Oh I was ready when they opened that car door! The leash was gone, and I just KNEW we were going to have fun now!
“Let’s RUN!” I cried and jumped around them, on them, play bowing and begging them to come.
“Go on now, GIT” said the man. He was the sternest, always. He pushed at me, yelled and stomped, then raised his hand and I knew he was going to hit me, so I dashed away. I didn’t understand. Hadn’t we come here to play? So I could let them know how much I wanted to be a member of their pack? So they could start showing me what they wanted from me as their newly accepted member? Why was he mad again? I turned and started back. Maybe I could explain? I’d not gone far, they were still so close I could be with them again in 10 leaps, but they were dashing back into the car.
Why were they closing the car doors? I tried to get in with them but they pushed me away and closed me out. Then the car started to leave, and I chased them. I ran so hard I had no breath to cry, but I couldn’t keep up.
I was alone again. Am alone again. I sat in the road and cried, confused and scared. I didn’t know where I was, I’d not been away from that one yard and off that one chain that I could remember. Not since I was a little puppy when they had taken me home, cooing and awing over me. It had only been a year. Only a year, and I’d gone from cute and adored baby to half grown and pushed out.
I went to the ditch along the road to rest from running and slept there the first night. I licked the dew off the leaves in the morning, but didn’t see a dish of water. I didn’t see so much as a puddle. I started walking down the road and saw a home with people, but they drove me away. They all did. I got tired, but I stayed close to the road. Maybe my family would come back for me? I didn’t think so, but I didn’t know what else to do. I got hungrier. Sometimes I’d find a puddle and drink it dry, but I longed for a good bowl of water that refilled and kept me from feeling so dry, so tired.
Now, here I am in the ditch. I woke up still tired. My ribs are standing off me I’ve gotten so thin. I’m so tired. I can’t run much, I’m too tired and hungry. I think I’ll just lie down again.
I’m dreaming.
I’m dreaming that a person is picking me up. I don’t recognize their scent, but I’m tired. I lick the hand, in my dream, to thank them for touching me. It must be an angel, to give me some company before I die.
I dream I’m somewhere bright. No, not dreaming. I look around slowly, too tired to do more. Strange smells assault my nose, but the most important smell is a person. She comes and touches my head and I whine in submission and thanks. The gentle hand runs kindly down my ear, then gently starts touching me here and there, checking strange things attached to me.
“you’re doing better now, aren’t you little guy?”
I don’t’ know what that means, but it sounds like music to me. A kind voice, and speaking to me! I smile as I drift back to sleep.
“The poor thing was anemic from all the ticks and fleas, emaciated and dehydrated too. Looks like another abandonment case.”
I’m awake again. The voice of an angel is speaking and I am strong enough to stand and wag my tail and smile. I’m in a small kennel, but I’m inside where I’m warm, and there’s a dish with water and a dish that food gets put in, and every day someone comes and takes me outside where I can empty my bladder and bowels and I get praised for it. I get petted and told I’m good too.
“So, he’s well enough to leave?”
“Yes, he’s out of danger. Still needs some more weight, but he’s out of danger. Heartworm negative, thankfully. Add a couple more pounds and he can be neutered.”
I think I know the scent on that second person. I think that’s the scent of my dream savior. I wag my tail and bark to say “I know you,” then remember how barking always got me hit and duck back to await the blow. It doesn’t come. Instead, I’m stroked gently under the chin by the kindest hand yet. I look up to see a human woman. She has kind eyes and gentle hands and she quietly tells me “don’t worry boy, we’ll find you a real home. One that understands about what you’ve been through. One where you get loved, not left.”
I might be the luckiest dog in the world. I was ready to die when the angels came and saved me. They nursed me back to health, and now one is teaching me how to be a good dog. I’m learning as fast as I can, but I’m still scared when I hear angry voices or raised hands. I know now not to make a mess in the house, to sleep in a crate and how to walk on a leash right. My angel tells me she’ll find me a home where I can stay and be loved. I can’t wait. I’ll be a good boy. So very good. I promise. I just need my new pack to tell me how, and I’ll do anything for them. I’d do anything to make my angel proud, and to not be left again on the side of a road to die, shivering and hungry, alone.
Cold. Hungry. Thirsty. Scared. What happened? Once, a person came and put out food and filled a dish with water. I loved them, or tried to, but nothing I did seemed ever to please them. I’d get so lonely, barking for someone to come and play or talk to me, anything. It got so lonely out there. They’d come and I’d be so happy to see them, I’d leap madly at the end of the chain to get to them and they’d hit me, but it was attention. It was better than the loneliness. I thought if I just tried a little harder they’d let me join their pack. Tell me what to do, let me be with them.
One day, I thought my luck had finally changed. They came out with a leash and got me. I was so overjoyed I leaped around and pulled so hard trying to get them to run with me, go sniff the bushes just in sight but out of reach where the neighbor’s cat liked to hang out. Something new! Then they got me in their car and we went for a ride, and it was like magic! I couldn’t believe it, we were going somewhere! They’d let me IN! I was finally with the pack! I’d show them how good it would be, we would go somewhere and run and find stuff and run and explore, and we’d be best friends and maybe they’d start loving me!
When we got out to the country, there was a field and some woods and we stopped. Oh I was ready when they opened that car door! The leash was gone, and I just KNEW we were going to have fun now!
“Let’s RUN!” I cried and jumped around them, on them, play bowing and begging them to come.
“Go on now, GIT” said the man. He was the sternest, always. He pushed at me, yelled and stomped, then raised his hand and I knew he was going to hit me, so I dashed away. I didn’t understand. Hadn’t we come here to play? So I could let them know how much I wanted to be a member of their pack? So they could start showing me what they wanted from me as their newly accepted member? Why was he mad again? I turned and started back. Maybe I could explain? I’d not gone far, they were still so close I could be with them again in 10 leaps, but they were dashing back into the car.
Why were they closing the car doors? I tried to get in with them but they pushed me away and closed me out. Then the car started to leave, and I chased them. I ran so hard I had no breath to cry, but I couldn’t keep up.
I was alone again. Am alone again. I sat in the road and cried, confused and scared. I didn’t know where I was, I’d not been away from that one yard and off that one chain that I could remember. Not since I was a little puppy when they had taken me home, cooing and awing over me. It had only been a year. Only a year, and I’d gone from cute and adored baby to half grown and pushed out.
I went to the ditch along the road to rest from running and slept there the first night. I licked the dew off the leaves in the morning, but didn’t see a dish of water. I didn’t see so much as a puddle. I started walking down the road and saw a home with people, but they drove me away. They all did. I got tired, but I stayed close to the road. Maybe my family would come back for me? I didn’t think so, but I didn’t know what else to do. I got hungrier. Sometimes I’d find a puddle and drink it dry, but I longed for a good bowl of water that refilled and kept me from feeling so dry, so tired.
Now, here I am in the ditch. I woke up still tired. My ribs are standing off me I’ve gotten so thin. I’m so tired. I can’t run much, I’m too tired and hungry. I think I’ll just lie down again.
I’m dreaming.
I’m dreaming that a person is picking me up. I don’t recognize their scent, but I’m tired. I lick the hand, in my dream, to thank them for touching me. It must be an angel, to give me some company before I die.
I dream I’m somewhere bright. No, not dreaming. I look around slowly, too tired to do more. Strange smells assault my nose, but the most important smell is a person. She comes and touches my head and I whine in submission and thanks. The gentle hand runs kindly down my ear, then gently starts touching me here and there, checking strange things attached to me.
“you’re doing better now, aren’t you little guy?”
I don’t’ know what that means, but it sounds like music to me. A kind voice, and speaking to me! I smile as I drift back to sleep.
“The poor thing was anemic from all the ticks and fleas, emaciated and dehydrated too. Looks like another abandonment case.”
I’m awake again. The voice of an angel is speaking and I am strong enough to stand and wag my tail and smile. I’m in a small kennel, but I’m inside where I’m warm, and there’s a dish with water and a dish that food gets put in, and every day someone comes and takes me outside where I can empty my bladder and bowels and I get praised for it. I get petted and told I’m good too.
“So, he’s well enough to leave?”
“Yes, he’s out of danger. Still needs some more weight, but he’s out of danger. Heartworm negative, thankfully. Add a couple more pounds and he can be neutered.”
I think I know the scent on that second person. I think that’s the scent of my dream savior. I wag my tail and bark to say “I know you,” then remember how barking always got me hit and duck back to await the blow. It doesn’t come. Instead, I’m stroked gently under the chin by the kindest hand yet. I look up to see a human woman. She has kind eyes and gentle hands and she quietly tells me “don’t worry boy, we’ll find you a real home. One that understands about what you’ve been through. One where you get loved, not left.”
I might be the luckiest dog in the world. I was ready to die when the angels came and saved me. They nursed me back to health, and now one is teaching me how to be a good dog. I’m learning as fast as I can, but I’m still scared when I hear angry voices or raised hands. I know now not to make a mess in the house, to sleep in a crate and how to walk on a leash right. My angel tells me she’ll find me a home where I can stay and be loved. I can’t wait. I’ll be a good boy. So very good. I promise. I just need my new pack to tell me how, and I’ll do anything for them. I’d do anything to make my angel proud, and to not be left again on the side of a road to die, shivering and hungry, alone.