ANIMAL STORY

It all started one morning in the warm season as I was making the rounds of my yard. I noticed that the front gate had been left open. I had never been allowed out of the yard. I was young, inexperienced and very curious. I wondered what was on the other side of the gate. I decided to go to see. That, I thought, would be a fine adventure.

I started walking around the neighborhood, but almost before I knew it, I was confused. I stopped to think. "Which way is home?" I wondered.

It was no use. I just could not figure it out at all. I was lost! I thought that the best I could think was to just carry on looking; surely I must eventually find myself back home. I walked for three days and for three nights without returning to my starting point. I was beginning to feel really scared. I was also getting very hungry and tired. One morning, while I was searching for food to fill my empty belly, I noticed two other dogs in an alleyway. They were much bigger than me, more grown up, stronger looker, and probably wiser. Not realizing that it might be dangerous, I went forward to meet them and to ask for their help. Then I saw that they were eating something. I was hungry, and hoped that they might offer to give me a bit of their food. As soon as the two dogs noticed me they became very agitated. It seemed as if they had quickly made up their minds that they were not about to share their food with anyone. Without so much as a warning growl from either of them they were upon me. One made a grab at my back legs, while the other went for my face.

Not being a very experienced fighter, I concentrated my attention on the dog in front of me because he seemed to be the more dangerous of the two. I grabbed a mouth full of his fur, but to no avail, he jerked away and broke free of my hold. I suddenly felt a wrenching pain tear through one of my legs as teeth ripped into it. I turned my head to see what was happening so that I could fight back as best I could.

That was a bad mistake. The dog in front made the most of his opportunity. I felt a hot wrenching pain in my right eye, and could feel blood coming from it. I managed to break away, the only thought in my mind was to run, far and fast, to escape the very dogs that I had thought might help me.

As soon as I was clear of them, I looked for a dark corner in which to hide. I was lonely, wounded and full of pain, I found a shady spot on the sidewalk, and laid down to rest.

I don’t know how much time went by, but a big white truck pulled up in front of me. A human got out and started talking to me. He seems very nice, so I let him approach and stroke me. The next thing I knew I was inside the truck and going somewhere. I was taken inside a very large building. The humans there were nice, speaking to me gently and kindly. They put me on a big silver table and one of them, dressed in a white coat, checked my wounds. Soon I was feeling better, and the hurt was gone. They put me in a large kennel until I was healed enough to join a lot of other dogs.

One day I noticed a young man looking at me. I immediately felt that he might be a good friend, so I put on my biggest smile. I was soon on my way to a new home with him.

Alas this did not last long, the young man was seldom with me. He was away ‘working’ he said. I found myself lonely still, and in need of human companionship. Even though I had a home, I was alone. My human then took me to a friend’s house where he told them that, although he was very fond of me, he just did not have enough time to look after me properly.

They put me in a large backyard. It was November by this time and it was starting to get very cold. These humans decided to go on a skiing trip, but forgot to take me with them. For three days I waited, hoping that they would remember to come back, feed me and talk to me.

Late on the third day, a woman opened my gate and took me into the house next door. She seemed very angry with my other humans. The first thing she did was feed on some very delicious food. That was just wonderful since there had been no food, water, or shelter in the back yard. Then she introduced me to Bandit, who soon adopted me as his new brother. Oh yes, and there is also “THE CAT”. His name is Nigel.

It took me some time to get use to my brother Bandit, but my new human worked with me every day to help me get over my fear of other dogs. I even went to school to help me understand that nobody was going to hurt me ever again. I didn’t have to be afraid any more, not even of Nigel. My new human calls me her “Baby Girl”, and my dad calls me his little “Teddy Bear”.

I have come a long long way. I am now sleek, fit and happy again. I truly love my new family, and I know that now I have a good “Forever Home” where I will always be well cared for.