This is my first night here. It is dark and the noises from the other creatures are surprisingly soothing. The temperature in the air is warm and comforting but I am filled with a hollow coldness. I seem to have lost everything I cherished and almost lost my life as well. My story until now is not a joyful one and I want to share it with you in the hope that you can find it in your heart to give other creatures like me a happy ending.

I'm not sure how this drastic change in my life came upon me. It felt as though one day I was playing with my toys and curled up next to the family that I adored. Then, the next day I’m abandoned and unwanted. Of course, there is more that happened in between but I still don’t know what exactly went wrong. It seemed as though I tried everything to please them but I didn’t always understand how they wanted me to act or what they wanted me to do. Even though I got ignored, scolded and eventually just plain forgotten, I continued to be faithful and try to please them.

A funny thing happened to me when I didn’t get love or affection, I would do anything for attention. My pleas for attention frequently resulted in my family screaming at me and calling me “Bad Dog” or, “Stupid Dog,” or, yelling, “I Hate You,” or sometimes they would hit me with things. I suppose I began to think that bad attention was better than no attention. I tried telling them how I was feeling and how badly I missed their time and love but they wouldn’t listen. The more I tried to tell them and show them, the meaner they got. I guess when people don’t understand what a creature is trying to say, they get angry and eventually stop paying attention all together. At least that’s what happened to me. I was no longer allowed in the house. I’d have to stay tied up behind the shed where I couldn’t see them or the house. I’d hear my family playing and having fun with each other. I’d yell to them, “I Love You Too, Please Let Me Play.” Little did I know I’d never get to play with my family again. They would get furious at my talking and the madder they got the more I’d try to reason and just make them understand that I loved them and wanted a second chance. It began to dawn on me that maybe I wasn’t good enough to be loved anymore. I had failed them.

I cried day and night and when I would finally become exhausted and slip off to sleep I’d have a dream of how happy we all used to be. When I’d awaken, the reality of desertion and loneliness would send me back to crying again. It felt as though this pattern went on forever. They stopped coming out to bring me food and water. I guess I didn’t even deserve that. I didn’t realize it then but slowly I was starving to death. The hunger pangs got stronger until they caused an almost unbearable pain. I just continued to cry harder and harder, pleading with them to give me another chance. Eventually, I was too weak to cry anymore and could just barely whimper. Then one day, I thought that my prayers had been answered as my family approached me. I recognized my leash in one of their hands, like reuniting with a long lost friend. Their faces were still cold and almost unfamiliar but despite their cruelty, a part of me fluttered with hope and I slowly tried to get up to greet them. I waited for their loving voices to comfort me but instead I was picked up by the front paws and dropped into a box.

By this time, I was completely confused, but the starvation had stripped me of my energy to do anything but breathe. I wanted so badly to see where we were going. The box I was in was tossed on the back seat. I vaguely recognized the scent of the car we had once taken many rides in. I just hoped and waited. After a while, the car stopped abruptly and I felt someone pick me up….up…up and then out the window I went. I hit the ground so hard that I figured I was dead. I felt every piece of gravel I landed on, as though they were sharp knives ripping me apart. I managed to open my eyes enough to see them driving away. I will never forget the smell of the exhaust spitting in my face like I was nothing more than trash on the road. I couldn’t speak. In my mind, I just kept thinking, “Why? I Loved You.” I was alone, my body wouldn’t move, my mouth wouldn’t work and the pain was agonizing. I was terrified, and the despair and darkness slowly diminished by spirit.

I don’t know how long I was there or who found me but I remember going up the driveway to the shelter and praying someone there would help me. I heard many voices but I was too tired to listen. It was the first time that I had felt a gentle touch in what seemed like years. I was placed on a soft cushion and I opened my eyes to see dishes of food and water. I didn’t think they were real at first. I lay still for a couple of hours until the hunger managed to take over and I dragged by ragged body of skin and bones to the dishes. The water hit me like a ton of bricks. I don’t think I have ever enjoyed a drink as much as that one. I nibbled on a few pieces of food and crawled back to the cushion to think about my life. Before I go to sleep tonight, I’m going to do something I can’t remember doing for a very long time…I am going to pray that I will wake up here in the morning

Now that you have heard my story please keep it in mind. This type of situation happens all too often. Please listen to us creatures and help us to find the loving home and happy ending that we all deserve.

We do not know the details of Sadies ordeal
only that she was severely demoralized and
a very sick dog when she came to the shelter.
Today she is fully recovered in a loving home and
is pictured below at the feet of her new owner.

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