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The Story:
Stray. That’s what it says on the tag stuck to the top of my cage. But it isn’t true. Come, and let me tell you an old dog’s “tail,” if you’ll excuse my pun.
As a puppy I was taken home by a seven year old man-boy. He had found me playing with a baseball on his front lawn, but I was too young to remember how I got there. I do have vague memories of being tossed out of a moving vehicle, but that is all.
Anyway, Sam took me in. There was some sort of debate over me with his parents, but it ended when I nestled into the father’s lap that evening.
For years I slept with Sam, played with Sam, went everywhere with Sam. During the day he would sit at a table with his mother, doing something with delicious things called “books,” so I would patiently wait, curled up at his feet.
Since I was always with Sam, they never had me wear one of those “collars” like the other dogs. And I was usually “good,” so I could go in or out as I pleased. Bless them.
When I was eleven, some kind of ceremony took place where they dressed my Sam in a strange hat and a big blanket. The hat had a dangling thing that also turned out to be delicious.
A few weeks later Sam was gone. I kept thinking he would return, but he didn’t. Days turned into weeks, and I couldn’t figure it out.
One night I took a walk through the neighborhood to clear my head. That’s when it happened.
A group of man-boys surrounded me on my walk. I thought they might give me a treat or want to play, but then, one of them kicked me. I couldn’t breathe. The next one kicked me. Then, another. And another. Sam had taught me early in life to never bite a human, so I decided to just lay down and close my eyes, assuming I must have done something incredibly “bad.”
When I awoke, I found myself here. The other dogs say that my “Exit Day” is tomorrow. Apparently, it’s not a good thing.
I wish I could play with Sam one last time, curl up next to him one last time. But I can’t.
If you’re out there, Sam, know that I love you. I love you so much. And I’m so thankful for the time we had together.