Rascal's Fate


I was born in a dark, stuffy closet that smelled like moth balls. I was surrounded by a swarm of blood and placenta and all of my brothers and sisters, dead. My mother, suffering from such a difficult labor, slowly dying as well. I, the only surviving one, couldn’t see, only smelled the death around me. I could hear the humans crying and feeling helpless. I was too small to yelp, or do much of anything but just lie there and whimper with no consolation from anyone. I wiggled my way to a warm batch of what I thought was perhaps a rag or blanket. In reality, it was one of my little brothers’ dead bodies. I didn’t know any better. He kept me warm. I fell asleep after being in the world only a few moments, and already, it was sickening to me. I wanted back into my mothers womb. I wanted to be back in there with my brothers and sisters, warm and always full. Now, I lived in a world where I still could not see, but with the absence of my mother and siblings.
Apparently the humans had moved me to another place, far from where I was given birth at. Maybe they thought that the smell that was still so fresh on the blood-soaked blankets would make me miss my mother. Actually, without the smell, I missed her even more. I never met my mother, only lived inside of her body. I will never know her face or how she would have loved me so. I’m being fed with a little bottle lately. I can’t even compare it to my mothers milk. I never knew how it was to be able to drink from my mothers body, side by side with my siblings, fighting for a space so I could get some milk. By this point, I am beginning to open my eyes for the first time and see the world. I never would have guessed it would look like this. These humans keep staring at me and looking ever so sorry. They always get in my face and talk to me like a child. They pet me a lot, too. And hold me. They are really comforting, especially when I miss my mother. I learned how to yelp, so now when I’m hungry, I just make a little noise and they come running with the bottle. I could get used to this.
A couple of months passed and I am a little bigger now. I am beginning to learn my humans’ faces and associate them with names. I call one of them Precious, because that's all she ever says when she looks at me. And the other, his name is No. No always says that to me when I do things I probably shouldn’t be doing. But in the end, I think he loves me so and revels in the fact that I’m here. While on the topic of names, I’ve been at a dead end, spending a lot of my sleepy time trying to figure out what MY name is. Sometimes they say to me “hello little doggy, or come baby.” But I really can’t seem to pinpoint the one name.
One night, I am around the house, impatiently waiting for my humans to return from wherever it is they usually go on Sundays. They have been gone all day and I am beginning to worry. Usually they are back after lunchtime with some leftovers from dining with friends. But it’s late now. I see out of the windows and the ceilings are dark and the humans everywhere else have returned to their homes. I haven’t eaten all day, besides that, and I am pacing around the house. I pace so much that I eventually curl into a ball by the front door and hope that they come home soon.
Two more of those nights pass, and I am desperate for food and water. I drink out of the toilet, which, I must say, is very unappealing, but necessary. And as far as food is concerned, I sniffed out the trash can and found a couple of leftovers. I’m really worried. I don’t know where my humans have gone. Have they left me forever?
The next morning I hear the door open and I come running to see my humans, only to find that it was not Precious or No. It was a younger version of the two, their daughter. I have seen her before. She is very nice and always brings me a bone to chew on. But this time there is no bone. And she isn’t as happy to see me as before. I follow her around the house, wondering what she is doing, and if she knows where Precious and No are. I want her to let me know so I can tell her I miss and need them home with me. She walks into the living room and sits on the couch. I jump into her lap and give her my most desperate face in hopes that she will pet me and comfort me. She does nothing at first, only stares blankly into the room around her. I am not sure what I should do, so, I make a whimper and tap her with my paw. She snaps out of it and begins petting me. She begins to sob over my body and tears drip down my fur. I lick her face, in condolence, and she begins speaking to me. Her voice is broken, but she musters that my humans will no longer be returning, and I have to go away. This comes as a shock to me. I don’t understand. How could they leave me? But she further continues petting and crying and speaking as if I were human. She says they had an accident, and she could not care for me because there was no room in the place that she lived in.
I was shaken and afraid. My humans daughter got a toy or two of mine, put me in my kennel, and into her car, and drove away from the home that I was born in, lived in for 6 months, and will never see again. I began whining and howling. I didn’t know what was happening. All I knew was that I would never get to see my two favorite humans ever again.
Only minutes later the daughter pulls into a place full of other animals. It was so noisy and full of many other types of dogs; all shapes, sizes, and colors. Some were barking, some were curled into balls, hiding away from the noise. I couldn’t understand why we were here. Daughter pulls my kennel out of the car, takes me out, and puts me on a leash. We walk into the building. I am scared, walking with my tail tucked. I sit close to Daughter’s feet and listen to her speak to the lady at the other end of the counter. I learn more sitting here than I have ever known. I hear Daughter tell her my name, which, by the way, is Rascal. I also hear her tell the lady that I am a 6 month old beagle and gave her a little history of my mother and what happened the day I was born. She gives her a listing of all of the shots I have received and the fact that her family can no longer care for me because my humans perished in a car accident and she was a college student with no room for me. After taking all of this in, I just sat, staring blankly into the world. Dogs barking and cats meowing everywhere. It was such chaos. I just wanted to go home and play with No and Precious. But it wouldn’t be that way. Daughter knelt down, petted my head and kissed it. She handed my toy to the lady behind the desk., told me she was sorry, that she loved me, and walked out of the door without ever saying goodbye. I began whimpering and howling as I saw her drive away without me. “Come back! Please!” But she never did.
The lady from behind the desk began tugging on my leash . I was so frightened. Since I was only 6 months old, I heard her say she had to carry me to my new room. She didn’t want me getting any diseases, and that it was standard protocol. As we traveled down the halls, cats were meowing at me and dogs were barking. I couldn’t hear to think. I couldn’t do anything but close my eyes and imagine that this is just a nightmare.
I wake up on a cold, damp floor. The stench was so horrible, and I was so alone. It’s funny how I could be surrounded by so many animals, yet feel so alone. I didn’t belong here. I was shaking and frightened when the dog next to me began telling me what I was in for. He was a big dog, some kind of bulldog, he said. He called me “Kid” and told me that the chances were, this would be the last place I would ever see on this earth. This made me cry out and beg him not to say anymore. How could he tell me such things? He had to be wrong. He had to be.
The next day I wake up to find that the bulldog that was speaking to me the day before was gone, and now another dog took his place. This dog was a Labrador retriever named Bailey and she seemed to be much friendlier than the bulldog. She seemed frightened just as much as I had when I came in here, just a day before. The dog on the opposite side of my kennel was a mutt named Daisy. She had a blue eye and brown eye, but she was quite a nice dog. She explained to me, in a much more soothing tone, that the bulldog, Major, had gone away to Doggy Heaven. She said that if we don’t get adopted within a few days, we too, will face the same doom. I frantically began barking and howling and running around my kennel. I could not believe what was being said. I could not bear to think how I could have such an unfair advantage. My humans are gone. My mother and siblings are gone. Daughter is gone. I have no one. I have no reason to live. My only resort is to succumb to this cold place. I curl into the corner and stare out for hours.
People walk by from time to time, but I have no interest in them. Some stick their fingers in my kennel and whistle for me. I don’t care to go. They aren't No, Precious, or Daughter. Daisy tells me to perk up and beg. I have never been one to beg. My humans always gave me what I wanted with no questions. I could not resort to such a thing. I had no care to. I ignored her and stuck into my corner.
A young couple walk in and look at Bailey and the girl hugs her companion and says “she’s the one.” They get assistance and take Bailey out of her cage, walking her, petting her, and giving her all kinds of attention. It doesn’t take long before the couple says they want to take her home. Bailey’s gone. Major’s gone. And soon, Daisy tells me, she too, will be gone. If she doesn’t get adopted out before tomorrow, she’ll be right there with the rest of them. I shutter at the thought and close my eyes in fear. I want to be back home. I want to sleep between No and Precious and feel their warmth and love again. I guess I have to accept the fact that they are gone. Gone for good.
The next day comes around and a man comes in and takes Daisy out of her cage. She is reluctant, and looks back at me. She tells me to fight, fight hard to find a new owner. It is my only hope for freedom. It is my only escape from the end. And just as quickly as I met Daisy, she, too, was gone from my life.
I sit back and howl at the loss of all the humans and animals I have known. In such a short time, I have lost so many. And just as I continue howling, a dog from across the room yells at me to shut-up. I go to sleep in a silent cry. Maybe I should get out of this place. But how?
The new day begins and I raise up from my kennel and decide today will be the day that I greet every human that crosses my path. But just as I get excited at the sound of feet prints drawing nearer, I see that it is one of the workers. I begin thinking that it is too late and I am fated to death. He takes me out of my kennel and I begin howling. “Put me back!” I freeze and he has to drag me out of the kennel. He picks me up and carries me to another room. I am shaking so fiercely and preparing for my death. I can’t believe this is the end.
He injects me with some fluid and I slowly go to sleep.
I wake up a couple hours later, drowsy and a little faint. I’m alive! But, but they said... Oh, what does it matter. I’m still alive! Maybe I was too strong for the fluid. Maybe they saw that I should live. Whatever the reason, I’m alive. But I hear a volunteer say they finished my neuter and updated my shots. Neuter? Is that... ooh yeah! So, maybe that is where Daisy and Major went. Maybe they didn’t go to Doggie Heaven. Possibly, it was just to be Neutered and Spayed! After a bit of recovery, the worker returns me to my kennel. I am so excited, thinking I will see Daisy and Major, but only return to see, once again, two new dogs. On one side, a mastiff named Bull, and on the other, a pit bull called Oz. They were both strong, silent types. They didn’t talk much, and this made me miss Daisy and Bailey. They were both so friendly. They kept me company and made me feel good. Furthermore, this made me think of Bailey and how lucky she must be to have a home. She is probably playing with her new humans and living it up. I wish I could be, too.
Another day goes by and I fight to get attention from people walking by. I make cute puppy faces and wag my tail. I lick little kids faces through the fencing and let them rub me for as long as they like. I am practically begging to be adopted. I hate how I am getting used to this life. I do this for another couple of days, without success.
The worker comes in to get me again. I was sleeping and he wakes me up, puts me on a leash and begins walking me out. All of the dogs starting howling and barking and some tell me that my time is up. I was on my way to Doggie Heaven. I was so frightened. But maybe they were wrong. Last time I only got neutered. Maybe this time it will just be something like it. But no, I knew something felt different about this. I am only 6 months old! How could this be happening? I am taken outside, and for the first time in days, I am able to walk around on the grass and run free. I overhear the worker say this is my last romp and I need to make it memorable. This only makes me sadder, and I sit on the ground and begin howling. The worker tells me to play and run around, but I don’t want to do anything. So he begins to walk over to put the leash back on me and tell me it’s time to go. I become sluggish and whimper. I can’t believe I am about to die. I can’t believe my life is over.
The worker starts to bring me back inside and we walk back to another room. He sits me up on a cold, metal table, and just before he tries to shut the door, a man bursts into the room. The worker yells at him and tells him he can’t be in there. The young man, out of breath, tells him that he can’t put me to sleep. He must have me. I perk up at the sound of this, and bark in delight. The worker tells him it is too late and tries once again to shut the door. But the young man, who says his name is Jackson, refuses and once again pleads with the man that he get a chance to adopt me. ME!!! He wanted me! He was fighting for me! He told the man that he had heard about me from a friend and had been wanting to get me for a surprise for his girlfriend. He began telling him how his girlfriend had always wanted a beagle, and he was going to adopt me, and propose to her with the ring on my collar. I could not contain myself and I hurled off of the table and into his arms, licking his face. The worker, seeing this instant bond, tells Jackson that he will see what he can do. Jackson carries me out to the first place I came to with Daughter, and begins talking to the workers. This time, however, I didn’t pay attention because I was so excited. After what seemed like hours, he picked me up and carried me out to his car. I couldn’t contain myself and I just kept barking and wagging my tail and jumping around in his car. He was laughing at me and said that he couldn’t wait to show me to his girlfriend, that she would fall in love with me, and that the ‘ring around my collar’ would be the perfect touch to his proposal. This was great. I found a new owner. I did it! I did it for you, Daisy!
Jackson carries me into his apartment and puts a collar around my neck. He paces back and fourth and anxiously repeats a speech saying something along the lines of “Will you marry me?” He practices a routine with me for two days where I sit behind a couch and then come out when he snaps two fingers together. It seems sweet enough, and I am so excited to be taking a part in this. Candles are lit, music is playing, food is smelling ever so yummy, and I have my nice, new collar and a beautiful diamond ring attached. I somehow seem to know the importance of this ring, so I make sure I don’t knock it off my collar and I remain still and patient. Soon enough Jackson’s girlfriend, Kylie walks in and is in awe by the sight of the room. Jackson is nervous, I can see it in his eyes. He is shaking and he kisses Kylie and guides her to the couch. She has yet to see me, and I am trying my best to contain myself. Soon though, Jackson snaps his fingers and I come out from behind the couch. Kylie is surprised and happy all at once. Jackson proposes to her and takes the ring from my neck. She is crying, but manages a yes. She hugs him tightly for a few minutes and I sit back and watch. You know, they remind me of a younger No and Precious. Soon after the excitement goes away, the two call for me and show me attention and love and affection for hours on end. I am so delighted and I can’t believe I have gotten a second chance. But I have. And I am so happy, once again. I will never forget my owners before, but I love my new ones just as much.
A couple of years go by and I am sitting on the couch, waiting for my dinner. I look up at the walls and see a portrait of Jackson, Kylie, and I. I feel so happy to be with such a wonderful family. I almost had a close call, but I was saved. The animal shelter was a scary place, but at the same time, I am so thankful for it. If I wouldn’t have been taken there, I might never have met my new owners. Although I am happy now, I do think from time to time of what might have happened to Daisy and Major, Bull and Oz, and all of the other dogs and cats. I hope they all got adopted, but I guess I will never know. After all, adoption is the best option!


- Kristy Boyd