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My Life (by A Pet Store Puppy)
I don't remember much
from the place I was born. It was cramped and dark and we were never
played with by the humans. I remember Mom and her soft fur,
but she was often sick, and very thin. She had hardly any milk for
me and my brothers and sisters. I remember many of them dying, and I
missed them so. I do remember the day
I was taken from Mom. I was so sad and scared, my milk teeth had
only just come in, and I really should have been with Mom still, but she
was so sick, and the humans kept saying they wanted the money and were
sick of the "mess" that me and my sister made. So we were crated up and
taken to a strange place. Just the two of us. We huddled together
and were scared, still no human hands came to pet or love us. So
many sights and sounds, and smells! We were in a store where there
were many different animals! Some that squawked! Some that
meowed! Some that peeped! My sister and I were jammed into a
small cage. I heard other puppies there. I saw humans look at
me. I liked the "little humans," the kids. They looked so
sweet, and fun, like they would play with me! All day we stayed in
the small cage, sometimes mean people would hit the glass and frighten us,
every once in a while, we were taken out to be held or shown to humans.
Some were gentle, some hurt us. We always heard "Aw, they are
so cute! I want one!" but we never got to go with any. My sister
died one night, when the store was dark. I laid my head on her soft
fur and felt the life leave her small thin body. I had heard them
say she was sick and I should be sold at "discount price" so that I would
quickly leave the store. I think my soft whine was the only
one that mourned for her as her body was taken out of the cage
in the morning and dumped. One day, a family
came and bought me! Oh happy day! They are a nice family, they
really, really wanted me! They bought a dish and food and the little
girl held me so tenderly in her arms. I love her so much! TheMom and
Dad say what a sweet and good puppy I am! I am named Angel. I love
to lick my new humans. The family takes such
good care of me, they are loving and tender and sweet. They gently
teach me right and wrong, give me good food, and lots of love! I
want only to please these wonderful people! I love the little girl
and enjoy running and playing with her. One day, I went to
the veterinarian. It was a strange place and I was frightened.
I got some shots, but my best friend, the little girl, held me so
softly and said it would be okay, so I relaxed. The vet must have
said sad words to my beloved family, because they looked awfully
sad. I heard "severe hip dysphasia" and something about my
heart....I heard the vet say something about backyard breeders and my
parents not being tested. I knew not what any of that meant, just that it
hurt me to see my family so sad, but they still love me, and I still love
them very much! I am six months old
now. Where most other puppies are robust and rowdy, it hurts me
terribly just to move. The pain never lets up. It hurts to run
and play with my beloved little girl, and I find it hard to breathe. I
keep trying my best to be the strong pup I know I'm supposed to be, but it
is so hard. It breaks me heart to see the little girl so sad, and to
hear the Mom and Dad talk about, "it might now be the
time." Several times I have
went to that veterinarian's place, and the news is never good.
Always talk about "congenital problems." I just want to feel
the warm sunshine, and run and play, and muzzle with my
family. Last night was the
worst, pain has been my constant companion now, it hurts even to get up
and get a drink. I try to get up but can only whine in pain. I
was taken in the car one last time. Everyone is so sad, and I don't
know why. Have I been bad? I try to be good and loving, what
have I done wrong? Oh if only this pain would be gone! If only
I could soothe the tears of the little girl. I reach out my
muzzle to lick her hand, but can only whine in pain. The veterinarian's
table is so cold. I am so frightened. The humans all hug and
love me, they cry into my soft fur. I can feel their love and
sadness. I manage to softly lick their hands. Even the vet doesn't
seem so scary today. He is gentle and I sense some kind of relief
for my pain. The little girl holds me softly and I thank her for
giving me all her love. I feel a soft pinch in my foreleg. The
pain is beginning to lift, I am beginning to feel peace descend upon me.
I softly lick her hand. My vision is becoming dreamlike now,
and I can see my mother and my brothers and my sisters in a far off green
place. They tell me there is no pain there, only peace and happiness. I
tell the family "good-bye" in the only way I know how, a soft wag of my
tail and a nuzzle of my nose. I had hoped to spend
many, many moons with them, but it was not meant to be. "You see,"
said the veterinarian, "pet shop puppies do not come from ethical
breeders." The pain ends now, and I know it will be many years until
I see my beloved family again. If only things could have been
different. J. Ellis Background by Cocker Spaniel
Mania
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