Pack

This cold cement floor and metal-fenced four walls have been the longest home I have known. My last family thought I was cute and fun as a pup, but I got too big for them. That's when they brought home a new pup that cried a lot; it also didn't have fur like I did. All I wanted to do was play with it like my siblings and I would before, but they didn't like that. They would fuss at me like I was being a hassle, but one day they brought me to this really cool park far away that was filled with new smells, smells I didn't recognize, so I investigated the park to make sure it was safe for my pack.



While investigating this new place, my mom and dad disappeared, or maybe they were taken. I panicked; my pack was gone, they could have been hurt. I searched all over the place for them, but their smell disappeared at the end of the road. I grew scared looking for them, but as their protector, I continued to look for them. Many days and nights I searched for them; the nights were scary as I looked for them. I grew very hungry looking for them, but I didn't have time to stop looking for my family. I know they must be looking for me.



My search was paused when a scary man in a vehicle took me. He wasn't scary after he put me in the vehicle. I love car rides. He gave me some really good food, but I was still worried about my pack. I tried smelling for them, but there was no luck. He was very nice to me; he scratched my head and calmly spoke to me.



We pulled up to a building, and I could hear other dogs shouting from inside, and it began to scare me. The smell reeked of fear. I tried telling the man that I needed to find my pack, but he didn't understand me. He pulled me out of the vehicle, and my fear grew. I didn't want to go into the building. I tried fighting it and to get away from the man, but I wasn't strong enough. I was still young and barely over a year old. The fear coming from inside the building was overwhelming as he dragged me into the building. Through the doors, the other dogs were yelling at me, and I was tossed into a room with a shredded towel, cold cement, and four walls made of metal. I hid in the corner of the room because I was so scared of it all, but my family would come save me.



It has been three years; I have made several friends who left because their families found them, or they found new packs to go with. I'm still waiting for my pack to show up to save me; they are bound to find me, right?



I will always be waiting for them; I know they are looking for me like I looked for them because they care about me.



A few years later, I still wait for them; I hope they recognize me with my gray hairs. My eyes have become harder to see through; my nose doesn't pick up as many smells anymore. I hope they are still looking for me; they have to be getting close, right?



I'm getting really tired; my corner keeps me safe. The man who rescued me comes to visit me more and more. Today he brought me out of my cage for a car ride; I sure love and miss car rides. We went and got some of that yummy food he had before. I felt bad because he had to help feed me because I couldn't see the food. He petted me, and then he gave me a bath; I don't mind baths, they feel good on my bones from the warm water.



We went to the park where I laid in the sun for a long time. There was a smell; it was faint, but I recognized it, my pack, but my old bones couldn't lift my body up. I wish I could stand up and run to them; I found them, they found me. But I am so tired. The man sat next to me and petted me and calmly spoke to me.



I heard someone else walk up to me; they petted me as well. I opened my foggy eyes; I only saw shapes. Their voices were calm and sad, but I still didn't understand what they were saying.



Then I felt something poke my leg; my body was flooded with an icy cold rush, but the sun's warmth overpowered it. I became even more tired; my body stopped hurting. I felt very relaxed. I can't sleep now while I can still smell my family, but I am so tired. Maybe I will take a little nap; the sun felt really good. I can't fight the sleep. Maybe they'll be here when I wake up. I hope they recognize me.