A letter from your rescue dog

Dear Mom/Dad,

my life hasn’t always been easy. I’ve been yelled at and had things done to me that no dog should experience. I may not show the scars, but believe me, I have them. They hurt. I always felt like I had done something wrong. I was bad. Maybe I had done something to deserve this. But it was my life. So I made the best of it. I played when I could. I tried to make people happy. But no matter what, it always ended the same.

Sure, I made some mistakes. But no one listened. I needed to go outside. I didn’t want to make a mess in the house. And that time I chewed up the shoe…I was bored. I was lonely. Maybe I just wanted some attention. But not like the attention I got. That hurt. I can still feel the pain. Everyday.

Then it all changed. I was forced in the car and taken away. Such a cold place. I was stuck in a cage. I was scared. I could hear other dogs. Barking. Always barking. The sounds scared me. But I think they were scared too. It wasn’t all bad though. From time to time, people would come by. Families. Kids. They would talk to me and smile. But they never took me home. Was there something wrong with me. I could be a good dog. I wanted to listen. I wanted to make them happy. But no one wanted me. That hurt.

Slowly, I got used to being here. The cold floor. The cage. The occasional visitor. I did get to play every now and then. And the food always tasted good. But in the back of my mind, I always felt like there was something wrong with me. Why didn’t anyone ever want me? This hurt worse than any pain I’d ever felt.

But one day, you came. I tried so hard to be good, but I couldn’t stop shaking. Wagging my tail. Jumping up. I could see it in your eyes. You would be my forever home. But I didn’t want to mess this up. I always seemed to mess things up. Maybe I didn’t deserve to be happy. But when you knelt down and put your nose to my face, I felt it. Love. I had never felt that before. Thanks to you – I knew what it meant to feel wanted. Needed. And so you took me home. So many new smells. And the thing you put around my neck that has those shiny things that jingle…I love it. I’m not a big fan of the thing you clip to it when we go for walks, but I’m getting used to it. Toys and treats. Now, this is the life.

But I think the most important thing I want to share with you is this. I will make mistakes. I may have an accident. I may bark. I may chew something I’m not supposed to. But I am trying. Remember, there’s a lot of hurt in me. I’ve been through a lot. And it all hurt. But everyday I spend with you heals me. Your love eases my pain. I don’t ever want to do anything to lose that. You have given me a new hope. A new life. And I will be forever thankful. Forever happy. With you.

Your rescue dog

(Author unknown)