Today is National Puppy Day! Happy, happy, happy!
Adopt Instead of Shop
It’s a good thing National Puppy Day’s motto is “Adopt instead of shop.” I don’t remember being a puppy. I celebrate, though–because I remember being adopted…
I was on death row. The shelter people had me so long, they began whispering. Early one Saturday morning, they hauled all us unadoptable dogs over to a big store named Pet Smart. It would be my last chance to hook up with a human.
My coat was overgrown and shabby–Nerve-wracking! I smiled and wagged my tail more than ever–Exhausting! If anyone came near, I stood on my hind legs and twirled–Dizzying!
Pet shoppers kept asking, “Where are the puppies?” Blast! I was a young adult.
Hours passed. Finally, in one desperate last-ditch attempt, the animal worker girl made a sign and taped it to my crate. It read, “Loves People.” (Exactly what I was trying to tell everybody!)
That girl was a marketing genius… or the hand of God. As I scanned the meandering shoppers, it wasn’t long before I spied a glowing, shimmering aura that was advancing… straight toward me! My eyes dilated. All I could see was shining light.
We fell in love at first sight (though I was nearly blinded.) I would have a home. She would never be alone.
I heard her soft, melodious voice “coo” over me. She murmured, “Poodle? Bichon?” Her tender hands stroked my head and massaged behind my ears. I stood perfectly still, so as not to break the spell. (In theory. Technically, my tail was a blur!) This human smelled divine–a lot like chocolate.
She was my Lacey. My soon-to-be forever-human.
I thought the two of us would just stroll out the Pet Smart door and ride off into the sunset. (I didn’t care where we went–together!)
As it turned out, Lacey and I could not be together–without a battle. One of the other dogs, that big, mangy, truly unadoptable German Sheppard (at the shelter longer than me!)… liked her, too. You should have seen how he insinuated himself, blocking my view, and paraded himself right in front of Lacey!
To be continued…
Progressive Graffiti 