A dog's story

I want to tell you a story.

The story about a dog who unconsciously saved five other dogs from an unknown destiny. A dog who, since young age, faced the struggle of living on her own, lost and scared, on the streets of a big city.

The past of this dog remains still a mistery. She might have never known the warmth of a home, the lovely touch of a caress, the power of a hug . No one but the dog knows what challenges and difficulties marked her past. The only known thing is that she was found at the age of 7 months roaming the same streets where she was looking for food and shelter.

Taken away from the danger of the streets, this dog was put in a doghouse where she received basic medical treatments, some shot and she was put in a cage with other dogs, dogs she has never seen, never known.

There were at least 15 in there.

It was a continuous fight for predominance and the weakest were always bullied. She was young but she had to be strong. She couldn’t show any weakness.

Food was provided but she couldn’t trust any of her dog mates. She had to be fast and take as much as possible. Nothing was ever certain in her life but that food was and she couldn’t hesitate a moment.

It still didn’t matter how hard she fought, food was never enough and she couldn’t gain weight.

Skinny and dirty, she was forced to pose for some picture.

Those pictures!…I saw them and I still have them forged in my mind. Eyes full of sadness and resignation were perfectly caught on camera.

She didn’t know the purpose of those pictures but it seemed to be a ritual for all newbies and no one could skip it. She did what she had to until she could go back to the cage, where she could hide, get a portion of food and find a warm corner to lay for the night.

Weeks passed and her hope for a better life was fading. It was visible she was giving up. She thought her destiny was there, in that cage, in that daily bowl of food.

A hot summer day, a strange young couple approached the cage.

She was curious but wary.

She tried to smell them but every time their hands were too close to the net, she thought to better move away from it.

“Who are they? And what do they want?” she probably thought.

She saw the other dogs bouncing in front of the net, wiggling their tails and barking like yelling for help. They knew what the couple was there for, they knew that could be the ticket for a free life.

Suddenly she got pointed among all the dogs in the cage.

Unaware of what was happening, she was taken out to face the couple that, kneeling, approached her with open arms and a big smile.

She couldn’t resist any longer. She ran towards those arms and she started to lick their hands in gratitude. She couldn’t believe that her life changing moment eventually arrived.

She looked at the couple talking with the people of the place, signing papers and then they all walked till the gate.

Her way out from that place.

She took a look back at the cage and at her dog fellows and then jumped into the car.

She stared outside the window the whole way. She watched the outside world passing by so fast waiting to reach the destination. It looked like she was watching in fast motion the past chapter of her life before starting the new one.

The car stopped by a big building. Some door and few steps after, they finally reached an apartment or the place that the dog will know as her new home.

It took her few seconds to get used to the new place while it took a longer moment for the cat to realize he wasn’t anymore the “king” of that place. He had had to step down from his throne and share the place with the new mate.

The couple gave the dog a very gooooood shower, a soft place to sleep, a bowl full of water, one full of food and and her first presents: a bunch of toys.

She didn’t care about the toys, she didn’t even know what they were for. She never played before, no one ever taught her.

She ran straight to the bowl with food and she devour everything in there. She still felt the necessity to take as much as she could. She didn’t know that that was her food, only hers.

The couple tried to assure her but they knew she needed time to forget all those previous habits. She needed to leave her past behind but only time and love could help her.

Time passed and she started to feel emotions never felt.

She was getting love, care, attentions from her new family and she always felt the need to show gratitude to the couple.

Her tail waved all the time and she “kissed” the couple often.

It was her way to show appreciation for what the couple did and was doing for her.

In less than 3 weeks she felt safer and more and more comfortable in that place and with those people.

Her skinny look was gone. She was finally putting some weight.

For the couple was really strange how fast she was gaining it. Her belly looked swollen.

“Something is not right” they thought.

Concerned and worried, they took her to the vet.

He checked the dog and ran tests.

After a long impatient wait, the vet looked at the couple and in calm tone said:

“There’s nothing wrong. She is healthy and so are the 5 puppies she is carrying”

“Pregnant?” the couple exclaimed. The vet nod silently while smiling.

“When should we expect her to give birth?” they asked.

“In less than a week” the vet answered.

2 days later she started the labor and delivered 5 beautiful puppies.

They looked like tiny cute hippos.

Closed eyes, closed ears, not able to stand on their own paws. Impossible not to love those tiny creatures but the couple knew from the very start what future expected them.

They knew that journey would end one day. Those cute little dogs sooner or later will grow and the couple won’t be able to keep them.

Although they knew the ugly truth, that didn’t stop them to enjoy all the moments with their new family members.

They experienced every first moment of the puppies. The first time they opened the eyes, the first time they walked, the first time the drank and ate from the bowls. A new exciting memory every second.

Their mum was glad to have the couple helping her through the whole thing and she put trust in them immediately with her puppies.

After 3 months of joyful mornings, playful afternoons and sleepless nights, the moment for the small 5 to find new homes and new families arrived.

The couple looked for the best for the puppies and their effort was well paid. They found the perfect matches and the new families were ready to welcome the new members.

The couple didn’t think it could be so hard to let the puppies go.

When the moment arrived, they cried but they knew it was the right decision. They were proud of how the puppies grew and how strong and brave they were to leave their mum and make new families happy.

All the families, new and old, gathered under the same roof that day. After some good time talking and sharing happy memories about the puppies, the couple gave a goodbye kiss to each of them and watched their beloved "babies" slowly leaving the apartment with those families.

In few minutes those high pitched barks faded away and a deep silence fell in that apartment.

The floor was still full of toys and ruined pillows.

The couple had still tracks of tears in their faces.

They looked at each other and sighed

Then they looked down at their dog. They knew she was heart-broken so, they took the leash, they smiled at her and they all went for a long walk.

THE END

That was it folks. That’s the story of how our dog joined our family.

I put obviously drama in it but that’s actually what really happened.

We took her from the shelter and no one knew she was pregnant. We found out 3 weeks later and, in a couple of days after, we went from 4 in the family to 9.

The experience of having puppies around and see them growing is amazing. It’s difficult and sometimes painful but really awesome.

We keep in touch with those families and we still visit the puppies when possible and I swear, it's a breathtaking moment when they run towards you because they still remember you even after long time.

I could write on and on about them but I won’t keep you any longer.

I can just give you my last advice.

If you never had the chance to have a dog in your life, if you are planning on getting one, if you love dogs and want to do something good for them or if you already have one but still have some space for another one, visit the closest doghouse to you.

I’m sure there is a wonderful soul in there waiting for you to take him/her home.

They deserve to be happy like us and I promise you, your life will be filled with unconditional love.