White Paws

The white furry pup once had a home but no more. Those so familiar no longer cared for him. No more food was placed before him, no longer did he have a special place to rest.

Scrappy white paws ran through the streets of southern California. The world was his doghouse and the sidewalks his food bowl. It may seem like freedom is what every pouch wants but the spirit of the wolf doesn’t reside in every puppy’s heart.

This mutt enjoyed running free with no fence, no limits just the open road. When night came, however, he shivered alone on the cold cement ground. His white shiny coat soon became hidden under dust and tangled mats. Like so many others he lived by his wits and tried to survive.

So often the bitter adventure of the stray is cut short by the dogcatcher’s net and a square cage. The scrappy mutt received another name to be called but only by strangers who came and went.

There is terror that comes from no longer being in control of your own fate. Who of your captors can be trusted? Will tomorrow will be the same as yesterday? Is there someone out there that will come take him away? Food and shelter are provided but so much is new and unpredictable.

His coat was finally groomed and white again. There was no more cold nights or scavenging for food. Strangers came but rarely stuck around. So often he stayed in a cage alone but sometimes he was taken out to go here or there. No one seemed to understand, no one gave him a special place. He was alone surrounded by so many others.

From cage to plane to another type of prison, surrounded by more strangers some with two legs some with four. He was in a new place so much different than before. He was still fed along side so many others. Kindness surrounded them but still strangers came and went.

One dismal day he sat in a cage along side so many others. He did not add to the chorus of barks in the air but tried to sleep and dream of better days. People passed by, going from cage to never-ending cage. Some stopped nearby and looked in but they did not peak his interest.

He woke with the sound of someone opening the door to his prison. A somewhat familiar face led him to two unfamiliar ones. Finally he was able to stretch in the fresh air and enjoy the smells in the wind.

His tail wagged a little. Maybe life soon would be better. The two strangers said hello and seemed nice enough. However, the outing ended quickly and soon he returned to his cage. The strangers were gone and everything seemed the same as it was.

A bit later another unexpected thing occurred. The scruffy pup did not think much of it, there was nothing he could do to change anything anyway. As he sat in his kennel waiting to be let out of the traveling machine, his thoughts again went back to better days.

Once back on the ground he was lead to a door and up some stairs. Through the second door there was the stranger from before. She greeted him with the same friendliness and somehow the homeless pup knew he now had a home.

Happy did find a home with us and he is the best pup ever. He has his little quirks, which makes him all the more special and lovable. We are so lucky to have him in our family. He was a rescue that really did rescue us.