When I was just a puppy you brought me home with a kitten as a
sister. We had so much fun. We cuddled together.
You smiled and laughed at us. You fed us lots of great
tasting food. We had toys to play with.
One day you put me outside. I was by myself and my kitten
friend was inside. You said that you could not afford to have
us both. I tried to get back in the house. You got
angry with me and told me to be quiet.
As I watched you come and go from the house, I was very
sad. We didn't cuddle anymore. You weren't smiling at
me anymore. I didn't get anymore great tasting food. I
got cold when the snow fell.
I started to wonder around because I was lonely and
hungry. Some people were friendly and I felt good when I was
around them. But some other people were not friendly.
They scared me.
One day I felt a sudden pain in the back of my neck as one of
those scary people hit me. I don't know what it was but it
hurt so much. No one would help me. Finally the
bleeding stopped but it was stinging for so long. I
just kept hoping it would go away.
I met a new friendly person who said I deserved a better
life. He smelled good. He was kind. I liked
him. He put me in a weird contraption and I could feel that I
was moving but I wasn't walking. I was pretty
scared.

He introduced me to a couple more people. They were very
happy people. It was kind of strange because they touched me
all over and I heard them gasp when they touched my stingy
area.

Their voices got a little angry and I thought that I had done
something wrong until I looked up and saw tears in their
eyes. I am not sure why they were crying so I wagged my
tail. This made them smile through their tears. Later
that night I fell asleep on the girl's lap. All of my fear
and loneliness disappeared. It felt good.

I went to see a doctor who fixed my stingy area. Guess
what, it doesn't sting anymore.

I get to live inside and I have a doggie friend to spend my time
with now. Best of all is that I am meeting all sorts of new
humans. And they are gentle and fun.

I don't know what I did wrong to make you cast me aside. I
don't know what I did wrong to make you hit me.
I hope I didn't make those mistakes again because I feel so safe
and loved now.
