I don't remember it much, but I was born in a small kennel
From my mother's womb into the light outside the dark tunnel
There were six of us, my littermates and I together
We were barely weaned onto solid food before being taken away from mother

Then my brothers, my sisters and I were put into a plastic box with glass in front
We made the most of it, playing together and practicing to hunt
People would walk by and sometimes press their noses to the glass, cooing at us
The looked silly like that, so we would wag our tails and make a big fuss

But, we all missed mom, especially the runt who would cry all night
Then all of us would whimper too, as if that would make everything right
Sometimes people would want to hold us, and we were excited for the attention
We would like their faces and nibble their fingers with blind affection

Once in a while, however, one of my siblings would be picked up, never to be seen again
My only hope is that they found peace whenever I think back to then
Then you came with your husband and saw my last brother and I in that box
You picked me up and said I was the cutest puppy as I chewed on your golden locks

Then it was my turn to be taken away, leaving my brother all alone
I whimpered, begging him to come, but you hushed me in a soothing tone
We arrived at a new place, which you tried to convince me was my new home
It was far bigger than the cages I knew, much too big to roam

Quickly, the weeks passed
I began to forget about my past
All I knew was you
Cherishing everything we'd do

I was not so fond of your husband, however
But, he never really liked me either
All I cared about was that you were my new mother
And I just wanted us to always be together

I never really liked the little clothes you bought for me
They were itchy and felt a little too heavy
But, sometimes I would tolerate them just for you
It pleased me to see you smile, it's true

Sometimes you would also get mad at me
Like when I would use the carpet to pee
Or, sometimes even to poo
Or, when I'd give your shoes a little chew

I'm sorry that I was such a bad puppy
I never knew this is how things would be
I would undo it all, if I could
If it was in my power, I assuredly would

When I started to grow up, you wouldn't spend time with me quite as often
Sometimes you wouldn't even come home until late in the night at ten
But, I waited for you each and every night
I could not sleep until you were within sight

I was getting bigger, and you wouldn't call me your cute puppy anymore
I'd try to get your attention, and you would throw me out and shut the door
What did I do that was so wrong?
Couldn't I have a little time? Not too long

I tried again and again just to make you smile
But, I started to feel like a coat out of style
Then, one day, I smelled something on you that was different
 Then, I knew it in that instant

A few weeks passed, and you gave the news to him
He succumbed to joy and shouted, "Oh my god, Kim!"
To show my own excitement, I jumped onto the couch with my favorite ball
But, that's what started it all

"Bad dog! Get down from there!"
With that, he gave me an awful stare
"See how bad he is? What if he jumped on your stomach and hurt the baby?"
"It was just because we were excited, so it made him happy"

"I don't care. He can't be around you if he'll act like that.
"What if he were to trip you, and you fell flat?
"What if he has some disease that will hurt the kid?
"And, if he bit the baby? What would you do if he did?"

The two of you argued for a while
I tried to stop it, but my efforts were futile
Then it stopped. You were crying, and he huffed his chest
"We'll take him to the shelter tomorrow; This is what's best."

It was tomorrow morning and we all got into the car
You would barely look at me, and it felt like you were so very far
Finally, we stopped and he pulled out the keys
The sound of dogs barking flooded the breeze

We stood for a lifetime until we reached the front of the line
"He is such a sweet dog, I'm sure he'll be adopted just fine."
"Ma'am, I've heard this a lot, so I'll be very honest
"I've been here a long time, so these are the facts to which I can attest

"We have hundreds of dogs here, for which we don't always have the funds
"The adoption rate is pitiful compared to euthanasia rates, even for the 'sweet' ones."
You looked immediately to your husband, the man in the devil's seat
"Remember, this is what's best. Like you said, he's really sweet"

More time passed as another argument began
I still didn't know what was going on, but going home was my only plan
But, another man came and wrapped another leash around my throat
He took me away, and I didn't even get a vote

Once again, I was taken away
I didn't want to go; my family was the other way
I whimpered, trying to get your attention
But, you kept walking in the other direction

The man dragged me down the longest aisle
Countless dogs barked at me, putting me on trial
Finally I was placed into another small kennel like where I was born
The barking never stopped, mixing with howls which sounded forlorn

This is where I am now, and that was only a week ago
I just try to hide in the corner, huddled low
At night I cry for my mothers and my siblings
I think of all the shoes I could be nibbling

Once a day, somebody will come to leave a bowl of food
When nobody is around, I'll sneak out of my corner to eat some, if I'm in the mood
People come up and squish their faces to the bars
But, I won't go to them because I just want you

Some of those people in blue have tried,
But shake their heads because I only hide
I can barely sleep at night
The other dogs make too much noise

I just want my bed
I just want my food
I just want my toys
But, most of all, I just want you
A blue person is coming up to me again
I still refuse to go to him
But, he enters the cage this time
And sits next to me

I shiver and try to curl up tighter in my corner
She talks to me in a soothing tone just like you
But, it's not you, so I continue to shrink
She gets that leash around my neck again and carries me out

I don't want her to hold me, so I squirm
She puts me down and lets me walk
The other dogs bark at me again
She pulls me towards a door

The closer we get, something smells wrong
Where are we going?
Why are we here?
She opens the door

Don't take me in there!
It smells like death!
Oh my god!
I can hear them!

The screams of all the dogs in here before still echo in the walls
I don't like it in here!
I can smell them all
I can smell the death, and the fear

Please take me out of here, I promise to be a good puppy
I won't do anything bad again!
This blue lady puts me on a table and tries to calm me
Why would I be calm here!?

Somebody else holds me still
I try to nip at his fingers
He's too strong for me
All I can do is watch and whimper

She sticks something into my leg
It hurts a little, but I'm too scared to care
Please I just want to go home
Why can't I go home?

I miss my family
Where is my family?
Everyone I ever loved is gone
Why won't anyone stop this?

Suddenly, I'm feeling very tired
I don't want to sleep right now though
I want to get away
But, maybe I'll just sleep for a little...

This story was not based on a true case
But, I hope that I have captured every emotion
This poem was assembled from tales of mankind's disgrace
That is to say, those times when we seem to lack devotion

Buying a pet should not be based on a whim
Because one day your interest might reach its limit
Then, the animal's fate begins to look grim
As you try to throw it away like a cheap trinket

We need to learn that life has more value than its sales price
If you were in need, would you not beg for help to descend?
But, in a selfish world, help is difficult to entice
I hope you see that by looking through the eyes of man's best friend