Note ::

This is inspired by being a long time watcher of Animal Cops. Seeing what those poor animals go through just because humans don't know how to treat them with the love and care that they deserve. 

It is also inspired from the many times I've gone to see dogs at the shelter near me. Looking at all those dogs often made me wonder what brought them there. How could dogs that were so wonderful be stuck in a place like that? No animal deserves that, no matter how much some might think they do.

In addition to this short story being inspired by Animal Cops and actual dogs in shelters, it is inspired by the old book Scruffy. (More particularly, the end of the book).

Cold garnet floors; icy steal bars on all four sides of you; dozens of people looking at you each day, but none taking you home; more and more of you added each day into the confinements – this was never the life I would have chosen to live – that is, if you can hardly call it a life at all. The life in a shelter, for however short of a time, can change a dog. I have seen the meanest dog thrown in here, soon realizing that the only way to get out was to change and be the “sweet lap dog” humans seem to like these days. They knew that if they did not find a human in so many days, the humans that worked at this place would take them away – and we would never see or hear from the dog again.

But it wasn’t just dogs that got thrown in here, oh no. It was animals of all kinds. I’ve seen cats – so many cats. Most of them were probably strays found wondering the streets like some of us dogs. I’ve seen a few rabbits come in, too. They are all taken into separate rooms, though. I’ve never understood why they do that. I'm sure we’re all here for one reason: No one wants us. Or well, not many people want us.

I remember when I first got here. They told me I would find a home in no time with my “sweet disposition.” And I put all my belief in them. I kept telling myself with every new moon that “tomorrow would be the day!” I always made myself believe that with the next sun, I would have a new home like a few other of the lucky dogs. Also, I was beginning to realize I was starting to run out of time to find a new human. And with that, instead of becoming more and more desperate like a lot of dogs, I grew calmer.

The things I’ve heard from people as reasons not to adopt some of us, too! One human girl was rude enough to say one of us wouldn’t match her carpet. And to think, my mother always taught me that a dog is a man’s best friend. She taught me that they would love and care for us. But I guess not, huh? I guess all we are to some of them is simple additions to their house, and not their family. If that’s what I would have to be brought home to, then I guess I’m glad to not have found a new human family.

With a sigh, I bring myself back to what is happening. Around me, the human workers are starting to put everything together. It seemed that it was almost time to have the other humans come in to look at us. Sure, I'm willing to bet that at least a few dogs will get a new home, and maybe even some of the cats. I was going so far to hope that maybe I would be, too. There had been a little boy the past few days coming to see me. I heard him talking to his human girl that followed him around, too. Seems he really wants to take me home. A dog can only hope.

With a click, the door is unlocked. I spin my head around in the direction of the opening door with curiosity plastered across my face. It was too early to be letting any humans in, so it must be another new dog. With a slight indifference, I lay down and put my muzzle across my paws. Once a dog has been here for a while, you start not to care as much about newcomers. Sure, if one is placed close to me, or in my kennel, I'll talk to them. It is sometimes interesting to hear stories from them about where they came from or why they are here. This new dog, however, is placed a few kennels away from me with other ones that look similar to it: golden and long fur.

I look down at my own paws and down my body. I do like the look of my fur. It is kind of a blue and grey mix, with some orange. Cattle dog; that’s what I am. One blue eye, one green. But too hyper, apparently, for most. It’s not my fault, however, it’s just who I am. It’s in my kind’s nature to be more hyper than relaxed. Then again, after seeing human upon human simply walk by, ignoring the hyper activity, I started to mellow down a while ago. Now most of the time, I sit in a corner and watch the people, walking up to the front only if I sense one that I like.

The saddest part for me, living in a place like this, is not having a name. I used to have one, you see, but my human family left me behind when they moved. They were not allowed to take me with, and did not take the responsibility to find me new humans. Not even thinking about what was best for me, they tied me up out in front of their house, probably thinking someone would come along and take me home with them. Instead… I ended up here.

Bored now, I shut my eyes and allow myself fall into a blissful sleep. I don’t think I dream, but if I do, it’s probably about my old humans and how I miss them. It could be about the betrayal I felt when they left me. Whatever it might be about, it does not matter. It was not like I would ever see my old humans again. To them, I had never been a part of their family, which had become ever so apparent to me when I was left behind.

Opening my bi-coloured eyes, I look around. I can tell it’s almost time for the workers to let the humans in for all the dogs are excited. I glance over at the newcomer, who is cowering in the back of their kennel, not knowing what to expect. Without much emotion, I stand and walk to my corner, waiting for the rush to come in like every morning.

Another click echoed throughout the cold place and humans started to file in. Most went right over to the puppies, which were kept in the back corner. A few people slowly walked by my kennel, but my only interest was to see if the boy would come back. I took a liking to him all ready, and only wanted for him to take me home.

Suddenly, a girl somewhat older than his age peers into my eyes, trying to coax me over to her. After she stands there determinedly for a few minutes, I stand to my paws and walk over, letting my tail wag lightly as I feel the touch of her hand on my head. She did seem like a nice enough girl, but I want the boy to take me home. I could hear the girl saying things to me, all nice things, too. She seems to really like me, telling me what a “pretty girl” I am. Soon enough, though, her mom wisps the girl away to look at other animals.

I go back to my corner once the girl is gone, keeping my eyes out for the boy. After an hour or two, I start to get disheartened. He was not going to be coming today. And this realization hurt me more than I thought it would have. The one boy, the one that probably could have saved me, was not going to be able to. I put my head onto my paws and let out a soft whimper without meaning to. With a sigh, I stand up and take a few more steps towards the back of my kennel, allowing the other dogs in there with me to move closer to the front.

Soon enough, the humans stop making their somewhat noisy entrances through the door. After the last of the humans leave, it quickly quiets down once more. I lift my head slightly, looking out at the other kennels. Sure enough, a few of them were missing a dog or two. In a way, I feel a bitterness towards those that get a new family every day in knowing that they have been saved, yet I'm still here.

I shake my head and look at the dogs in my own kennel, seeing the expressions of sadness across their own faces. One, I think a form of shepherd, and a young female, is whimpering softly, her head laying still across her paws. At once, the sympathy for her takes over me and I walk over to her, licking her muzzle in an attempt of comfort. I know how badly she wants a new human after her last ones abused her. Such a sweet thing, too, she is. It did not make a bit of sense to me how she was still here.

After I stop her whimpering and make her feel a bit better, I stand back up and make my way to my spot once more. There, I put my head back onto my paws, looking around, attempting to keep my own sadness out of my eyes. But I know it does not work. I feel the shepherd padding over next to me, laying her head next to mine. I turn to her, a grateful smile across my lips. I shut my eyes and allow myself to sleep once more.

After what seems like no time at all, I wake to the sound of my kennel door being slowly opened by one of the workers. The shepherd was still by my side, looking at me with nervous eyes. There was only one time when a worker would come into a kennel after all the other humans were gone. I could tell that he was wanting me to come with him. Giving the shepherd a gentle lick on the ear, I walk up to the human, and stood there as he attached a rope to my collar. He led me out and as I tried to catch his eyes, he diverted them from me as if ashamed. The poor boy did not have to be, though. I knew he was just doing his job.

As he led me down past all the other kennels, I could not help but look into them. I saw a few of the dogs that came in the day after me and could not help but feel sorry for them seeing their saddened expressions across their faces. I give them the bravest smile I could before I continue on my way after the human.

He leads me into this white room. It’s a pretty good size one with different equipment. Inside, he gives the rope around my neck to a human girl who did not look much older than the one that had pet me earlier in the day. The biggest difference, however, was that there were tears in this one’s eyes. I could smell the depression on her.

“I'm sorry girl,” she tells me softly, rubbing me behind my right ear like how I