Rescued

All he ever really wanted was to be loved. 

He never hurt anyone, never said a harsh word.  He wanted a warm and dry place to sleep at night and he didn't want to search anymore for food out in the trash, roaming the neighborhood all through the days and nights.  Especially when it was raining or snowing... it was just too cold for him!  He hated being cold.

He used to get very scared when his owners would yell loudly at him for no reason.  He would run around the house as fast as he could on his four little legs, hoping hoping hoping they couldn't catch him.  Faster, faster, faster... keep running!!  But it didn't matter.  Several times the young man didn't even bend over to smack him and would just stick out his foot for a yelp-inducing kick.

He kept up this tiring life until one day on his travels he met a new man down the street.  This man didn't have a mean bone in his body and was always happy to see him.  The man would pick him up, pet him, and say nice things to him, all the while ignoring his fleas and stench.  Sometimes, if he was lucky, he would get to go into this man's home where the man would give him a bath and feed him until it was time to leave.  This happened every so often and it always seemed like a dream to the little one who put up with so much.

Finally a day came when the new man was speaking to his owner at the front door.  He listened intently with his big ears and waited around the corner, afraid to come out into the open where he might be in trouble.  He heard his name being called and he had to move from his hiding spot; he hesitantly put on his brave face.  When he saw the new man bending down to pick him up, he shook with relief. 

Now he is warm and dry and he has his own bed.  He lives with the new man and his wife, who are now his mummy and daddy.  He never goes outside anymore without a leash and one of them with him, and he never has to find food in the trash.  They always have food and water just for him, and he even gets treats!  He still runs around the house as fast as he can, but only when mummy and daddy are playing with him and one of his toys.

His daddy has a heart of gold.  His daddy still picks him up, pets him, and says nice things to him.  He notices that his daddy is nice to everyone...always happy and full of praise, especially to his sister who magically appears home sometimes.  Once he heard his sister say... "I have the best parents in the whole wide world and I had the best childhood anyone could ever have."  He's not exactly sure what all of those words mean, but he certainly knows that he is loved.  He is his daddy's best friend.