Tina is a gentle and pitiful dog. Today is her tenth birthday, a day she has always looked forward to. But for Tina, this birthday is bittersweet. It is also the day she was abandoned.
She remembered it clearly: a sunny day, her favorite toy in her mouth, and the sudden, cold realization that her family was gone. She’d been left at a park, a small suitcase of her belongings beside her. The fear and confusion had been overwhelming.
Now, ten years later, she was living in a shelter. The kind volunteers did their best to make her feel at home, but nothing could replace the warmth and love of a family. Today, the shelter was quieter than usual, the only sound the soft padding of her paws on the concrete floor.
Tina went to the window and looked out at the park where she’d been abandoned. The memories flooded back, a wave of sadness washing over her. She missed her old home, her favorite toys, and the feeling of being loved and wanted.
As the day wore on, Tina’s heart grew heavier. She curled up in her kennel, her tail tucked between her legs. She closed her eyes and imagined what it would be like to have a family again. She dreamed of snuggling on a cozy couch, chasing squirrels in the backyard, and feeling the warmth of a loving hand on her head.
