Lou, a loyal and loving golden retriever, was feeling a strange mix of excitement and dread. Today was his birthday, a day he had always looked forward to. But there was something different in the air. His human parents, Sarah and David, seemed unusually quiet and distracted.
Lou waited by the door, his tail wagging hopefully, expecting a special treat or a birthday song. But instead, he heard a hushed conversation between Sarah and David. Their voices were filled with sadness and regret.
“I’m so sorry, Lou,” Sarah said, her voice trembling. “We love you so much, but we can’t keep you anymore.”
Lou’s heart sank. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. His parents were going to abandon him? He whimpered and scratched at the door, his tail tucked between his legs.
“Please don’t leave me,” he seemed to plead with his eyes.
David knelt down and stroked Lou’s head. “It’s not your fault, boy,” he said, his voice filled with sorrow. “We love you, but we can’t give you the life you deserve.”
Lou felt a wave of despair wash over him. He had always been a good boy, always tried to please his family. Why were they doing this to him? He begged and pleaded, his eyes filled with tears.
But Sarah and David were firm. They knew it was the right thing to do, even if it broke their hearts. They placed Lou in the back of the car and drove him to the animal shelter. As they drove away, Lou watched them through the rear window, his eyes filled with sadness and confusion.
Lou’s birthday had turned into the worst day of his life. He was alone, scared, and heartbroken. He missed his family more than anything in the world. As he sat in his kennel at the shelter, he wondered if he would ever see them again.
