I'm so happy today!

Today I finally saw you for the first time in a very long time. It was so amazing to finally see your face after such a long time of seeing nothing but darkness.

I wish you could just let me out of this box for awhile, but I understand that you're busy. I wouldn't want to bother you, but my legs are just so cramped in here.

My stomach rumbles and you see me drooling. You toss me a bag of dog food. I have to tear through it with my teeth, but that's okay, I wouldn't want you to strain yourself.

You stare at me while I eat, but I don't mind because it's been so long since I last saw you. I'm just so glad you're here.

You call me over after I'm finished, and you wrap a chain around my neck. I get so excited because I know we'll be going someplace amazing! I love that I'm finally getting out of that dark box!

I have a little trouble getting out, I have been cramped for so long that it's very difficult for me to walk. You're in a rush through, so you yank me along. That's okay though, I'm just glad you're taking me with you.

You mumble to yourself and you sound mad. I instantly want to cheer you up so I try to nuzzle your hand. You whip your eyes around and stare at me, I start to wag my tail, I just want you to be happy.

You mutter something angrily, and yank me harder. I'm sorry if I upset you, I just wanted to cheer you up. I won't do that next time.

My legs are so weak that I collapse on the way to our destination. I try to get up but I can't. My legs are too weak, I was sitting for too long. You start to get irritated with me. I don't want to upset you, so I whimper, I don't want you to leave me in the box again just because I fell this one time. I promise I can do it. I'll do it for you. Just please give me a minute.

Where we're going must be important to you though, because you can't wait for me to get up. You drag me through the yard by my chain. It starts to get hard for me to breathe, so I try to lift myself up. You're going toofast though so it's hard, but I know you're just trying to help me. After awhile my neck starts to get sore, I think I can smell my own blood from where the chain rubbed against my fur.

Not too long later, I see a white van with the back door open. I get excited and yelp, because I've never been in a car before. You stare at me expectantly to get in, but my legs are still really weak from sitting too long. You get tired of waiting for me, so you pick me up. I start wagging my tail because usually you don't touch me. I thought maybe you might finally pet me or rub my ears.

Abruptly, you throw me into the car. I hit the back wall with a slam, and my head bangs the metal wall. I become a little dizzy, and all I see is the outline of you closing the door. It turns out I was bleeding, but that's okay. I'll just clean myself up a little bit before you get back. I'm sure if you did see the blood, you would have helped me out for sure.

This rumbling noise begins hum in my ears. I'm a little nervous for where we might be going, but I trust you. I'm sure wherever we're going must be fine.

My legs are still a bit numb, and they're starting to hurt a little bit from trying to walk. I'm sure that's just because I haven't had too much exercise in a long time.

I look down at my paws. My fur is really matted. I try to lick and nibble them to try and make them look somewhat presentable for where we're going. I don't want to embarrass you.

The rumbling comes to an end. You come back and open the doors. Sunlight pours through the opening and you're surrounded by it. It almost looks magical. I hope that you have something very special in store for me.

You pull me by my chain until I fall onto pavement. You leave but I'm too caught up in the scenery to notice. We're on a road, and there's woods everywhere! So many trees! I can't wait to sniff them all and go exploring with you! This is way better than that dark box.

I turn myself around to tell you how much I love you, but I don't see you. The white van is gone. Where did you go? Was it something I did?

I decided that there was no way you would just leave me. I know you'll be back. I know you love me as much as I love you. I decided to lay down on the side of the road where you left me. That way when you come back you won't have to search for me.

I'm not sure how long I've been sitting here, but it's almost dark now. The sun is setting, and it's very beautiful. I'm glad you brought me here to see this, although I wish you were here with me. The breeze wafts through my fur, and it feels so good. I never felt this way inside that dark box.

I see headlights sometimes on the road, and I hope that it's you and wag my tail, but they always end up passing me by. That's okay though, because I know that one of them will be you eventually.

It's night time now, and you're still not here. I forgive you though, because I know you probably just had something really important come up. I don't mind waiting for you.

A little bit later, I see headlights again. I thought maybe they would pass me by but they actually began to slow down! I thought you were back for me! I wag my tail and try to get up, but my legs are still weak. I missed you so much!

The car pulled over, and I saw someone step out. It wasn't you. My tail slowed but I was still happy to see another person! Maybe they'll play with me!

They get closer and I hear them calling to me. I try to get up but they see that I'm struggling. I thought maybe they'll get a chain like you and pull me.

They don't. They come over to me and lift me into their arms. I make out the words "You're safe now. Nobody will ever hurt you again."

Who hurt me? Nobody hurt me? My legs are hurting a little bit, but that's only because I was sitting for so long. Oh, and my head too, but that's only because I hit the wall, but that was just an accident.

I hear sniffling. This new human was crying, I could smell the salt of their tears. I wanted to cheer them up, so I nuzzled their hand. They smiled at me, that's so nice to see, because you never smiled at me.

I looked at them and stared at them, as if to ask "Why are you crying?"

They smiled sadly at me, and said, "You're so trusting for all that you've been through. What a good boy."

Good boy? I'm a good boy? Wow! Thank you so much. I never heard that before! I start wagging my tail so much that you can hear the air being sliced with how much my tail was wagging.

The new human giggled, and she pet my ears. My ears! It felt so good. I never been pet there before. I involuntarily kicked my leg. Woah! That was weird!

"Looks like we found your tickle spot." She laughed, and she smiled down at me. Her eyes were filled with so much warmth. Your eyes never looked like that.

"Let's get you home." She whispered as she gently picked me up and put me in the seat next to hers. This was nice, I didn't ride next to you in the van. She even made sure I was warm! She put a blanket over me.

She saw my neck and teared up a little again. I didn't want her to be sad. I liked seeing that warmth in her eyes. It was so invigorating. I leaned over and licked her fingers. I thought she might pull away like you did, but she didn't. She stroked my head, and told me I was a good boy again.

I really like her, maybe she was the surprise you had for me? If so, thank you so much.

I love her.

You can be the life changing surprise for an abused dog or animal out there. If you are looking to get a dog or any kind of animal, I highly encourage you to adopt. Give these beautiful creatures a second chance at having a good life filled with happiness.

If you are looking to adopt, please check out these sites:

https://womenshumanesociety.org/available-animals

http://www.perfectmatchrescue.org/

http://fur-everpaws.com/

If you can't adopt right now, but you want to help please consider donating at one of these sites:

https://secure.humanesociety.org/site/SPageServer?...

https://donations.spcai.org/spcai/main.php/micro_s...

Feel free to donate to your own local shelter, as well as adopt from them too!

If you can't donate or adopt, please spread awareness to others.

Every animal deserves a good home, and a chance to be happy. All they want is love. You can help make that happen.

Thank you.