08/05/2023
I keep seeing the “I adopted your dog today” poem and it bothers me a bit. So I wrote my own version.
I brought your dog home to be a foster this week. She was dirty and scared. We fixed the dirt. It wasn’t hard to get her cleaned up. She is a good dog. I can tell by her trimmed nails and gentle demeanor that you did your best by her, and your heart might be hurting. I feel gratitude for you. I was there because I’d lost my own little dog, and my heart was shattered. Thank you. I know giving up a pet in any form is painful, and I hope you are ok.
I brought your dog home with me. By the things that are new or scary to her, I can see that maybe things were hard for you, too. Maybe you felt that giving her a chance at a new home was the best choice. I hope things get better for you. What I can do is make sure things are better for her. If your heart is hurting and you are worried about her, I want you to take comfort and know she is safe and loved.
I don’t know if the reason for your surrender was the only reason you had to give her up. Maybe there was a new baby and you are overwhelmed, or your landlord wouldn’t let you have a pet, or maybe you or someone you love is being deployed. Maybe a loss of health has affected you. We are all doing our best and I cannot shame you for a path I haven’t walked yet. I honor your privacy. You didn’t drive her to a remote place and leave her, you did the best you could. This is one of the reasons why we have rescue.
I brought your dog home, and I can help make her life a good one. I feel perhaps that you are hurting. I wanted to be angry at you. I wanted to shame you. Shame on me. I don’t know enough and I am learning. All I can do from here is hope that one day things turn around for you too, if you are in a hard spot. All I can do is thank you for making such a hard choice.
I brought your dog home with me.
It’s going to be ok.
By Brooke Colling
