Diary of a Dog on Death Row

May 12, 2014

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So last week Priceless Pets sent me to the Orange Counter Animal Shelter to evaluate a “pit bull” named Lindy. Lindy was set to be euthanized that morning but was saved at the last minute. And just so you know, I’m well aware that dogs can’t write but if they could, I would imagine that Lindy’s journal while she was in the pound would go something like this….

March 5, 2014:

A man picked me up in a truck and now I’m in this cold cell by myself. I heard a couple of the humans talking saying I was picked up as a stray but can’t they see by my demeanor that I was part of a family? The floor is cold here and there are so many dogs barking. It’s starting to stress me out but it’s ok because my family should be here to pick me up any day now.

March 19, 2014:

My family still has not come for me. I wonder where they are. Maybe they don’t know I’m here but if they love me as much as I love them, they should be here any minute now. Some people stop and tell me how cute I am but most people keep walking by my cage and saying I’m “vicious” and they are scared of me. I don’t know why they say that. I’m not barking like the rest of the dogs and I’m minding my manners like my family taught me. I just don’t understand why anyone would want to say mean things about me.

March 26, 2014:

I’ve been here for a while now but I just know that today is my day! I’ve made friends with all the workers here and everyone that volunteers here seems to like me now. I’ve heard them say that it’s almost my time and that I don’t have many days left. I wonder if they’ve talked to my family and they’re coming for me! If that’s the case, I think I can sleep on this cold floor for one more night! I’m so excited!

April 4, 2014:

I’m getting kind of achy lying on this floor day after day. I’m starting to think nobody is coming for me but I’m not giving up hope. Maybe another family will want me but people still keep walking by my cell saying things like “that dog is mean”, “I wouldn’t trust that dog in my home”. Someone actually stopped at my cell and I was so excited that I barked. They quickly left saying “my kind” was “unpredictable”. I don’t understand. I was just trying to say hi.

April 18, 2014:

I think my name is Lindy. That’s what everyone keeps calling me. I keep hearing people saying that I should have been gone days ago but because I’m such a good dog they’ve decided to keep me around a little longer. I don’t understand. If I’m such a good dog why am I not gone yet? I don’t understand what the humans are saying.

May 6, 2014:

A worker took down my kennel card and I’ve finally figured out what they mean by “being gone”. All the dogs that were in the kennels around me are all “gone” now too. They said I have until tomorrow or that’s it for me. The shelter is at max capacity and I’ve been labeled as “no adoption interest”. I don’t want to spend my last days sleeping on this cold concrete floor. I overheard the humans saying they’ve been sharing my picture on social media in hopes to get me adopted. They say all dogs go to heaven but I’m not ready to go just yet.

May 7, 2014 8:00am:

Nobody has come for me yet. I guess this is it for me. I don’t understand. I’ve been a good dog and done everything to show people I’m a good dog. I see a man with a leash coming my way. He is usually so happy to see me but today he won’t look at me. I wonder if I did something wrong to him? Right before he opened my cage he stopped to take a call. Now he’s smiling and he just told me today is my lucky day!!

May 7, 2014 10:15am:

I see a man walking to my kennel with another dog. The dog puts his nose to my cage and he tells me that all I need to do is pass some tests and his human will get me out of here. He says his name is Elvis and he’s been here before but a place called Priceless Pet Rescue is going to rescue me just like they rescued him. Elvis doesn’t stay long because he’s not allowed in here but before his human takes him back he gives him “the nod”.

May 7, 2014 10:30am:

The man from Priceless Pets is back without Elvis. I hear him telling a worker he needs to evaluate me and if I pass, he’s taking me out of here! He brought some treats for me. As soon as I saw them, I sat for them. He looked very happy with me. Then he put his hands on my face. I responded by licking him. He does a couple more tests and then he kneels down, looks me straight in the eye and says, “Lindy, I’m sorry you had to wait so long but I’m part of the Priceless Pets Pittie Crew and I’m taking you back to The Orphanage. I promise we will find you a home. It may not be your original family but we will find you a better one.” He says he will be back for me in a couple days after I get fixed. Not sure what that means but right now this is the best news I’ve heard in a long time!

May 9, 2014:

The human is back from Priceless Pets with another girl. She too, is from the Priceless Pets Pittie Crew. She puts a leash on me and she tells me I’m leaving!! This was the best walk I’ve had in a long time. I sat on her lap the whole way home. I wonder if she’s my new mommy. They take me to a park and she starts taking pictures of me. I can’t help but smile from ear to ear. This grass feels so much better than that cold concrete floor I’ve been sleeping on for months. After pictures, they take me into the building that is called, The Orphanage. They have a room set up for me and everyone here loves me. Nobody is saying I’m mean or scary. I even had a girl sit in my kennel with me and just love on me.

May 10, 2014:

A man walks in just trying to kill time while his kid is getting a haircut. He had no intention of adding another dog to his pack but he took one look at me and he fell in love. He leaves and brings his kid back. The kid walks up to my cage and I give his kid a big kiss. He tells the lady there that he wants to adopt me! They also have two other dogs! They’re a lot smaller than me but they’re rescue dogs, as well! They may not be my original family but I can tell they love me!

Oh, and if it looks like I’m looking up at something in my picture with my new family, it’s only because I’m thanking the big man upstairs for looking out for me. I don’t know how I got so lucky but I’m very thankful he sent Priceless Pet Rescue to come get me. That man wasn’t kidding when he said Priceless Pets would find me a home! I wasn’t even here for 24 hours!

In my darkest hour, I never gave up. Even when it looked like it was over for me, I stayed calm and just kept being the good dog I was born to be. And because I never gave up, I will now get to live out the rest of my days inside of a house with my new family. I can only wish the same for my shelter brothers and sisters. I also heard tomorrow is Mother’s Day. I can’t wait to spend it with my new mommy!

It always seems like “today” is not enough for most of you but “today” was what got me to tomorrow. And “today” was all I ever needed!