Your porch was my home. You’d always give me a little food and a head scratch and I truly loved you for that. I never asked for much. I’m a happy loyal girl. Then you stopped coming home…
I waited for days, weeks, maybe longer. Since we live in the country, I caught a few rabbits to get by. When I got desperate, I knocked over the trash can to eat, even though you’d be mad and hit me. I’m sorry.
I waited at the end of the driveway hoping to see your truck. I laid down because I was tired and couldn’t get up. I was too weak. I waited too long. I would have waited forever.
People don’t drive by often, but a lady came around the corner and stopped. She thought I had died, but I’m strong. She rubbed my head, and I was able to open my eyes. She looked scared, but she wrapped me up in a warm towel and put me in her car. We went straight to the doctor. They gave me medicine, food and water and something called a bath. I’ve never really been clean, but all the bugs were gone and I felt pretty good.
That lady took me to a new porch after and scratched my head. I missed that. She made a few calls and found out you were in jail and not coming home for 10 years. That’s a long time for me to live off rabbits and trash all alone. You didn’t make any plans for me, but the lady (I call her Mom now) said she had a plan. She opened up the door on her porch and said, “Come inside, girl.”
I was so scared at first – I didn’t even know what inside was – but it’s always a nice temperature, dry and clean. Mom has beds everywhere for me and this cool thing called a couch.
Over time, I’ve really learned what comfortable is. She feeds me and my brothers warm food every day! Don’t worry, I didn’t get fat. We go on lots of walks and have a big yard to run in. I don’t have any bugs, I don’t have to worry, and I get so much love. We cuddle every night in blankets and she tells me she loves me.
I’ve been here a long time. I’m 16-years-old now. Mom gives me good back rubs, I stretch, and she even makes me a special diet and gives me supplements. I still feel great and happy.
A few years ago, we heard you’re out of jail now and asking the neighbors about me. One still had mom’s phone number and called. She started to cry, she was just shocked, but I licked the tears off her face. She smiled and scratched my head. She told the neighbor to give you a message, “Tell him he doesn’t deserve her. I wouldn’t give her up for anything in the world.”
Turns out, Mom is loyal just like me.
I just want to say thank you for the head scratches when I was young, but I’m never coming back. I don’t want to be a porch dog and I’m happy. Plus, Mom needs me and I need her. I hope you have an inside, a couch, blankets and love like I do… even if mom says she hopes you have to eat trash on the porch.
Story submitted by Katie from Saint Louis, Missouri.
This story was originally shared on The Animal Rescue Site. Share your very own rescue story here!