A dog's diary

Week 1:

I was born a week ago today: what a joy to have arrived in this world!

Month 01:

My mom takes very good care of me. She's an exemplary mother.

Month 02:

Today I was separated from Mom. She was very worried and bid me farewell with her eyes. Hopefully my new “human family” will look after me as well as she did.

Month 04:

I've grown up fast, everything attracts and interests me. There are several children at home, and they're like “little brothers” to me. We're very polite, they pull my tail, and I bite them to play.

Month 05:

Today, they quarreled with me. My mistress scolded me for “peeing” inside the house, but they never told me where I had to do it. Besides, I sleep in the storeroom... and I didn't complain!

Month 12:

Today I turned one. I'm an adult dog. My owners say I've grown more than they thought. How proud they must be of me!

Month 13:

Today I felt really bad. My “little brother” took my ball. I never take his toys. So I took it back. But my jaws got strong and I hurt him without meaning to. After I got scared, they chained me up and I can hardly see the sun anymore. They say they're going to keep an eye on me, that I'm an ingrate. I don't understand what's going on.

Month 15:

Nothing is the same anymore... I live on the balcony. I'm very lonely, my family doesn't love me anymore. Sometimes they forget that I'm hungry and thirsty. When it rains, I have no roof over my head...

Month 16:

Today, they took me off the balcony. I was sure my family had forgiven me and I was so happy I was jumping for joy. My tail was wagging all over the place. What's more, they were taking me for a walk. We headed down the road and suddenly they stopped. They opened the door and I got out, all happy, thinking we were going to spend the day in the country. I don't understand why they closed the door and left. “Listen, wait!” You... you forget me. I ran after the car with all my might. My anguish grew as I realized I was about to faint and they didn't stop: they'd forgotten me.

Month 17:

I tried in vain to find my way home. I feel alone and lost. On my way there are kind-hearted people who look at me sadly and give me a little food. I thank them with my eyes and from the bottom of my heart. I'd like them to adopt me, and I'd be as loyal to them as anyone. But they just say “poor little dog”, he must have got lost.

Month 18:

The other day I walked past a school and saw lots of children and young people like my “little brothers”. I approached and one group, laughing, threw a shower of stones at me to “see who had the best aim”. One of the stones damaged my eye, and I haven't been able to see out of it since.

Month 19:

You won't believe this, but people felt more sorry for me when I was prettier. Now I'm very skinny, my appearance has changed. I've lost my eye and people sweep me away when I try to lie down in a little patch of shade.

Month 20:

I can hardly move. Today, while trying to cross the street where cars drive, I got run over. I thought I was in a safe place called a ditch, but I'll never forget the look of satisfaction on the face of the driver who even swerved to try to run me over. If only he'd killed me! But he shattered my hip. The pain was terrible, my hind legs no longer reacted and I pulled myself with difficulty towards a bit of grass at the side of the road.

Month 21:

It's been 10 days of sun, rain and no food. I can't move. The pain is unbearable. I feel very bad, I'm in a damp place and it even looks like my hair is falling out. People pass by, they don't even see me, others say “stay away”. I'm almost unconscious, but a strange force made me open my eyes... the softness of her voice made me react. She was saying “Poor little dog, what a state they've left you in”... with her was a gentleman in a white coat, he touched me and said “I'm sorry madam, but this dog can't be looked after any more, it's best to stop his suffering”. The nice lady started crying and agreed.
As best I could, I wagged my tail and looked at her, thanking her for helping me to rest at last.
All I felt was the sting of the syringe and I fell asleep forever wondering why I'd been born if nobody wanted me.
The solution is not to throw a dog out on the street, but to educate him. Don't turn faithful companionship into a problem. Help raise awareness and put an end to the problem of abandoned dogs.