Street Dogs Pt.1

Author's note: This is not how I usually write so please bear with me. Also Pt. 2 will come out soon! 🤭

This was my life before she took me in:

10 Days ago:

I always gotta run fast before I get caught. Life alone is not very eventful. Unless you count running from humans all your life eventful. Or dodging cars and hiding all your life fun. To me? Life is boring. Super boring. For me life is running and stealing food from trash or finding some on the floor. When some brag about their lives I just ignore them. Do I wish I had their lives? Maybe I would but when I was younger I tried to fit in and that didn’t work out well. I was kicked out and abandoned, so now I’m all alone in this big city. I never wish to be held again like I was when I was younger…the pain hurts too much. So now I go solo running from my pain.

Woaw. That was a close one. Almost got run over by a car…for me this is normal but something is different about this one. As I was recovering from almost being killed again, the car stopped. A woman got out and looked all around the car. Hiding under the car, I hear cars honking at her, but she seems unfazed. I didn’t know what she was looking for but I got to run. But as soon as I scurry to leave, she sees me. I freeze. She speaks in a weird language I only humans speak. But I can understand what she is saying through her tone and body language. I see concern in her eyes and hear it in her voice. Something about her is calming. I usually run from humans, but with this one I wanted to stay with. She doesn't look like she would try to kill me, she looks…nice. I can’t let my guard down though. So I ran.

I heard her cry out after me wanting to chase me but couldn't because everyone around her is getting super mad.

When I tried to sleep that night I couldn’t. I kept dreaming of the woman. Whose face was kind and maybe loving. But I let my guard down…I could’ve got snatched when I did that! That was risky but I still kept thinking about her…

9 Days ago:

I was walking around looking for something to eat when I found an alley. Alleys usually have trash cans with food so of course I went in. As I was sniffing around I heard a growl behind me.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

I turned around to be face to face with a big brown bulldog.

“And who are you?” I ask, trying to keep it cool. You can not play with these types of dogs.

“Friends call me Big B. and this is MY property.” He replied showing his teeth.

“Gross. First of all you need to brush your teeth. And second, when was the last time you had a bath? Years ago?” I say circling him. That question threw him off guard for a bit. He was probably thinking that the last time he had a bath was either with his old owner or in the river. IF he ever had an owner. Most of us were born on the streets. Most. But some of us (Like me) were abandoned when we were young. And of course if your mom is a street dog then of course you become one too, but most pups lost their moms due to the evil humans.

That distraction gave me enough time to attack him, biting his ear.

He yelps then swipes his paw at my eyes. I moved just in time to avoid being blind but he still hit me, bonking me on the head.

If you're street smart then you know you can’t react to getting hurt until you're yourself or you risk dying. Which is why I block out pain until I’m in my hideout. I ducked again then he pounced on me.

“Woaw! Leave her alone! Let her go in peace and I will repay you the food she takes. Just let her go!” I heard a voice behind me.

We both stopped to look at the stranger.

It’s a beagle like me, his wiped tipped tail shiny and held high.

“Excuse me?” Big B. said pausing, giving me enough time to flip him over.

“You lost.” I said and snarled in his face.

“HEY! No more fighting! Why do us dogs always have to fight? We all have nothing so let’s help each other…stop fighting!” the beagle says again.

Me and Big B. locked eyes. I groaned then jumped off of him.

Big B. moaned getting back up. “Okay what do you want? I got 3 old pieces of pork.”

“Deal.” I replied.

After I got my meat I walked back ‘home’. Thinking about what that beagle said. Was that dog crazy? He wants us to help each other? I mean none of us know love since we were all abandoned and left behind…I wonder if that dog was living under a rock all his life. But I didn’t have to wonder for very long because I heard scurrying behind me. I turned.

“You followed me here…didn’t you?” I said aloud. I was in the secret part of our city where there are not many humans.

“I…I had to see where you’d go…I’m kinda new to this whole…by yourself life soooooo…yeah.” the beagle replied.

“Ha. I noticed. Walking around and telling dogs to stop fighting is crazy weird.” I said walking again.

“To me fighting dogs is pretty weird. I lived in a house for many years so I guess I wasn’t paying attention to the world around me.” He said sadly, following me.

I knew it. He was a pet. That’s why his coat is so shiny. I wondered why he got kicked out. But it was probably too fresh for him to talk about. I usually don’t trust other dogs but…I kinda liked this dog. I feel sorry for him a bit too…but you can’t trust humans. And he can save me a lot when I need to pick a bone with other dogs…(No pun intended.)

“Fine. You can stay with me. I’ll teach you a thing or two about living on the streets. You might not like the part about eating from the trash…” I laughed.

“EW! THERE IS NO WAY!” He moaned. “I’m Cooper. by the way.”

“Cool. I’m Amilia.”

He smiled at me which was the start of many.

4 Days ago:

“Okay lesson 27 out of 30 of Amilia’s How To Survive The Street Guide. Don’t

get caught by humans. They are not merciful, they take you no matter how young you are. So…beware.” I said hiding under a box.

“Huh…it’s so weird. For me humans have always been nice to me. I never experienced anything like this before. I feel bad for you dogs. It’s a shame though.” He sighed.

And yet he wasn't feeling that love now, kids were always pointing at him and speaking in their weird language while parents pulled them away as far as possible from us. To me it was normal but for him…not so much. I felt bad for him.

“Look! Are those dangerous humans?” He asked, nodding toward a group of men holding nets.

“HIDE!” I yelped, I was under the box but he was still sitting outside it.

He jumps up to hide but is too late.

“Remember meee!” He screams tears flowing from his eyes.

I did. I vowed to recuse him. In the five days I've known him, he was a good dog. I don’t know what life would be like without him. I’m coming for you friend.