my puppy for the day

Yesterday started off like any other day. I got up, went to work out at the gym, went home and showered, got some homework done, then back to the gym for work. It wasn't until after I finished my shift that my whole day changed. As I swung the garbage bag over my shoulder into the big garbage bin behind the gym, I turned around to see a little yellow lab puppy.

Yes, a little puppy!!

The cutest little puppy shivering, partly from the cold, and partly because his tail was wagging so profusely. In seconds I swept him up, wet + sandy paws and all. He instantly relaxed in my warm arms and I knew my previous plans that seemed so necessary flew out the window. I shut off my car and ran inside to collect myself, trying to think about what I should do. My first instinct was to bring him home and never let him go, but after some painful realization, a vision of little child flashed into my head. A little child who was crying about their lost little friend and I knew what I had to do.

After giving him some water and showing him to my co-workers I go some mixed advice from them. Some told me to call 9-1-1 and give him the police while others told me they waned to take him home. There was no way I was going to just let him go with a police officer or random stranger, so what do I do? What does any adult do when they can't think responsible? Well, maybe not anybody, but this girl called her parents.

They gave me the advise that I already knew was coming. I reluctantly got into the car and drove to the local human society, only a few miles up the road, but not without snapping a few dozen pictures on my phone. Even though the quality of the pictures isn't the best {because they were taken from my phone} you can still see how unbelievably cute he is!

The staff instantly fell in love with him just as I had done and I knew it was over. I signed a few papers and visited with a little girl about 4 years old {very similar the one I saw in the vision of the child crying} who wanted to pick out a kitty. I talked with some of the workers there and they assured me that if no body claimed him within 7 days he would become property of the animal shelter and would be open for adoption.

If that were to happen he would be snatched up quickly by a loving family and added to their lovely home. One of my coworkers named him "Golds", seeing as though I found him at Gold's Gym. I would have given him a better name, but there just wasn't enough time and I didn't want to become even more attached to him than I already was.

I said my last good-byes to my little puppy for the day and sadly walked out to my car. I kept trying to tell myself...
he will find a good home...
you only had him for a few hours...
you can't keep him...
but the tears began to run down my cheeks and I couldn't help it. As the tears hit my lap, I felt an absence where he had been sleeping only a few minutes earlier.

For a few short hours he was all mine, and all I can say is that I can't wait to have my own someday. A puppy that will be all mine and I will never have to let him go!