Kylie
My
name is not Cinderella, but my life is like a fairy tale that has come
true. May I tell you my story?
I was born in GA to a life that seemed strange to me. There were so many other dogs at the Greyhound Farm where I lived that I was just another face in the crowd. There were no fun things to do, no bones or toys to chew, no romps in the park. I never received any human affection.
I had a racing career, and then I was retired, but I continued to live in a cage day and night, day after day. I was so terribly bored that I began to feel like I was in prison. I knew that this life wasn't right.
Something was definitely missing.
I was beginning to believe that my life was hopeless. It was so depressing, but then I was adopted! "Great" I thought. "Now is my chance for a happy life." However, it was not to be, I soon realized. Before I knew it, I was suddenly all alone and frightened - abandoned at something called the Atlanta Airport. It was so loud and scary. What was I going to do?
Something was definitely missing.
Imagine my relief when a lady found me and took me home. I was happy again, but she didn't take good care of me. Would I ever find a good home? She gave me away to another lady, but life there was hard too. She had two other big dogs, and because I have such good manners, they always got to eat first. I never got any shots, I was so very cold in the winter, and worst of all, I was starving.
Life sure didn't seem fair! After seven years of living like this, I began to believe that things would never change for me.
Oh, something was definitely missing.
My last owner said that she couldn't take care of me anymore. She said that if someone didn't come and get me that I was going to the pound! OH NO! What would happen to me?
Then, one night a nice lady named Shelli came and took me from there (just in time, too!) and took me to a lady's house. Her name was Jackie Brantley at Greyhounds Galore, and she was so sweet to me. She even had a house full of other greyhounds just like me! Suddenly, life seemed to be looking up!
But...something was still missing.
Soon Miss Jackie had some guests, and I was the special one who got to go outside to meet these people. There were Two Short Girls and One Tall Girl, and for some reason they acted like I was their new best friend. They even brought along their Dachshund to meet me. (He liked me immediately!)
They took me for a walk, and just when I was beginning to really like them, they left! I thought that they might want me as part of their family, but I was only disappointed again.
After that, Miss Jackie had me checked for heartworms, had me spayed, and had my teeth cleaned for the first time in my life
One day while I was recuperating, the Two Short Girls and One Tall Girl came to see me and pet me. They said that they were trying to make me feel better. Then a few days later, they came back, and Miss Jackie just let us all lie on her bed and SNUGGLE! I was really beginning to like these girls!
But...something was still missing.
Nine days after my surgery, the Girls came back to Miss Jackie's with a man (and that little Dachshund again). I could tell that something was up when Miss Jackie gave me a shot and put a brand new collar and tag on me.
Then suddenly, they put me in their car! I was so excited, but I was afraid to get my hopes up. I had been let down by so many humans so many times.
But they did take me home! I met their other dogs and walked into their house like I had lived there all my life. Could it possibly be true? Could this really be my new home? I was afraid to get too comfortable though, because I was worried that I might not be able to stay. Nothing was ever permanent for me.
The nice family fed me until I was stuffed, and I got to sleep on the floor between the Two Girls that night and every night after that for the next six weeks! They took care of me and gave me all that I needed. They got rid of my worms and my ear infection too, but best of all, you can no longer count most of the bones in my body. My tummy stays full! I've even gained 6 lbs. already!
I get along great with my new dogs, too. Mom says that of her four dogs, I have the best manners by far! (She says that I seem almost human.) The Collie (Ty), and the Dachshund (Bentley), are sweet; but my favorite is the 5 lb. Maltese (Cozette), because we get to go camping together with my new family. I've been hiking in the Smoky Mountains; I've played in cool mountain streams; I've seen beautiful mountain waterfalls that I might have never seen!
Often I hear strangers ask my family, "Hey! What a cool dog! Is that one of those retired, rescued Greyhounds?" Mom always tells them that I am and that they could have one too, because there are many other special Greyhounds just like me who need to be adopted into good homes.
Oh yeah! My newest fun thing to do is to go to the Children's Hospital and to Senior Care Homes, because now I am a certified THERAPY DOG! My family is so very proud of me!
I've had five different homes in my life, but I've come to realize that my new home is permanent. How do I know? Because I get to wade in Grandmamma's pool. I get to ride in the car with Mom almost wherever she goes. I get to catch Frisbees every day in my backyard. I have my own coat to keep me warm. I have my own bed (or the sofa!) and my own toys. And best of all, I have my own girls to put my head in their laps and sleep with them in their beds every night. They aren't the Two Short Girls anymore. Now I know that they are Anna and Katie, and they are my very own big sisters who give me lots and lots of hugs and kisses every day!!!
No, my name is not Cinderella. My new and permanent name is Kylie, and now I know exactly what was missing.
I have an abundance of it!!
It is the LOVE of my own family!!!!!!
This story has been translated by Robin; AKA "Mom"; AKA "The Tall Girl"