Ruff Start (Friends of Gaynor Beach Animal Rescue)

1. Poor Little Puppy

Chapter one

Poor Little Puppy

Neil, 3 Years ago

School had been extra rough today, so when I got home and saw our cans overturned and trash scattered everywhere, I almost burst into tears. I shrugged off my backpack and dropped it, where it landed with a thud.

A tiny little white snout poked out of the shadows inside the trash can, letting out a whine. I froze, halfway bent over to pick the can up. Soulful brown eyes stared up at me.

Was that a dog?

Moving slowly, I backed away and crouched by my backpack. The dog’s eyes never left mine as I fished out my leftover half sandwich from lunch. I tore off a little corner of bread and tossed it toward her.

The dog popped out to scarf down the treat, then vanished back into the dark. I tossed a piece of cheese, this one a tiny bit closer to me. I repeated this for a bit, eventually coaxing the dog all the way out of the trash can.

It was a tiny white dog with big triangle ears sticking up from her head and long white fur, currently so matted and tangled that it looked like she had dreadlocks. The little thing couldn’t weigh more than five pounds if it were healthy, which this one clearly wasn’t, making her look like a bobble toy with an oversized head. She didn’t wear a collar, but she must have been someone’s pet because, after the sixth or seventh piece of cheese, she came up to me, tail wagging, and gave me puppy dog eyes, made to look even bigger by her emaciated state.

I snagged her by the scruff and cuddled her to my chest. She fought me a little but was too weak to do more than squirm—poor little thing.

My bad day took on a new perspective. Bullies at school. Failing a test. Nothing compared to the last few weeks this little thing had been through, starving and homeless. I was a poor student, but I couldn’t abandon her like everyone else had.