Dear human:

I saw you today.

You walked past my cage and took a quick look at me before walking away.

I got so excited, I began to bark. And then all of my neighbors began barking too.

It became very loud in there. So loud. I am sorry for that.

Perhaps you are sorry you came … because I am still here. Waiting.

We all are still here. Waiting.

Everyone is accounted for in our cages.

No, I certainly wasn’t on my best behavior. None of us were.

But I need for you to know that we just get too excited.

I was excited because I had a chance to see somebody new.

I don’t see too many people, you know.

I am usually confined in my cage with only my little mattress on the cement floor and a couple of tin bowls for the food and water beside my bed.

Sometimes when the volunteers and employees here have a chance, they will take me outside to play for a little while.

But we never get too much one-on-one time.

They are in a hurry.

Everyone here is very busy.

But I understand, because there are just so many animals here to take care of all the time.

There are hundreds of us. And that’s just here.

I’ve heard there are millions of dogs just like us all over the country.

That makes me sad.

Dear human,

I am lonely.

There isn’t anything for me to do here.

I eat and I sleep.

That is why when you came around, I began barking.

Before I knew it, my tail started wagging and I began jumping up on the cage and running around my tiny space

I’m sorry if that scared you. Is that why you walked away?

Really, I was just excited. We all get excited when somebody comes to visit.

It’s nice being able to look into your eyes. That is how I try to tell you that I would like you to take me home with you.

I know no other way of letting you know.

Unfortunately, I was not given a voice … just a bark. And that can sometimes scare people. I don’t mean for it to.

Again, I am sorry if I did something wrong, something to make you not want me.

You know, some of us are scared, too.

Some of us bark because we don’t know if you are going to try to hurt us.

A few of my neighbors have had humans that have been very mean, humans who have tied us up and forgotten that we are even there, humans who have gotten angry and abused us, humans who decided they no longer wanted us around and gave us away.

And yet, for some reason, we still want another human to take us home with them.

We are lonely. We want to run. We want to play.

We want to know more than just a mattress and a metal food bowl.

Dear human,

I heard one lady say to a volunteer who was walking her through the room we live in, that she would love to own a dog someday.

But I don’t know what that word means.

Love.

What is that?

Is it good?

I would really like to know.

If it is a good thing, I sure hope that someday, somebody will love me.

There are people who come and look at me once in a while.

But they always walk away.

They never come back.

It has gotten to the point where I don’t jump around or bark anymore.

I just sit there … waiting for them to walk away.

And they do.

Where do they go?

Why do they leave?

Wasn’t I cute enough?

Wasn’t I little enough?

Wasn’t I nice enough?

What’s wrong with me?

Dear human,

I used to be a puppy … long ago. But time passed.

I blinked.

And now I am an older dog. And still alone. Still unloved.

I wish anyone who says they would love to have a dog would love for me to be their dog.

I promise I am a good boy. I promise I would protect you. I promise to stay by your side as long as you need me to. Please just give me a chance to show you.

Please help me get out of this cage.

Please believe me when I say I do not require much at all. You do not have to buy me the best food or even treats. I don’t care about toys, either. The only thing I require is … what’s that word?

Oh, yes … love. It sure sounds nice. I am tired. Tired of being in my cage day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year.

All I really want before I die is to have somebody who wanted me.

Dear human,

They say I was put on this earth to be your best friend. Please, give me that chance.

I dream sometimes that somebody actually wanted me and a family came and got me. They took me outside to play and even let me lay in their bed. But then I wake up and realize I am still alone. In my cage. Waiting for the next person to come and pass me by.

Love,

The dog who really wanted to be your best friend

(Stenger is the community editor of the Herald-Star and The Weirton Daily Times. She can be contacted at jstenger@heraldstaronline.com.)