Darla's Humane Society: A Short Story

On the corner of Willow drive sat a small store with washed out blue walls and broken shutters. The sign creaking softly in the wind spelt the words "Darla's Humane Society". Inside, the lights flicked on followed by a series of yaps and howls. Darla Windspow hustled to the counter and set a large box on top of it. She removed her sopping coat and hung it on the rack. Then, she grabbed the clipboard that she had set on the box and reviewed what was on it. At the top was listed a name, age, and breed along with some other various information. As she read further, she saw that this particular puppy had been rescued from an abusive home who would torment the young dog just for amusement. The last note at the bottom surprised her a bit as it said
She sat stroking his dirty coat until he knew he was safe in her arms. After a warm bath and a large bowl of food, she gently put the drowsy puppy in his pen and waited until he fell asleep. As the darkness outside began to disappear with the rising sun, she sat stroking the sleeping dog while thinking of the horrors he must have been through. As the clock on the wall rang in the hour, her mind was sent back to reality. She made her morning rounds and unlocked the door just slightly before eight. Throughout the day, customers came in looking for the perfect puppy to adopt and make their own. Many gathered to look at the new puppy but no one stayed long once they noticed it's missing leg. The poor thing didn't understand what was happening but could tell that no one wanted to look at him. He saw many dogs of all shapes and sizes leave with new owners and finally understood. "They are trying to find a home for me," he said. But, as the day wore on and the sun began to set, the poor puppy was still curled in the corner. Darla closed the store and fed the rest of the animals. When she came to him, she stroked him softly saying "Maybe you can try a foster family". The sad puppy didn't understand but curled in a ball and went to
As soon as he got to the house, his excitement took over and he wet all over the carpet. The dad yelled at the puppy and stuck him in a cage for the rest of the day. Throughout the week, the untrained puppy got into things he wasn't supposed to until he got yelled at. At the end of the week, he went back to the pet store and the family told Darla that he was too much for them and they couldn't care for him anymore. The weeks went by and the poor puppy would get sent to a family only to be taken back to the pet shop at the end of the week. No one would buy him because of his missing leg and the fact that he was untrained. The puppy began to lose hope as he went through the motions day after day, week after week, and month after month until one day, he was sitting in his kennel when the door rang open. He didn't even raise his head but he heard the sound of a young girls voice. The sound of footsteps could be heard coming closer along with a dull thumping sound. The young dog sat up in the corner as the people approached. A small head poked into view as large sea green eyes peered at him behind curly auburn hair. "Oooh," she squealed, "He's adorable!" The puppy had been through this before, as soon as she saw his leg, she would walk away in disgust. In a desperate attempt, he tried to hide the stub where his leg used to be. But when she asked to take him out,