My name is Buddy, and I guess you could say I’m a bit different from other dogs. I’ve been living in this shelter for as long as I can remember. The days blur together, each one the same—watching as people come in, their eyes searching through the cages, looking for a new family member. Sometimes their gaze falls on me, but it doesn’t linger. They see the wheels attached to my hind legs, and in a moment, their attention shifts to the dog beside me. I can’t run or jump like they can; my back legs stopped working long ago. The shelter staff say I’m paralyzed, and I suppose that’s why no one wants to adopt me.
It wasn’t always this way. I used to run through fields, chasing butterflies and rolling in the grass, just like any other dog. But one day, a car hit me, and my world changed. The pain was sharp and sudden, but what followed was even harder to bear—the realization that I couldn’t feel my legs anymore. The people at the shelter tried their best; they gave me this wheelchair to help me move around, but it seems like people only see my disability now. They don’t see the dog I am inside.
I remember a day not too long ago when a family came to the shelter. They had two little kids with bright, curious eyes, and as they walked through the aisles, the kids laughed and pointed at the different dogs. I felt a flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, this family would see past my legs and notice me. But when they stopped in front of my cage, the parents gave me a sad smile and shook their heads. They didn’t want the “extra work” of taking care of a dog like me. My heart sank as I watched them walk away with a younger, more energetic pup in their arms.
But despite all this, I still hold onto hope. The shelter staff are kind to me—they give me treats, help me exercise, and even take me outside in the sunshine. I’ve made friends with the other dogs, and they don’t mind that I’m a little slower. Sometimes, when the shelter is quiet and everyone’s asleep, I dream of finding someone who would love me for who I am, someone who would see beyond my wheels and take me home.
Until then, I’ll keep waiting. Even if I can’t run like I used to, my heart still races with love to give.
