I was 12 days old when I opened my eyes. All I saw were howling puppies here and there. I saw I was in a small cage, with a bowl of water and food. I quickly slurped up the food. Then I went back to sleep. Many days in the breeder were like this, I saw humans walk in and out and say, "That's the dog for me!" Sometimes, an older dog would walk in the hall, and sometimes I wondered if that dog was my mother. I never met my mother. I never knew if had a sister or

                               The Breeder

brother. One day, a man, with almost no hair came in and picked me up and brought me to a sink. He bathe me, being careful to not let shampoo run into my eyes. And then, I got a name. My name was Hazel. I didn't know why I was Hazel. But now I know, it was because I had hazel-brown eyes. I learned that the man was called George, and he was the groomer.  Those days were slow and lazy and didn't have to move a single paw. I didn't like being caged

up and not let out, but now I really wouldn't minded that.  I used to miss those days, with George.   

                            The Change

One day, a woman and a man came into the room. They were looking for a dog. They looked at the Yorkshire terrier, the labrador, and poodle and many more. Finally, they came to me. "This dog looks so cute!" The woman said. "Hmmm..." The man said. They walked away with the woman with curly hair. I didn't know what was going to happen.

The next day, the man and woman came with collar and leash. Then the woman with the curly hair carried me to a metal table and placed a collar and leash on me. Then the man and woman walked out with me. They began talking fast, so fast I didn't understand. We drove for about an' hour till we came to a stop. A tiny house, with a bunch of trees surrounding it. I got off, and the woman carried me inside. It was very different. A wall filled with Pokémon, 

a large bed called sofa, and a small kitchen. A cramped hall led to other rooms. I wandered around the small room called living room, mostly inhabited by the large bed called sofa. That day, I spent most of the day exploring. They had a garage which was larger than the house, and a small farm of goats in their 4-acre property. Most of that property was covered in trees, but some parts were cleared. 

In those days I got a new name, Daisy. The man was named Logan, and the woman Rachel. I lived happy with them, and sometimes a 11-year-old girl named Charlotte, her sister, May, and there 2 parents, came over. If I recall right, their dad was Logan's uncle. Once, I stayed in their garage, and Charlotte took me out every 5 hours. I missed my owners, of course. But it wasn't so bad. Charlotte came to check on me in the garage every once in a while, and she always asked if she could take me out. However,

one day, Rachel had little bulge on her stomach, and each week it got bigger. One day, she was in pain, and her stomach was big...

                         Home Alone

It was a fall evening, and I was fast asleep in the sofa, when suddenly, I saw that Rachel and Logan were very rushed. I was quickly shoved into my cage and they left, closing the door. I sat there, thinking why my owners left me. But I sat there, patiently waiting in my cage. 

Hours passed, and I heard someone outside, I began barking with joy. However, the person outside just walked around, and then zoomed off. A few hours passed, I desperately needed to relieve myself. I pushed and slammed in the cage, until it budged open, and I ran for the

dog door. I managed to pass and went outside. It was dark, like midnight. Suddenly I heard growling. 2 stray dogs, jumped at me. I managed to run into some bushes, but the dogs were behind me. I ran and ran through the forest. I am a Border Collie, but that didn't mean I was a cheetah. Soon, the dogs caught on. One tumbled me to the ground, cracking my shoulder bone, so I knew I only had one option. I couldn't outrun them, so I outsmarted them.

As I tumbled down, I pretended to be dead. The dogs sniffed at me and yanked the collar and then walked away. I waited for them to be out of sight and then stood up. I limped through the woods, because I had broken my shoulder. I kept walking because I knew those dogs could return. I wished to be home. I wished to be with Rachel and Logan. I wished those dogs hadn't appeared.  But now I had to face it. I was lost in the woods, only following my instinct. I slept in a pile of leaves that night. 

                        The Freeway

The sun sleepily came out, I continued walking. Good for my hunting skills, I could catch something to eat. When Rachel or Logan forgot to feed me, I usually went outside and caught a bird or rodent. Soon, the sun was at full blast. It was exhausting, and I hoped a stream or creek would appear. To my surprise,

a little creek was running through the forest. I drank and continued walking. Soon I found myself in front of a freeway, and cars zoomed by. I seen these freeways with Logan and Rachel, they would always talk about how

congested some were. I got ready to cross. When I looked around, I saw many buildings to the left, and many woods to my right. I decided to follow the buildings, maybe I would find Logan and Rachel there. However, a car came in a halt right in front of me. A huge man came out. He grabbed me by the scruff of the neck and harshly threw me in the back seat. I howled. "Shut up!" he yelled as he slapped me on the snout. I stopped.  

He didn't talk, just drive for what seemed like days. Soon, he stopped. I woke up and saw a different view. I wasn't in the city. I was in the mountains. He had a house a little bigger than Logan's and Rachel's, and a beautiful view of the mountains. He yelled to someone standing on the front porch " Hey! Look what I found Karen!" he said. I saw I had an opportunity and leapt out the back seat of the car. " Hey, come back here!" I didn't look back. I could have stayed and probably gotten a home, but no way I am staying with this guy. I ran in the road, (limping) and made my way 

 to find Logan and Rachel. 

                     Saluda says Hello

At that time, I didn't know that when you're in the mountains you're not exactly in the city. But soon I would find out. I wandered through homes with kids playing ball, frisbee, and in a pool. I didn't see one home like Logan's or Rachel's. I spent the whole summer wandering like an eagle trying to hunt without eyes. I was less than 1 year old, and I was still trying to adapt to being in the wild.  However, as I grew, I knew more.  What plants can hurt you, what towns to

avoid, and that the mountain and city are not the same. I gave up looking for Logan and Rachel and rather prepared myself for the fall.

I spent many of my summer days in Saluda, a small town in the mountains. I ate from garbage cans, and when it rained, I went to a small playground which kept me warm. Many people gave me food there. I was like the stray town dog. Restaurants would put leftover food in front of their stores for me to eat. Many kids yelled when they saw me "Look mommy, it's

the stray town dog!" they would say. One thing I never got over with was petting. Many people would try to pet me, and I would snarl. I just didn't know them so I wouldn't give them my fur to pet. Many other stray dogs and cats lived there too. Some were shy and friendly, while other dogs and cats were very mean. They gave dogs like me bad reputation. The summer there was hot, but also cooler than back at the Charlotte. I didn't always stay in the town Saluda. Sometimes I went to an apple orchard which people 

working would shoo me away with large clippers. Summer was the best season in Saluda, for me, I can't speak for all dogs of course....

                Fall and Comes and Goes

Early fall came and the kids started going to something called school, and restaurants stopped putting plates of food at the front door. It looked like the world was slowing down. I suffered, like all the other dogs. Trash cans were nearly empty, and I tried my luck over at the apple orchard and only got some rotten apples. 

Brutal, cold, winds made my teeth shiver, and I felt cold and weak. I went to house garbage cans, where I got food. Then I would return to the playground. I didn't see the kids much now,  

I just saw them in the evening, and they didn't seem happy. They seemed tired and groggy. Only some little kids came to the playground now. The picnic tables were empty. It looked like a ghost town.  I had to hunt more than eat scraps, and I felt tired. The dogs became more aggressive, fighting over old carcasses, and many died. It was no longer a happy town. I felt like the town would be worse in winter, but I didn't leave. I just waited, thinking maybe it would be a little bit better. I was proven wrong.

                           Harsh Winter

The winter was cold. Many dogs died of this. I tried my best to stay alive. Many restaurants' staff and owners tried to make me come in, but I didn't want to go in. One cold night a young woman picked me up, I wanted to fight back but I was too weak. She brought me to her house, which was a mile from the town. Once we reached her home, I bit her hand and snarled at her. She slapped me and then kicked me out. I was glad I was out anyways.

I headed away from the Saluda town. I just wouldn't survive here, so I headed out to a paradise of mountains. The days got shorter and colder. Soon, snow started falling. I was cold. It was my first winter without insulation. I felt tired. And hungry. Tired and hungry. I wanted Logan and Rachel. I wanted food. I wanted home. I felt sad. I didn't understand emotions well before, but now I know. Logan and Rachel must've have called my name  

a lot of times. I was out in my own world, and WHOOSH! My life flashed before my eyes...

                             Hit by a Flash

A white car hit me right in my shoulder. I whimpered and howled, and a woman stepped out. She quickly got in and zoomed off. I tried limping to a little cottage, but I was completely injured.  So, I just stayed in the side of the road. Nighttime came, and I limped into the night. Soon, I came to a Harris Teeter and ate some garbage. How I survived? I really don't know, because I was more focused on avoiding humans and cars than keeping myself warm.