The tortured howls came from a room that is blocked by a metal door. I cringe as I hear the dog's last howl and then the eerie silence. The dogs out in the open stop barking and look down  at their cages sadly. One by one, they begin to howl. The sadness radiated off their bodies as I realized what just occurred. A fellow pet just lost their life. 

         I looked up at Esmeralda with an anxious look. She catches my eye and I watch as a tear falls down her bony sunken cheeks. A lady walks over to us, her heels click-clacking against the hard floor. "May I help you?" She asked sweetly. Esmeralda nodded her head slowly and looked at me once more. "Yes, um, I'd like to drop off a new recruit to your program." Esmeralda replied shakily. 

         The lady smiled and looked down at me. "Of course! Would like to say good bye before I take your pet back?" She asked nicely. Esmeralda shook her head in response and bid the lady good bye. I whimpered as I watched her leave the shop without me. "Common sweetie, let's go give you a bath." The lady said to me as she lead me to the back. 

          I followed in suit and did as the woman asked me to. One leg after the other, I went into the small bath and stood still as she washed me. "Oh poor thing, it's a miracle that you're still alive!" She exclaimed as she washed my fur. I cocked my head at her and she laughed. "You must be the sweetest Pit bull I've ever met!" She giggled as she began to dry me off. 

           After she got down drying me, she began to brush my fur. When she was done, I saw what looked like a mountain of fur. My eyes widened and I looked at the lady in the eye. She laughed and hugged me gently. I wagged my tail and followed her as she got up and lead me to a small cage. I walked inside and laid down on the soft blanket set out for me, I saw some chew toys in the back and grabbed a bone to chew on. 

             Being a street dog, I never got to live this luxurious. The shop was warmer than the outside and I began to worry about Esmeralda. Would she be warm enough tonight? Is she going to still be there when I get out of this place? My head spun with questions and I laid my head down in between my paws.