Robert was slow with his wakeup, so Keisha shook him around the shoulders with her long acrylic nails. "Wake up! One of your dogs is dead."

Robert's eyes flicked open, but they focused on the TV rather than her.

"Eh? S'which one?"

"The all white one that looked old," Keisha responded immediately. Although, she hadn't been here for a year... and that dead dog had looked much older than when she'd last seen it.

"I don't know how. You need to go get him, maybe he's not breathing but still alive, I-"

Keisha was cut off. "Don't matter," Robert spat impatiently. His eyes swam as he looked towards her, then they locked onto the TV again.

"Yes it does, Robert! That's animal cruelty and you could go to jail!" The middle-aged woman spat. She vibrated with a mother's fury, so sorry for the poor dog. And the others, living with it's dead friend. Keisha's heart clenched.

"I gotta get rid of em anyways." He finally really looked at her.  His eyes focused, at least partly.

"Lost my job. Old Man ain't been pulling in any money. Nobody bets on em anymore, he ain't win an'more either. Goldie ain't had pups yet, must be barren. All them males dogs out there, two years it's a-been and no pups to sell?" He spat, his yellow teeth flashing as his mouth opened. "Dogs are getting to be a waste of goddamn money. I'm gonna sell em all or switch out the useless. Now shut the fuck up!" Robert screeched the last words, throwing his head back and opening his mouth so wide that Keisha saw his tongue covered in a layer of white filth.

She glowered, heart pounding as she struggled to contain her anger. You fucking sicko.

"Brush your goddamn teeth, brother. I can smell your rancid breath over here." Kesia stooped back, full of attitude as she stomped away. She hated her brother. She always had. And I can't do anything about the dogs but to bury the dead one. God, what is wrong with him? Lord above...

She broke two plates as she put the dried dishes away. She was shaking with rage. She grated her teeth together, a rare occurrence when she could not control the rage.

Keisha stepped on something as she went to put away a stack of plates. She looked down, seeing the bag of t-bones that had been meant for the dogs. The older woman felt an idea begin to form in her mind. As if God were telling her she should save the dogs, not him.

Those dogs need help. He'll sell them to his friends who will abuse them just as bad... and who's going to save them if I don't?

Keisha had never been much of a pet advocate, especially dogs. She thought they were a bit dirty and didn't have one herself. But all of this, it was wrong. And the dogs outside were quite literally dying. With winter on the way, it could only get worse for them. Robert had lost his job, but he was only going to scream at her if she said anything about it.

I'm going to get my get-back. I'm going to free those dogs. She checked to see if Robert was still fixated on his football, and he was- so she stepped to the back door, carrying a coat in her hand.

Keisha shrugged the coat on as she also grabbed the two thick leashes hanging off the doorknob. She twisted the knob and opened the door to the foggy back porch.

The woman climbed down the steps and sought out the only three dogs alive she had seen before. A black one, the gold one, and a brown one. The black and brown one had blood on various parts of their bodies.

She could only assume that Robert had sold the black-and white one previously, as well as the grey one. She noticed a horrid sagging hole in the brown dog's thigh as she neared. I can't just wrap that up like I did his ear!

Keisha hadn't been here in months, hadn't known it was this bad. She had made several attempts to call her brother out of her sheer feeling of duty to family, but had he picked up?

No. He never asks for help. He just abuses these dogs to make ends meet when he needs money to fall back on. Which is why they're going to go.

She clipped the leashes around the two dogs necks, taking awhile because she fumbled with the first. Keisha wasn't used to any sort of dog equipment, but as soon as she was sure they couldn't slip out she looked up.

The middle-aged woman pulled the dogs towards the back fence, willing the golden one to walk faster and pull away less. Her flats slid across the moist grass and were soaked within seconds.

She then looked towards the black one, but realized she only had two leashes.

"I'll be back for you!" Keisha called to that furry black one as she opened the latch on the back gate.

The black one is going to require law enforcement help though. I didn't see a key to that chain's pad-lock while I was cleaning, so Robert must be hiding it.

Keisha had a satisfying idea as she walked the dogs through the gate and towards the road. She had an animal shelter pulled up on her phone's GPS, hoping they would take in surrendered dogs when she arrived.

I'll call animal control on his ass. Not police business exactly, but also enough to get him fined or thrown in jail for a few months. The dead dog and the other one chained up with no food right beside it will be plenty enough. If they get him on a case of dogfighting, even better.

The woman shuddered as she turned down the GPS' reccomended street. She followed the blue line on her phone's map with the dogs trailing beside her, pulling but not really bothering her despite this.

Robert's got another thing coming if he thinks he can just ignore this for so long. I should've did this years ago. I shouldn't have been scared of interfering with his life. But, this is just what he needs. And this is just what these dogs need.  

Keisha kept the pace quick on the way to the animal shelter so the dogs wouldn't get distracted. She had left her car at home in the suburbs, rather than bring it to this ghetto part of town.

The walk took forty-seven minutes, yet the whole way there Keisha reveled in the fact that justice would soon be brought upon her brother. And by me!

"You have arrived at your destination!" Her phone chimed as she slowed in front of the establishment. It was blue and green, a bit of an eyesore for Keisha but she supposed it could be overall appealing. The building was labeled "Portland Humane Society" which Keisha felt a bit skeptical of until she looked inside.

Through the glass-pane doors was a brightly-lit central lobby that deeply contrasted the outside's muted fog.

A bright sea-green covered the walls, with pawprints and running cartoon pets scattered all about it. The reception area held a mini waterfall etched in fake flowers along the countertop, and below the divider was made of smooth grey brick.

The business establishments name was painted in sparkly white letters there as well. A green pet scale was stored along one wall, with a few hallways leading away perpendicular. Behind the desks were three doors, two of which labeled "cats" and the other "dogs." The words were also etched in white sparkly glitter.

Keisha eyeballed all of this as she passed through their doors. She was greeted warmly by a receptionist, and steered the dogs over to her. The receptionist asked what Keisha would like help with today.

"This is an animal shelter, right? I need to surrender these dogs. They were abused by my brother." Keisha blinked her long eyelashes at the lady, hoping it wouldn't take too long. If her brother went outside and found some of his dogs missing, Keisha could expect his drunken rage taken out on her.

"Yes ma'am, this is the Humane Society of Portland. We can accept surrendered animals, but you'll have to fill out this paperwork." The black-haired woman slid her a paper and pen that were resting atop a clipboard.

Keisha filled out the paperwork where she stood. There was no one in line behind her; and besides, a second receptionist sat opposite of Keisha's. The place was quiet except for the sound of dogs barking in the background.

There was a cat sleeping in a bed atop the receptionists desk, but Keisha paid it no mind. She had trouble trying to write while also grasping onto the two leashes. However, within fifteen minutes she was done providing her information and answers about the dog's names, behaviors and conditions.

"This brown one has a badly torn leg. I... can see, like, his flesh underneath."

The receptionist raised her eyebrows, standing. She leaned over her desk and peered down at the taller chestnut-brown dog.

"Adam for two canine surrenders," the receptionist called somewhat frantically behind her, into a hallway. Then she looked back at Keisha with a small smile.

Keisha leaned down, not noticing the woman's gesture. She stroked the golden dog gently, then itched the brown one under his dirty chin.

They're such nice dogs. Even though they went through hell. They were used.

"What kind of abuse did your brother do towards these dogs ma'am? We'll need his name, address, and phone number as well." The woman now held a hint of authority in her voice, as if she wouldn't take no for an answer. 

Keisha didn't hesitate. She knew they would most likely open an investigation on Robert and the dog-fighting entertainment he sold out of his shed.

"Robert Kinderwell, 518 South Jefferson Road, 765-242-1010." Keisha nodded respectfully as she told the woman, then opened her mouth to speak again.

"You don't have to call- I will. There's one more dog chained up at his house that's still alive, though."

The woman almost gasped after writing down the information and hearing Keisha's words, but covered her mouth to silence it.

"Is your brother dangerous? I wouldn't reccomend going back for the last dog, ma'am. But if you insist, we can have animal control go along with you. And police can enter the premises first to detain your brother. If..." She sighed, looking up at Keisha. Her black hair fell to the front of her shoulders as she gazed calmly at the bronze-skinned woman. "That's what you want?" All of her previous authority was now replaced with a sympathetic tone.

Keisha nodded. She took a deep breath, and handed the dogs towards the supposed Adam as he walked through a back door and up to her. Adam glanced at Keisha, touched her shoulder and nodded thanks.

"We'll get them both seen by a vet. You've done the right thing, ma'am."

Keisha nodded patiently as she unwrapped the dog's leashes and passed them to Adam.

I know my daughter would think so. Keisha's daughter loved animals, and had two cats of her own at home. Each night she would read their cats bedtime stories.

Keisha then turned on her clicking heels and walked over to the waiting area. She sat on a brown bench cushioned by blue pillows.

Keisha pulled out her phone and dialed 911.

"Hello? I'd like to report...." She looked down at her cheetah-printed pants. "My brother. For dog-fighting; and animal abuse and neglect."

"What's the address ma'am? As soon as I get that I'll transfer you to Animal Control of Portland city."

"I'm currently at Portland Humane Society. I walked two of his dogs over here to surrender them from his house. He lives at 518 South Jefferson, corner of Beard street. And, there's still two dogs there. One is dead." Keisha's voice shook as she remembered the wrinkled, pale white dog still chained to its doghouse. Chained to it's death.

"I just want my brother arrested, and the last dog freed."

Law enforcement responded immediately, transferring her to animal control. Keisha had to explain the story over again to Portland's animal officers.

"Alright, ma'am. Our units are on the way to you for questioning, and Robert's for detainment of questioning to animal abuse and neglect. The officers will most likely investigate the dog fighting environments after both the dogs and Robert have been detained."

Kesia sighed and shook her head, beginning to cry. This was both devastating and beautiful. She knew she wouldn't be seeing her brother again for quite some time. But she also knew that he was beyond help, and the dogs weren't. I'm sorry it took me so long to help you.

You'll have a chance at a future now.

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