Tugging at my heart

Why did I do that?

I should have known better.

We went to the bookstore last weekend, and while parking we noticed that the SPCA was having an adoption fair.

I had my camera and thought it might be fun to take a few shots of the animals. I don't think I've ever gone to one of these adoption fairs before.

And so I did. And I shouldn't have.

I got caught up reading the stories about each of the animals who were waiting for a good home to adopt them. I petted them. I talked to them (yes, even baby talk a few times). I flattened my hand to the cages so they could smell it and be a little more at ease. I rubbed each of their cool noses and soft, furry jowls before moving on to the next. 

Then about 3/4s of the way through I ran across this guy, and his story. 

For ten years he was left outside and tied up to a dog house. Ten years of no affection or warmth or caring. He was just fed and ignored. His neighbors, who had been trying to find a way to get to this poor little guy for years so they could take him away, finally succeeded in doing just that. I could hardly stand looking into this eyes without breaking up. You can tell he's not a youngster - and he was so shy. Isn't he beautiful? Sigh. I wish I could have taken him home.

Here are two more of the sweet pups. They have such a sad look but really they were having a great time greeting everyone. The cages and their angle of view don't really do justice to how sweet they were. I wish I could have adopted them all!