I was strolling in a mall one fine day, when a store caught my eye.
Behind its paneled glass walls strange eyes were cautiously looking at the passersby.
I entered the store and had a look around.
It had aisles of branded pet supplies; aquariums, cages, hygienic products, accessories and food.
After that I saw a small aviary of vibrant exotic birds.
Sadly, their magnificent wings were restricted in flight.
Next I saw a few schools of fish.
I marveled at their shapes, sizes, features, and hues.
They swum in a salt water aquarium, decked out with plastic ornaments and synthetic corals.
Finally I went to a glass enclosure wherein I found my favorite animals--Dogs.
There was a pug, a pit-bull, a terrier, a poodle and a pair of Shih Tzu.
And my heart readily went out to them.
Then I remembered our own pet.
Our pet is a tri-color, princess-type, male Shih Tzu. He was a gift from a cousin.
He is so adorable that I consider him as a “living stuffed-toy”
He was a source of joy whenever we feel down or due to sheer boredom.
He likes to travel and play with children.
He was part of the family.
My thoughts went back to the locked up dogs.
I reckoned the things that happen to them after the store closes.
They weren’t allowed to be touched and fed, are they sad?
What if like the poodle that seemed to be a year old and nobody wants to buy, will he ever feel wanted and loved?
Though I know that these pet shop animals are given the utmost care,
It still saddened me to see their helplessness and inferiority.
Do they dream or do they even know the word FREEDOM?
