One More Chance

I opened my eyes to find daylight streaming through the pet shop window. Yawning, I made a clumsy attempt to stand up which ended in me falling on top of my sleeping brother. He made a little whimper that made our mother awake. She turned her head and gently licked my brother to quiet him.

            My mother’s name was Chloe. I think she was the best mother a pit bull could ask for. I hoped that one day I would be as great as her. She nudged me up. That time I kept my balance and had taken a few shaky steps. The bell on the pet shop door ringed. A little girl walked through with her mother. She ran right up to me and screeched, “Mama! I want puppy!” Her finger was pointed directly at me.

            That was when my life took a turn for the worst. I didn’t know it then, but being torn from my mother and siblings was the least of my worries. The little girl took me home and named me Cato. She played with me, feed me, and loved me. Those few weeks weren’t too bad. I had thought that I would live here with her forever. I was wrong.

            After a few weeks, I had tripled my size from when they first got me. The little girl’s mother was getting increasingly protective of the little girl when I was around her. Whenever she tried to play with me, her mother would take her away from me and slap me on the nose.

            One day, when the little girl was taking her nap, her mother had taken me out into her car. We drove for awhile. Suddenly, the car stopped in front of a strange building. That building would be heaven compared to where I was about to go.

            I was held prisoner in that building (which I later found out was called the pound) for a very long week. I had woken up on my eighth day to the usual routine. When I was chewing on my rawhide bone, I noticed two big, black boots standing in front of my cage. Those boots would soon send chills through my pelt every time I would see them.

            “This looks like a nice dog. I’ll take him,” the rough voice said to the worker. When I was being taken out of my cage, I realized that I was being adopted. I was very excited and happy, thinking that now I had a loving forever home. Again, I was wrong.

            These memories hurt so much, but it doesn’t hurt as much as the present. The memory of the training he gave me was very bad, but now my life is horrible. Well, Killer’s life is horrible, because it doesn’t fell like me when he makes me fight.

            His voice makes shivers go through my pelt, when he booms, “Killer! Get out here you worthless mutt!” I tremble as I make my way towards him. Sitting down, I can’t help but shake before him. A sudden streak of pain comes across my side. I yelp with pain from the sting of his whip. After a few seconds, I let “Killer” take over. I growl and snap at the whip.

            “Good. Now, tonight is the big fight. You better win some big money or you’ll pay. Come on then, let’s get going you lazy mutt,” he hisses. After a few minutes, we head out to the fighting area. It is a small dirt arena in an abandoned part of the town.

            Once we get there, I see all the other dogs. There are mostly pit bulls like me, but there are some different breeds. I see a very muscular pit bull that looks like he is begging to fight. Another one doesn’t look as good. He has a few open wounds and dry blood all over his pelt. Obviously, he had been beaten before they had come. I couldn’t help thinking that he probably could die today.

            When my turn comes up, I let “Killer” take over. My owner mutters a couple words to me and pushes me into the fighting area. I’m surprised when I see my opponent. The pit bull that was beaten before he came is facing me. I could tell he was making an unsuccessful attempt at looking threatening. A feeling of sorrow floods through me as I realize what will most likely unfold. “Killer” had already taken over and I can do nothing about it.

            The whips crack at out backs. Pain sears through me. I watch as “Killer” controls me. We lunge at each other. Grabbing hold of his hind leg, I feel teeth in my front leg. I keep a firm grip, while he yelps with pain. At the release of my front leg, I aim a successful blow at his chest. This knocks the wind out of his already weak body. He isn’t as weak as I thought, since he gets up and lunges at me. He knocks me down and has me pinned down helplessly. I realize this is probably the end, since I am fully exposed. Looking at him, I give him a sad look. He hesitates. A very fatal mistake on his part. I use this moment to push up on him so that he flies into the side of the fighting area. Helpless, I watch as “Killer” delivers the final blow to the neck. Horror strikes me as I see the life I have just taken.

            Suddenly, police burst into the fight. Everything goes crazy around me. I feel “Killer” taking over me with intentions of staying in control. The thought that I just took a life makes me give up without a fight. A stab of pain in my hind leg makes me yelp before everything starts getting blurry. Soon, everything fades to blackness.

            I wake up in a cage in an unfamiliar building. A man walks up to me and says, “Good, you’re awake. My name is Charlie. I will be your trainer.” He reaches through to pet me. I want to go lick his hand, but “Killer” snaps at him. No! Why are you trying to bite a friendly person? I don’t know what to do. At first, I try to fight it, but Killer is just too strong. After training with Charlie, I still can’t get control, so I give up and watch. Charlie tells me he has found a method to help me. He has given me a glimmer of hope.

            It is the weekend. Charlie is off on weekends, so I just sit in my cage. The worker comes around with food. Suddenly, I feel “Killer” thinking. Oh no! The worker didn’t latch the door. I bolt out the door. “Killer” is looking for a fight. I go to the next open cage where a worker is filling their food. Charging towards the dog, I chomp down hard on the back of the dog’s neck. The worker tries to restrain me. I twirl around and bite down on the worker’s hand. Another worker comes around the corner and shoots something into my leg. Blackness takes over.

            I awake on a table. Looking around the room, my blood turns cold. I’ve only heard stories about this place. It’s impossible. There must be a mistake. I can’t get euthanized. I’m too young to die. The vet comes over with a needle. No! Please don’t do this to me. I didn’t do all those things. It was “Killer!” She inserts the needle into my front leg and pushes down the handle.

            Charlie bursts into the room. His eyes already filled with tears. Charlie, help me! We are supposed to be together forever! I can already feel it taking effect. I can do better! I just needed a better owner. Please let me be with Charlie. I don’t want it to end like this! I’m slipping away. I just need one more chance! I slip into forever darkness.