"Ricki"........a survivor and his story.

My name is Ricki, but I have other names too, isn't that neat? For the first three years of my life I didn't even have a name, just a number! Now I'm four years old and I'm not only Ricki, I'm Pookie (daddy's name for me), Little Red Dude, and my favorite name of all - Little Buddy.

Not too long ago, I thought that life was all about being scared and lonely. So many things were scary, especially big hands reaching for me, and even other dogs sometimes. I was so confused, why couldn't anybody be nice to me? I tried so hard to be a good little boy, but nobody cared. Until one day when the hands reaching for me were gentle, and the voice was soft, and I went to a place where I could walk on the ground and play in the sunshine with other little dogs just like me. The nice voice started calling me Ricki. I liked that. I still trembled when I saw human hands, and cried a little when I got picked up, I couldn't help it. But the hands stroked my head and that felt good.

I got scared all over again one day, when two of my playmates and I were put in a car and went for a very long ride. Where were we going? Were they taking us back to that other awful place? We traveled for a very long time. And then I met my mommy. It was a very cold night, and she held me close all the way to her house. There I had my very own food dishes and toys and soft, warm bed, and I didn't have to share them with anyone. I ate yummy food and got special treats too. And my mommy was always there. I could have belly rubs and cuddles in her lap any time I wanted.

Mommy says I've filled out and become such a handsome boy. She takes me with her almost everywhere she goes, and tells me I'm her best buddy in the whole world. I hardly ever get scared any more, and I've almost forgotten what it's like to be lonely. I'm so happy sometimes that I wiggle all over, and now somebody knows what a good boy I am. Mommy says this is the way life is supposed to be for all dogs. I wonder if my cousins and friends in that place I was born will ever know that? I hope so. Because life is really wonderful when you're loved this much.

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