### Sandy’s Story
Today is my birthday, and also the day I was abandoned.
Sandy, a three-month-old puppy with soft, sandy-colored fur, shivered in the cold wind near the garbage dump. The smell of rotting waste filled the air, but worse than the stench was the feeling of utter loneliness. Today was supposed to be a day of celebration, marking his birth, but instead, it had become the darkest day of his young life.
Just a few hours ago, Sandy had been with his family. He remembered the warmth of his mother and the playful antics of his siblings. They had spent their days chasing each other in the yard and curling up together for naps. But things had changed. The family who had taken care of them had decided they couldn’t keep the puppies anymore. One by one, Sandy’s siblings were given away. Finally, it was Sandy’s turn.
He had wagged his tail excitedly when he was picked up, thinking he was going to a new home. But instead of the loving arms of a new family, he found himself being driven to an unfamiliar place. The car stopped, and he was placed on the ground next to a heap of trash. The car doors slammed shut, and Sandy watched in confusion as the car drove away, leaving him behind.
He wandered around the dump, searching for a familiar face, but there was no one. The sounds of the city were distant and muffled, and the night was closing in. Sandy felt a pang of fear. He was alone, and he didn’t know what to do.
As darkness fell, Sandy found a small corner near the dump where he could take shelter. He curled up into a tight ball, trying to keep warm. The cold ground felt harsh against his little body, and he missed the soft bedding he used to sleep on. His stomach growled with hunger, but there was no food in sight.
Sandy’s mind drifted back to his family. He wondered if they missed him or if they even remembered that today was his birthday. Tears welled up in his eyes as he realized he might never see them again. He felt abandoned and forgotten, a tiny creature lost in a big, uncaring world.
But even in the midst of his sadness, Sandy held onto a glimmer of hope. He believed that somewhere out there, someone might find him and give him a home. Someone who would see the special little puppy he was and love him for it. As he drifted off to sleep, he dreamed of a warm home, a soft bed, and a loving family that would never leave him.
For now, Sandy was alone, but he was determined to survive. He promised himself that he would find a way to make it through this tough time. He might have been abandoned on his birthday, but he hoped that his story would have a happier ending someday.
