Pets

Chapter 1

Ruby POV

**FLASHBACK**

The warm autumn sun was beaming on my black coat, I was enjoying it, sunbathing was always one of my most favorite things to do in my free time. Which was almost constant, I was only 1 year old now, still carefree and enjoying the cool autumn breeze as it carefully blew through the grass, tickling my fur slightly. The breeze was nice, causing a happy medium between; not too hot but not too cold neither. Right in between, a happy comfortable middle.

I sighed, happy for once, shelter life wasn't exactly easy. We were treated equally and

fairly among the staff and owners who come to visit; but the other pets were the problem. Fights over food, even though there was plenty to go around and the occasion where there'd be a female pet go in beast, and the males would fight over who got the right to have s*x with her.

Animals I chuckled to myself.

"What are you so happy about?" my friend Kale asked, he was a pet, a yellow Labrador. He took a seat next to me as I reluctantly shifted into my human form, my human form ages differently. Where I'm almost 1 year in Doberman, I'm almost 6 in human.

"Not really happy, just was thinking about my life. Mom is here with me, but we aren't happy, we need a home. Soon mom will be in heat, her first heat since having me and I'm not ready for the fights that'll come for the right to have her. I'm ready to have my owner." I told him truthfully.

"Someone your age shouldn't worry about things like heat and..... things you're far too young to worry about that. Your mom can handle herself, she's fought off males before, she can do I several times over." he replied.

Deep down I knew he was right, but I was honestly worried about my mom, Kale was significantly older than me, he was the father figure I looked up to, he was around my mom's age, I knew he liked her. More than he let on, I knew she liked him. When her heat came, I was secretly hoping that she would just pick him. Where as we were both purebred Dobermans, she only allowed that Doberman to mate with her out of respect for him and the owner, and they offered a lot of money out of the pups, on the condition she got to keep one pup out of the litter. I still don't know why she picked me, but was greatful she did.

I couldn't imagine my life without my mom always being in it, and Kale was the only and first thing to a father; better than my birth dad. My mom had always told me that he was just a good time, he meant nothing to her and she meant nothing to him; but when it came to Kale, she would get flustered talking about him.

I smiled at Kale.

"We are gonna get visitors toasty, I hope I feel something this time." I said hopeful.

"Me too, it'd be nice to see you going to a happy home with nice owners who will take care of you and shield you as much and as long as possible from the world. It's hard to do, but your mom has managed to so far outside of this shelter anyway, but yall didn't have anywhere else to go." he smiled faintly.

Attention all pets, please resume your pet forms for the next hour, the next scheduled owner fest will begin in 2 minutes.

We looked towards the building as the announcement sounded. Then back at each other. My mom walked over to me.

"Good luck Ruby, remember no matter what I will always love you and will always be there for you, you have my information always, it will never change." she said sadly as she kissed my forehead gently.

"I love you too mommy, and you too Kale, and thanks for being the only dad I've ever known." I told him truthfully as I hugged them both.

"Sure thing little one. Good luck." he smiled sadly, looked towards my mom and then shifted before slowly walking off. My mom and I shifted too.

Attention all pets the owner fest is now beginning.

The announcement sounded again before I followed my mother around, this had been our routine. The shelter wanted to see the moms with the pups they produced and how good of a breeder they make. Often times the owner won't buy a pet if the pet doesn't produce healthy pups, but sometimes they will if they are good hearted.

I looked around at all the owners as the pets did what they were trained to do, pets if they feel a very strong connection to a certian owner; were supposed to simply walk up and sit in front of them. As I followed my mother around I noticed all the men who were wanting her, the shelter had a strict policy, if the pet didn't feel a connection then you couldn't have the pet. They tried to get her attention to try and order her to pretend to feel a connection to them.

She kept walking.

"Look at all the doggies mommy." a little sweet voice said. My mom and I instantly looked over at the source to see a little 6 year old girl. My mom had always told me about the feeling. She had said it would feel like all your sadness and nervousness would all fade away and you would feel happiness, like you were home. That's what I felt when I looked at the little girl, I barked at mom. She stopped.

She sighed and turned to the girl again and turned licked the top of m head and nudged me with her muzzle. I took the steps to get to the little girl and sat in front of her at the same time Kale sat in front of the man and my mom sat in front of the woman.

Do you guys truly feel something or are you guys trying to stay with me? I asked them in they're mind.

I feel something for this woman, I didn't really look at her until you were walking toward the girl. My mom replied

I walked up from behind, so I had no idea you were even walking towards them. Kale said.

I could tell they were being truthful.

"Well that was a bit unexpected." The man said

"Certainly, I figured we'd leave with just one for Ally, I had no idea we'd be leaving with more. Is it even possible for more than one pet to feel a connection to you?" The woman asked the man.

"Maybe it's cause Grace is old and sick and getting ready to pass?" The man replied to her in a confused tone.

"Can we keep them?" The little girl whom they called Ally turned and asked the couple. I assumed they were her parents.

"Yes dear we can keep them." she replied sweetly.

I have an owner, and I don't have to leave the only family I'd ever known.

I was happy.