It’s my birthday today, yet I have no home to go back to

Pobi was a shadow in a world of light. Seven years he had lived within the cold, concrete walls of the shelter. Seven years of wagging tails that found homes, of empty leashes that once held promise. Today was his seventh birthday, a bitter irony in the sterile environment.

He was a medium-sized dog, with fur the color of autumn leaves and eyes that held the wisdom of years beyond his age. Once, they had held hope, a bright spark in the gloom of his kennel. Now, they were pools of silent despair.

As the day wore on, the noise of the shelter – the barking, the clanging of food bowls, the occasional cheerful human voice – seemed to amplify his loneliness. He curled into a tight ball in his kennel, his whimpers echoing in the quiet moments. No one had come to see him. No one had offered a kind word, let alone a warm embrace.

He remembered the day he arrived, a terrified puppy, heart pounding with fear and confusion. He’d been a bundle of energy, always eager for playtime, for a friendly pat. But as the years passed, that puppyish enthusiasm had dwindled, replaced by a quiet resignation.

The shelter workers were kind, but their attention was divided among countless other animals. They fed him, cleaned his kennel, and offered occasional pats, but it wasn’t enough. He craved the warmth of a home, the feel of soft grass beneath his paws, the unconditional love of a human companion.

As the day turned to evening, Pobi’s hope flickered and died. He closed his eyes, the weight of loneliness pressing down on him. Tomorrow would be another day, and with it, another chance. But for now, as he drifted into sleep, he could only hope that one day, someone would see the loyal, loving dog hidden beneath the layers of despair, and take him home.