It's Gia Vision.

It was dark outside when I ran up to a strange man and his dog in a Chicago alley. I was tired and in a lot of pain, so it didn’t matter who it was— as long as it was someone who would listen to my howls! I don’t really know how long I was out on the street, but something seemed to be eating away at my skin. I was itching so badly that my neck, face, paws, and legs had lost their shiny hair. Instead, I had open, scabbed wounds everywhere.

I can’t even really remember how I found my way to that alley on the northside. But I did, and that man was the first person to stop and help me.

He leashed me up and with his dog, we began to walk. I was so excited, so happy. Finally, some help! But he did not let me stay inside of his home. His dog remained there, but we left again, walking through Roscoe Village on foot so that the open sores on my pads had to suffer the pain of the concrete even more.

We arrived at a small building and stepped inside. I was met with two new faces that peered at me from over a door. I couldn’t understand what was being said, but the man who found me sounded frantic and a bit rushed. They walked away and began talking into some head device, and while their backs were turned, the man who I’d thought was my savior sneaked out the door.

The two new people stared at me as if they weren’t sure what to do. I mean, who could blame them? I wasn’t really looking my most attractive at that point. But my appearance or breed did not stop them. The shorter, female one opened the door to come look at me, and I immediately began to rub my head against her legs in an effort to convey affection and to calm the burning itch on my face.

That night was a blur after that. I took another walk with the tall guy and howled the entire way there, absolutely devastated that once again I was being forced to leave. But we came to another building, and more new people began to treat my wounds.

The place that took me in and helped me heal was the Chicago Canine Rescue. After seeing the vet, I returned to the shelter, was given my own big crate filled with fluffy blankets and toys, and was given food and fresh water.

It must have been hard for them at first. I was (and still am) such a crazy puppy! And I know I required a lot of extra care because of the open wounds covering my face and neck.  I had to get regular baths and was on a lot of medication to help my skin heal… medication that I wouldn’t eat unless it was in that delicious thing they call cheese. And, well, I really didn’t like staying outside by myself for too long at first, and let me tell you, the shelter’s neighbors really did not like my singing.

I am still living at the shelter, waiting for the day. I know that someday, I will be the perfect dog for a certain man, or woman, or family. Someday, someone will see me and realize that, despite the bald spots that are still being filled in with hair, and my breed, and my singing, and all the energy I have, I am a great dog.

I am a great dog, and one day, I will have a home to call my own.