I feel the car come to a stop and my eyes flicker open. I’m still curled up in the warm lap of this stranger, who slides their hand beneath me, cradling me as they open the car door. A few steps later and we enter a new house, that I do not recognize at all. The stranger places me on the ground, all the smells hit me at once. There’s another dog here, I can smell it. Wait I think I smell bacon. I begin to trot around the house, my nails clicking on the slippery hardwood floor. I must find this other dog.

Searching around I get distracted by sound, the littler stranger is holding a football which makes a high pitched squeaking noise, when she squeezes it. I race over to her, I love squeaky toys! The dog smell will have to wait.

I fumble over to her, colliding with her leg. I dive for the squeaky toy, I must get rid of that sound. The stranger whirls it around my face and in between my feet, she is so mean! But this stranger has made is such a game. Well two can play at this game.

The stranger suddenly jumps up and runs into another room. I attempt to do the same, but my small feet and the slick wood floor do not go well together. After gathering my uncoordinated paws, I bound into the other room.

Suddenly there it is again. The overwhelming smell of another dog. Okay, forget the squeaky toy, I need to investigate. I peruse the room, with my nose to the ground. Some of the toys in the toy basket seemed used, and the bowls for the food are definitely for a bigger dog.

I hear the pitter-patter of paws coming from above. This is it. FINALLY. I will meet the other dog. I race back into the other room, crashing into a giant cushion. Once I regain my balance I turn to see an animal trotting down the stairs which is definitely not a dog.

This animal and I make eye contact, we freeze. I begin to inch forward, could this animal be my friend?