I know a cage, shelter and paper strip bed. I know the smell of a hundred of my fellows.I know the times of release, the joy of running and smelling. Eating and bounding into my fellows. I know the once a week race. I know the thrill of the hunt and chase.

I know the end of my time as a runner. I know the excitement of new sights and smells. I know the feel of humans and my fellows. I know fear. Of wide open spaces and strange loud crashes. Of life outside the cage and in the big trucks. Of leaving my fellows and travelling away to strange places. Of not knowing what tomorrow will bring.

I know the new cage and the new shelter. I know the people who release me and feed me, let me run and play. I know my new fellows, strangers yet siblings. We all know the cages and the shelter. I know things can change, and I am afraid.

I know you. You bring me to shelter. You teach me stairs and windows. Toys. You give a space, let me lay down and rest. You show me patience and kindness. You show me respect and friendship. You replace fear with trust. I know what tomorrow will bring. You. Happy. And that's what I know.