I'm a little puppy,
so cuddly, sweet and small
I live inside a cage, you see
at a Pet Store in the mall.

I'm not an only puppy,
my sisters are all here.
My brothers, too, except for Ralph
who died coz he was scared.

It's lonely here at nighttime
when all the lights go dark,
We tremble in our cages
and we whimper and we bark.

But no one comes to hold us
or pet our fears away.
We sit all night in terror
til the store opens next day.

We don't remember mama,
left so far behind.
she did the best she could for us
til Man said "It is time."

He crammed us all in cages
too small for us you see.
We rode for hours; we could not help
but lay in poop and pee.

And now we sit in a Pet Store
where kids come taunt and squeeze.
They do not hear our whimpers
or understand our pleas.

We're miserable and it's scary
here we all would rather die.
But since we don't we do our best
to run away and hide.

I know you think my story
too sad to leave me be.
You want to take me home with you,
a happy little puppy.

But please, though it is fearful
to live here against our will.
If you take me that leaves a spot
another pup will fill.

You can stop our suffering
but not by taking us home.
You must be strong and leave us here,
unsold and all alone.

For if you do not take me,
then another pup won't come.
And maybe he will not be shipped
so far away from home.

Tho some of us may not survive
the cycle 'ere it falls.
If we don't sell they will not need
more puppies in these halls.

And if they need no puppies
then the Man will not bring more.
Eventually it can all stop!
You CAN close the door.

So when you see a puppy face
so sad and sweet and small.
In a cage at a Pet Store
at your neighborhood shopping mall.

The best thing you can do for him
is leave him sitting there.
That is the best way you can tell
all dogs how much you care.