Santana
This poem is about Santana, a dog who I have volunteered with at the Valley Animal Center in Fresno, California.
Santana is starved for affection she gives kisses and insists on sitting on your lap once she gets to know you, like an overgrown puppy she strains at her leash when given a break from her kennel she is overlooked, having been in the shelter for over three years life hasn’t treated her well, but she still faces every day with a smile
“life hasn’t treated
her well, but she
still faces every
day with a smile”
Audrey Bergen
Process
I have known Santana for two and a half years now. Despite spending so long without a forever home, she is still a happy, goofy, affectionate dog who soaks up attention once she gets to know you. I look forward to seeing her when I volunteer as she never fails to make me laugh at her attempts to squeeze her 60+ pound self into my lap.
I decided to write this poem to highlight some of my favorite aspects of Santana’s personality. I sincerely hope that she gets adopted into a loving home soon but I am happy to interact with her until then.
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Audrey Bergen
Audrey is a grant writer in her professional life and enjoys writing fiction and poetry about causes she is passionate about, including animal welfare. She tends to write poetry and short stories with fantasy and/or horror elements. She graduated in May of 2024 as an English major with a minor in Creative writing. Some authors who have inspired her are Margaret Atwood, Ellen Hopkins, and Suzanne Collins.
