The warm wind blew through my open car window. Only three weeks left of school, and I wanted to begin the summer with a new puppy. And I wanted a little girl. My heart quickened as I approached the animal shelter because a life would be spared from death row...but I also worried about pee stains on the carpet.

The walk around the cages was oppressive. Each dog seemed to know the deal--just three business days of possibility and then a quick needle ending it all. They don't make the deal--they just know the reality.

The smell of desperation hung in the air like a cold blanket. Practically every dog stared me in the face. Every brown eye reflected both hope and death.

A fuzzy black-and-white terrier immediately grabbed my attention. She was warm and soft. Undeniably cute. Picking her up, I thought, "This is the one."

But I had decided too quickly. I hadn't seen all the others.

I returned her to the cage just for a minute and walked down the row. By the time I returned, a lady had picked her up and was cooing all over her.

Then it hit me: the cute ones get all the attention! I decided to get the dog who was least likely to be adopted...maybe the most unattractive one..or maybe the most anonymous one who blends in so much, she wouldn't get a second look. That will be the one!

I walked down the cages. Every dog jumped for my attention. But in the last cage, there she was. A black mixture of I-don't-know-what.

No markings, plain black. Completely invisible.

No barking, no crying. Head hung low.

I opened the cage.

"Are you a little girl?" I asked.

She was.

"Okay...you're going to be my little girl."

She didn't know it...but by tomorrow she would be a queen.