One By One

I don't even remember where I found this poem. Maybe someone emailed it to me. Regardless, I found it so very touching that I just had to share.

ONE BY ONE

One by One, they pass by my cage,
Too old, too worn, too broken, no way.
Way past his time, he can't run and play.
They shake their heads slowly and go on their way.

A little old man, arthritic and sore,
It seems I am not wanted anymore.
I once had a home, I once had a bed,
A place that was warm, and where I was fed.

Now my muzzle is gray, and my eyes slowly fail.
Who wants a dog so old and so frail?
My family decided I didn't belong,
I got in their way, my attitude was wrong.

Whatever excuse they made in their head,
Can't justify how they left me for dead.
Now I sit in this cage, where day after day,
The younger dogs get adopted away.

When I had almost come to the end of my rope,
You saw my face, and I finally had hope.
You saw through the gray, and the legs bent with age,
And felt I still had life beyond this cage.

You took me home, gave me food and a bed,
And shared your own pillow with my poor tired head.
We snuggle and play, and you talk to me low,
You love me so dearly, you want me to know.

I may have lived most of my life with another,
But you outshine them with a love so much stronger.
And I promise to return all the love I can give,
To you, my dear person, as long as I live.

I may be with you for a week, or for years,
We will share many smiles, you will no doubt shed tears.
And when the time comes that God deems I must leave,
I know you will cry and your heart, it will grieve.

And when I arrive at the Bridge, all brand new,
My thoughts and my heart will still be with you.
And I will brag to all who will hear,
Of the person who made my last days so dear.

~ Author Unknown

I'll admit it: this brings tears to my eyes every time I read it. This reminds me so much of our sweet foster dog Ginger, who spent 9 months at the shelter before coming home with us, and eventually landing at my mom's house, where she was pampered for the last 1.5 years of her life. She brought so much joy to my mom in such a short amount of time. All senior dogs deserve the opportunity to love and be loved in the final years of their lives!