Senior Love

[WillieW]

Senior Love
by Leslie Whalen

One by one, they pass by my cage
they say "too worn, too broken, too old of age.
Way past his time, he can't run and play"
Then they shake their heads 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 grey 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 grey and the legs bend 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 be low.
You love me so dearly, you want me to know.

I may have lived 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 some
tears.

And when the time comes that 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 when I will brag to all who will hear,
of the person who made my last days so dear.
__________________

[givemebackmycountry]

1. Gee Thanks - It's not even 12:30 in the afternoon and I'm crying

It's the second time since Christmas Day that I am crying over an old dog.
(Took my 77 year old Mom to see Marley and Me on Christmas afternoon with my 53 year old cousin)
Those two women were bawling like babies, and they were happy to see that I was too.

[undeterred]

2. I miss my senior dog.

[WillieW]

3. My small dog turned 10 years old. I don't know what I would do without her.

She was a rescue and saved my life several years later during a house fire. We are very close. She changed me and my life.

[undeterred]

5. Mine died last summer- he was almost 16.

He's the one on the right. I was just talking to someone this morning who used to work at the humane society, and she was telling me that lots of people surrender their older dogs. Sometimes its because they had a child, sometimes they are just tired of taking care of it. Unbelievable.

[WillieW]

6. Is this youth oriented society. The same for animals. No one wants to face the

the responsibility of caring for an older dog. Sorry that you lost your pet.

[peacetalksforall]

4. That was lovely. Thanks. I was just thinking how bitter I am about losing my

country and what I could do. I was just thinking how quiet is was this morning and wondering the degree of depression facing families and life losses, possibly as soon as January 1 and why there are political, monetary, and theological battalions of people who want to make us hurt. Funny how beauty pops up everywhere to take your mind off of it and how we are gifted.

[FloridaJudy]

7. I'm up to my limit with pets

For this complex, but when my seniors (15 year old cat and 12 year old dog) cross the Rainbow Bridge, I want to adopt another senior. We can all be old and crabby together.