One By One

[Otto'sMom]

Warning! This will make you weepy so be careful at work. I thought it belonged in the sad part of the forum.


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.
Then 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 thru 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 talk to me 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

[willsana]

Simply beautiful.

[Patt]

Andrea:

It IS beautiful and did make me cry. It so fits the last two seniors Gretta & Dodger that we adopted last year. We love them so much.

Thank you!

Patt

[dutchman]

Thank you for posting that Andrea. I can think of a few recent senior adoptees on this board who this story seems to fit perfectly. We are blessed that the racue people in this area make a point of trying to help the seniors and shelters that work closely with rescue groups. Seniors seldom spend a long time in the shelter unless there is a problem trying to locate a good foster home.

I was lucky in more than one way when I didn't get the senior boy foster as my first. Instead of him I got Dexter who became a forever kid. The senior LH male I had secretly wanted as a foster collapsed and had to be helped on his way to the bridge less than 48 hours after being taken out of the shelter. He had extensive organ damage due to years of dental neglect. At least he was with people who held inm in loving arms and shed a tear at his passing.

Tom and the boys (Frank, Tanner adn Dexter)

[Heidismom]

and I'm sitting here with tears falling down my cheeks. So much love they have to give, and thank goodness more are prepared to appreciate our seniors as worthwhile adoption candidates! Julia B.

[maryanne]

:tears: How sad. I'm so glad there are people like some of you on this board who give a home to unwanted older dogs. One day I hope to be in a position to do the same.
Here in Spain the dog-abandoning season is approaching: the summer holidays. They usually show the dog pounds on TV, all full of sad looking dogs in cages....while their ex-owners are enjoying their holidays somewhere. Do you think they have even a twinge of guilt?

[crock]

Oh, what a great poem. It makes me think of our little Sam we brought home a few months ago. He was 12 years old. However due to many problems he went to the bridge.
My first dachsie, 50 years ago, was 5 years old when we got her. Queenie came from the Pasadena (CA) Humane Soceity. My mother used to take me there about once a month to look and pet all the dogs.
Queenie was with us until she was 19.
Char

[onebigmickeyfan]

I love the seniors so much. Alot of folks dont realize that a senior still has alot to give in companionship and love. I have been asked several times lately why I wanted to adopt a 7 year old dog instead of a puppy. Zeke isn't really a senior but he's also not a pup. I felt before Zeke arrived and even more now that he is here that he truly needs us. He with his big sweet brown eyes that melt my heart everytime I look into his face, with those little flecks of gray in his beard and eyebrows giving him a gentlemanly quality. He might not have been anyone else's first and only choice but he is surly mine. He will be loved every moment of his life.

[gunther's mom]

When we adopted Jake (gunther's rat terrier brother),he was also "not a pup". We're not so sure how old he is now-but the litle guy was in the same pound TWICE. The vet thinks he was about 5 or 6,maybe 7. He's now about "15'. I cannot imagine life without him.

[DaeJ]

Words cannot describe just how simply beautiful that poem is. It touched my heart and my soul.

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