"Ellie The Shepherd"

I used to pat a nose as I'd walk by each cage

It just seemed like fate, that our brown eyes engage

Silently waiting for her turn to play

A perky-eared Shepherd, was brought in that day.

This once I would start at the end of the line

And leash up this girl for a little play-time..

Happy to have me, she led me outside...

A graveyard for sticks, and old balls that had died.

She danced in delight, with each toss of a toy

Then trotting quite proudly, with one chewed-up joy...

She'd rear-up and drop it, then stare in my eyes

Dare me to take it. I did...no surprise...

Her soft graceful beauty, unmatched in mid-flight

Pierced through the armor, I'd laced up so tight.

The long dog-less months of my mourning would end.

Here was my heart, my new life, my best friend.

She was showing-off now, attempting to cram

Two more balls in her mouth, as she bumbled and ran

She managed to do it-looked to me for applause

Laughing instead, I grabbed her sweet paws...

And we danced, and we ran, and we almost lost the day

But the others were waiting for their turn to play

So I rallied her up and took her inside

There were tears in her eyes... I think we both cried.

Those shiny white teeth, the spit on her nose

The look of pure trust, only a dog-lover knows...

I hated to leave her that night at the pound

I stopped in mid-stride and almost turned around.

I had promised, tomorrow, we'd go home to play...

Labeled "Aggressive" she was killed the next day.

Learn more about this author, Robin Loving.
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