AN OLD DOG'S PRAYER
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 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 thru' the grey, 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.
YOUNG AT HEART
Please do not by pass over older dogs, they have a right to have a new home as well and all they desire is somewhere to lay their head, to be warm and to be loved. Isn't that what they all want??
Don't think for a mintue that because a dog is ten that he or she will not have the energy that a young pup has, often they have MORE.
When I first got a boxer, I asked "at what age do they calm down" the answer was NEVER. Boxers are young and bouncy till the day they take their last breath. They have a thirst for life and want to live it to the full all the time. I never believed this until I met our old rescue boy, Digger.
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Can you believe that someone came to see him with the plan of adopting him? I can laugh about it now but at the time I was stunned by their thoughts! Bearing in mind that Digger is nearly twelve, they said "Oh no, he's far too bouncy for us". And he was, he was a bouncy livley huggable boy.
I have to say Digger found his forever home the next week with our gaurdian angel Cal, and we are all so grateful for that.
Cal came forward as an adopter for Digger, he had just lost his own boxer a month before and he needed this massive hole in his life filled. Our boy Digger did just that. Cal had 28 days of fun filled days with Digger, until he had to go to the bridge because of cancer. We were all devastated, most of all Cal. He never got to say goodbye to Digger, as he was under anesthetic, to try and remove the polyps in his mouth. We need so many more people like Cal to open there hearts to our older babies.
Because they are older do they not deserve a chance of a happy life??
Because they are older does that mean they can't play??
No it doesnt.
All we ask is that you consider taking an older rescue boy/girl into your hearts and homes and makethe rest of their days happy and loved.
Lori
Boxer Welfare Scotland Volunteer