“A bone thrown to a dog is not charity.

Charity is a bone shared with a dog,

When you are just as hungry as the dog.”

 

Jack London

I had named him ‘Bear’

Over six long months ago

He lived along the train tracks

He sadly had nowhere else to go

He had been abandoned and abused

He had lost any trust he ever had in man

I had tried everything, to re-gain his trust

To rescue him, I failed miserably in my plans

Animal Control shot him with a dart gun, and he escaped

I soon tried placing sleep-inducing tranquilizers, in his food

He would never enter any of my dog traps, no matter the bait

He now distrusted all human beings, utterly saddening my mood

This homeless dog lived along these lonely railroad tracks for over a year

And about all I could do was leave some food and water for him every day

A homeless man, also living along these tracks, finally earned Bear’s trust

And today, I am overjoyed this Good Samaritan was able to save this waif

These sad days, I often find those with the least, are the most compassionate

This homeless person truly knows what it means to lose everything, and yet

He manages to care for his own two dogs, better than some of my neighbors

And he reaches out with his heart and soul, to gain the trust of a homeless pet

Bear was taken to an animal hospital, to be treated for his many maladies

He has a severely infected paw and this poor waif is covered with parasites

Far too many people are still throwing out their own pets, like the garbage

And in America, far too many homeless people and pets, are starving tonight

“I expect to pass through this life but once.

If therefore there be any kindness I can show,

Or any good thing I can do to any fellow being,

Let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it,

For I shall never pass this way again.”

William Penn

©July 2013, Mr. Ed