We all know,

Though we try not to think of it

We all know…

His future mommy finding him

when he was,

oh, thought to be five.

Found as a stray

his stay at the Shelter

but a short while

when first seen by Bonnie.

His stay at the shelter

but a short while

when first seen by his new mommy

when the spark of recognition

passed from the walkway

beyond the cage,

when the spark of recognition

passed from within the cage

to the walkway beyond.

“Have me,”

Said the expressive black eyes

of the moderate sized black dog,

“I’ll be your little boy

I’ll love you,” said the expressive

eyes of the moderate sized

spaniel type dog.

“I’ll love you,” said the expressive

eyes of the moderate sized black dog,

“if you’ll have me, I’ll love you.”

When adopted,

becoming a member,

becoming a part of

one’s family.

becoming a member

of one’s family

with passing days, weeks, months and years

we know there will come a time,

we know there will become a day,

a horribly sad day.

I’m sure it’s the same for any beloved pet,

but as I know of dogs,

I speak of dogs.

To me, though I well know the difference,

to me the ones that through the years,

to me the ones that had adopted me throughout the years

are no longer referred to as “the dog”

but as “the kid”

and “my kid” is family!

We all know,

Though we try not to think of it

We all know…

First meeting Andy those years ago,

those eleven years ago

the black, then twenty-five pound spaniel type dog

was shy and standoff.

Then thinking…

maybe knowing he was abused by a man,

when approached, backing away,

there would be a baring of teeth

there would be a low throaty growl

saying to me,

“let me be!”

Days and weeks and months,

hours at a time,

sitting on the floor,

sitting alongside Andy,

brushing and stroking,

“I love you,” Bonnie would say.

Sitting alongside Andy,

Brushing and stroking and reassuring,

“Andy,” Bonnie would say, “I love you.”

True to his unspoken word,

true to the look within his expressive dark eyes,

“I love you” Andy would wordlessly say,

“You’re my mommy and I love you.”

As for me:

Eventually learning to trust this man,

I was allowed to hold and to pet.

The throaty growl and baring of teeth

long gone,

replaced now with an occasional kiss.

How quickly these eleven years have passed.

Muzzle now gray,

the Jaunty bounce now out of his step.

We all know,

though we try not to think of it.

We all know…

though now,

approximately sixteen years of age,

 we must think of it…

Listless for days,

eating but what was hand fed,

X-rays taken,

blood tests taken:

A large growth within his stomach…

Too old for surgery.

Andy’s mommy must think of it

Bonnie must make the decision.

The sky on this day gray and weepy.

But weeping no less than the tears of Andy’s mommy, Bonnie

And the tears of Andy’s uncle, Mark.

We all know,

Though we try not to think of it

We all know…