Poetry

My Career Changed Dog and Me

author: Joanna

This poem is not about
How my dog made a difference
This poem is about
How my dog didn't.

I sadly gave her up
On that warm summer day
 I believed she would have fun
Because she loved to work and play

Tears streamed down my face
As I had to say goodbye
But they did not soothe
What I was feeling inside

My precious girl watched me leave
As if to wonder why
We were leaving her here
With many tears in our eyes

I had a new pup
She was sweet and o' so cuddly
But inside something was still missing
And I couldn't keep myself from worrying.

Days turned into weeks
Yet no e-mail or call
Telling me how she was doing
Nothing, nothing at all.

In the fourth week I got the update
But it was so very wrong
"Fala doesn't want to work"
She may be coming home

Tears leapt to life
As I told a good friend
She was sad too
Her dog, as well, got dropped just then

Three days passed
And home from school I ran
I had this feeling about my girl
I knew my answer was waiting.

"I just got the word that she is dropped
she would really like to go home"
I've never cried as much as then
The trainers had given up hope.

I knew she would be dangerous
If she had become a guide
And with her new life ahead of her
She would feel only pride

But I still felt sad
Like she could've given more
And no matter how many people comforted me
I was still cold to the core.

We finally agreed to keep her
That helped me in my sorrow
I couldn't wait until the time
We would pick her up tomorrow

The walk down to the kennels
Was as painful as could be
I realized her life here was finished
She was coming home to me.

The worker went to get my girl
Tears filled my eyes
I saw her standing there
Her heart bursting with pride

She knew her job was finished
She knew she wasn't working this time
And finally she could tell it was all over
When her dancing eyes met mine.

She raced to me and gave me kisses
She hadn't been this happy for weeks
Happily we walked back to the car
Where she realized I was weak.

The un-snuggly dog snuggled
She lay across my lap
And a big sigh of relief was given
And there she took a nap

I knew she thought she had let me down
We knew those sorts of things
But I told her time and time again
That she had done the right thing.

My "ex-puppy in training"
My little career changed dog
Stood proudly by my side all day
And never left me for long.

And now, up to this day and forever
My pet and I will be
The happiest duo in the world
My career changed dog and me.