Do I Go Home Today?

By Sandi Thompson ~

My family brought me home
cradled in their arms.
They cuddled me and smiled at me,
and said I was full of charm.

They played with me and laughed with me,
they showered me with toys.
I sure do love my family
especially the girls and boys.

The children loved to feed me,
they gave me special treats.
They even let me sleep with them
all snuggled in the sheets.

I used to go for walks,
often several times a day.
They even fought to hold my leash,
I’m very proud to say.

These are things I’ll never forget
a cherished memory.
I now live in a shelter
without my family.

They used to laugh and praise me
when I played with that old shoe.
But I didn’t know the difference
between the old ones and the new.

The kids and I would grab a rag
for hours we would tug.
So I thought I did the right thing
when I chewed the bathroom rug.  

They said that I was out of control,
and would have to live outside.
This I did not understand
although I tried and tried.

The walks stopped, one by one;
they said they hadn’t time.
I wish that I could change things,
I wish I knew my crime.  

My life became so lonely,
in the back yard on a chain.
I barked and barked all day long
to keep from going insane.

So they brought me to the shelter
but were embarrassed to say why.
They said I caused an allergy,
and then, kissed me goodbye.

If I’d only had some classes,
as a little pup
I wouldn’t have been so hard to handle
when I was all grown up.

“You only have one day left,”
I heard the worker say.
Does this mean a second chance?
Do I go home today?