When we got him as a puppy, he was angry and afraid –

a little mutt with attitude that didn’t make the grade.

He wasn’t born with papers, didn’t have a pedigree,
refused to follow orders – wouldn’t go outside to pee.

Rescued from the system – being passed from hand to hand
he needed a forever home – a final place to land.

It took some time to settle in – to learn his way around,
to revel in the comfort of the loving home he’d found.

There our journey started and a solid bond was cast,
some precious years together, but they ended way too fast.

It’s such a common story and it really is a shame –
you’re growing old together, but the pace is not the same.

Their hourglass is smaller and the sand won’t fall for long –
before you even know it, all the time has come and gone.

The time we spend together now has turned to bittersweet –
the end is getting closer – only days, perhaps a week.

Acceptance isn’t easy and your heart just wants to fight,
but deep inside you realize – to keep him isn’t right.

You struggle with the question – “Is it time to let him go?”
But you’ll never get an answer – you’ll never really know.

You want your heart to tell you, but it’s clouded up with tears –
the thought of losing someone that you’ve loved for all those years.

It simply isn’t natural that you have to make the call,
to make the hard decision – that it’s time to end it all.

The time we had together came and went in just a flash –
from a playful little puppy to a wooden box of ash.

I tell him that I miss him, while I pet his statuette
and think about the times we had – the times I won’t forget.

I try to hold the happy thoughts but the memory makes me cry –
I hope we meet again someday – I miss that little guy.