The tenants next door
got her from St Andrews Market
Her name was Lady
a gentle sheltie pup
with cafe latte coat
and the longest nose I'd ever seen
black
to match
her black eyes that shone

I fell in love with her instantly
and took her for long walks
- they were both working -
and brushed her silky coat
and threw the tennis ball
over and over and over again.
I used to dream they would tire of her
- they were young after all -
she was my kind of dog.

When are you having her speyed?
Soon...

She wasn't even a year old
when I found them
She and Toby, the border collie cross
locked in post-coital bliss
back to back
moaning softly together.

She's too young for pups
We'll take her to the vet
but they didn't
and sixty three days later
six monsters arrived
so ugly and so big
too big for such a little mother.

Within three months
her coat was scruffy
her eyes were dull
and her belly hung in dusty folds.

They left soon after
and took her with them.
She used to be such a pretty pup...

Alison Cassidy

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/lost-lady/