Dog
Maybe we invented
You, brought you
Inside
Wolves bark in
Packs for their own
Reasons—do you
Still know?
You are fur and teeth
And if we carve
Them down, you
Still have claws
In canine thinking
In taming you, we
Take ownership
When we don’t, we
Lie to you
And God and will
Need a better answer
Than Cain gave
For a sibling, also
Abandoned
But there can be
Love in what we do,
And you improve us
Family is larger,
Home fuller, our
Blood chemistry is
Better when we
Pet you
(Hence the virtue in
The name)
Our company for all
Friends, your
Impulses toward
Concern and toward
Protection
These guard us—
And there’s a human
Promise in what we
Owe you
Parvo and
http://abc27.com/2016/07/06/libre-the-puppy-continues-fight-for-his-life/
clcouch123 
July 11, 2016 at 10:39 am
awww. this is like a heartfelt ode for dogs, brother!!! ❤ love every line!
July 11, 2016 at 9:23 pm
Thank you, sister! I think we owe a lot to dogs. And to care for them.
July 11, 2016 at 10:52 pm
Powerful piece any dog or pet owner could relate. Indeed, if we tame dogs and have them in our homes, it is up to us to care for them and provide, else long ago, weshould have let them remain wild.
July 14, 2016 at 2:24 am
Thank you, Mandi. You’ve had a dog more recently than I, so I’m glad this rings true for you. And whether we have dogs or not, caring for them is still our cultural concern. As you say, we brought them home.
July 14, 2016 at 4:34 am
Yes you are right. Nikki has been gone 3-years but I find myself often drawn to places with dogs, walking on the trails, or at the farmer’s markets where vendors leave out pales of water for the dogs. You still need your fix of dog even if you’re no longer an owner 🙂 I imagine cats would be similar.
July 15, 2016 at 4:06 am
Sometimes I see Hannah out of the corner of my eye. I see friends with cats about once a week (they are really there). Yes, that’s a fix!