Number Seventy-Four (Annie)

Number Seventy-Four (Annie)

It was dark and hot in the old garage,
She'd never been here before.
She waited in the rusty pen
for someone to open the door.

The rest were caged on down the road,
With the millers and three others.
The dogs were all hawked one by one,
New puppies went with mothers.

Right down the catalog he went,
With millers freely buying.
The others watched and bid a bit
One tried to keep from crying.

Her number was just skipped on by.
She was not brought to the table.
"Seventy-Four ain't bein' sold today,
Now how 'bout this pregnant sable?"

The others whispered something low.
One rose to go look for her.
She searched around the kennel grounds
Until she found the owner.

"I watched for Number Seventy-Four.
She was old I hoped to get her.
I do not have much cash, you see,
And can't buy something better."

A bad reaction to the dip
Was what the woman told her.
"My husband's going to put her down
As soon as this thing's over."

"I could pay a little something.
Could you just let me see her?
I'd take her now, there'd be no fuss.
The auction's almost over."

So they drove on down to that old garage,
Where Seventy-Four waited quietly.
The door swung wide and there she was.
Light streamed in on her brightly.

She was crippled. That was nothing new,
And she'd had no hair for years.
But the blisters from that dipping
Brought her rescuer to tears.

She pulled the money from her jeans,
And the woman took it gladly,
Then handed her this dear old dog
She'd wanted oh so badly.

She tucked her underneath an arm
And headed for the door.
And that's how Kelly saved the life
Of Number Seventy-Four!!!

by Shannon McClure
Res Ipsa Italian Greyhounds
Addie's Safehouse IG Rescue
smcclur1@midsouth.rr.com

Poem dedicated to Kelly Cruzan on the occasion of her first Dog Auction Rescue, which happened to be an old lady Iggy but could easily have been any number of breeds. If re-posting to another list please include all this information.

Update: Monday, August 07, 2000

Louise called tonight and sent this. She has Annie in obedience class. It is their third week. I guess it is pretty exhausting ! LOL (Can you picture Annie doing obedience?) They are working on "sit". It is slow going. rotflmao !!

Shannon