In April many years ago… five years to be precise,
A yard sale at a neighbor’s house… a guy some know as Ice.
His darling Deb is by his side… there’s puppies there for sale,
Our Deb she takes a shine to one… alas, to no avail.

For Ice, he pulls a hissy fit… no puppy will they get,
But later on her guy relents… they gain a brand new pet.
When they return, there’s just one left… the litter’s last is he,
Part Labrador and part Shar-Pei… they call this dog Casey.

He’s tiny, black and ugly too… but Deb she doesn’t care,
He worms his way into her heart… the two become a pair.
He loves it when his stomach’s rubbed… or when his back is scratched,
He loves to snuggle up with Deb… the two become attached.

A claustrophobic dog is he… he does not travel well,
He’d rather lie out in the sun…within its warm rays dwell.
Or lie with Deb and watch TV… upon the couch or bed,
At times like that it almost seemed… for this he had been bred.

But Casey also loved to greet… his tail he’d wag like mad,
With pillow in his mouth he’d meet… you knew that he was glad.
The household clock was Casey boy… he’d wake you in the morn,
And at the closing of the day… the window he’d adorn.

Although he didn’t like to swim… he loved his bath each week,
They’d soap him down and brush his fur… until his coat was sleek.
With animals he loved to ‘bark’… he needed no excuse,
They could be cats or other dogs…or even great big moose.

He tolerated little ones… the baby of the house,
Although he’d quickly take his leave… our Casey didn’t grouse.
He loved each member of his home… but one more than the rest,
His darling Deb of course was this… ‘tis she he loved the best.

But then in April of “aught five”… by seizures he’s beset,
Their frequency doth escalate… they take him to the vet.
They test his blood and realize… just why poor Casey’s ill,
It’s epilepsy that he has… the battle’s now uphill.

He’s given pills to help him fight… the seizures don’t subside,
The battle is a losing one… at last poor Casey died.
Surrounded by his family… his heart stops and they cry,
A sunny Saturday in May… is when they say goodbye.

A final ride within the car… at peace upon his bed,
He’s turned to ashes, dust to dust… as tears for him are shed.
The tales of how he lived his life… remembered now are they,
With fondness they will be recalled… upon this special day.

The whole of Heaven’s now his home… no place he cannot go,
He’ll bask in sunlight; bark at moose… his tail wags to and fro.
But at the closing of each ‘day’… by Pearly Gates he’ll wait,
He knows one day his Deb he’ll greet… for they are bound by Fate.

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Written by Russtovich for Deb on 5-12-05

Casey's Life Born on 4-15-2000 and Died 5-7-2005

Thanks Russ for brightening my wife's grief.