Yuba

our "free" dog - loved and missed

Nursing our dog Yuba
became a full time job
First she got hit
and got a broken bone

Not long after, she
had a rendezvous
and became a mother of eight
squirming, yapping puppies

She would not stay in the yard
and reinjured her leg
Keeping her inside was
a battle we would not win

The vet bills mounted
when at twelve she developed
tumors in her body
Keeping up with medicines was hectic

Finally at thirteen, her body
was beaten and exhausted
We cried as we took her to the vet
one last time

Saying goodbye was hard
but more than worth it all
For she was an integral
part of our family

24 lines
Written for Writer's Cramp 9/16/22
Write a poem or story about trying to save a sick animal. (A pet or a wild animal, or an alien or fairy creature, maybe even a robot pet. Etc.) One of your genres must be ANIMAL.