My quadruped's job was domestic

he kept all around him at ease

by licking and barking and napping

while he wasn't hard to appease.

For more than a decade he never

thought once about running away

the two of us had an agreement

that neither of us ever would stray.

'Cept once when I had to move eastward

(I left him with capable care)

still when I'd come home for a visit

I knew that for me he'd be there.

And I still have this scene in my mem'ry

of him taking naps in the yard

till when he heard my car coming

he'd jump with his tail wagging hard.

It's true that a dog is man's best friend

and it's true that I'll never forget

that a dog is often quite more 

than that which we just call a pet.