A Poem for Boomer (aka Uncle Sam) by David Howton, Acworth, GA

At the Fulton County Animal Services shelter each dog shares a run with three other dogs.
My sister and I walk down the aisles and the caged dogs look at us with their liquid, pleading eyes, begging to be allowed out of their cages, away from the barking and the awful smell of fear.
“Just one minute,” they seem to say, “give me one minute out of here.”
One little brown terrier is curled in a tight ball in the corner. His cell mates jump and bark. He coughs miserably.
His eyes go from me to the door at the end of the aisle, where there is sunlight and fresh air…and quiet.

The card on his door says his name is Uncle Sam.
It is an old name for a young dog, even a sick young dog.
I put out my hand and he struggles to his feet.
His tail waves like the flag on a beautiful fall day.
He is ready to go with me, no matter what, no matter where.
For him, freedom is a boy and a few steps down a hallway, but it might as well be Air Force One and a million miles away.

Thanks to a David Howton, Boomer was released to rescue from the shelter where he was taken to a foster home, regained his health, and loved until he was adopted to a wonderful family in Cumming Georgia