A pound, and Paula found our boy,
The one that barked so loud at us.
We could not leave him there, so thus,
He came to live with us, in joy.

He was a terrier of sorts,
A mixture of some varied breeds,
And in our home we filled his needs
With kibble, toys, and doggy sports.

Our love of animals was known
By all who knew us close by there,
And soon he had to learn to share.
He did not own the house alone.

Antigua was the princess cat
That Sparky had to tolerate.
They soon were chums, and it was great
To have them both accepting that.

Our travels took us far and wide
But only Sparky came along.
Antigua's hate for cars was strong
So at our home she would reside.

However, Sparky loved to go
And eagerly he'd hop inside.
He always loved to take a ride
Down any highway, high or low.

He favored reststops, they smelled good,
But gladly he'd go anyplace.
He'd lift his head, wind in his face,
Mom held him tightly as she could.

At night we'd find a friendly inn
Where Sparky was allowed to stay.
We'd get our food and then we'd play
That this was just a brand new den.

He liked to crawl beneath a sheet
As if he were a shark in bed.
But finally we'd sleep instead
With him between us nice and neat.

Out on the road, around each bend,
Were all the vistas and the views,
But he delighted in the news
That odors brought upon the wind.

Upon arriving home he checked
To see Antigua still was home,
And then he simply had to roam
Around the house and just inspect.

It all was fine if his chew toys
Were still in places he had found
Under the couch and all around.
We laughed, ignoring all his ploys.

When I had packed my gear and left 
To train with others in the field,
He did not give, he did not yield
But pined away, forlorn, bereft.

His nose he kept against the sill
In hopes the smell would soon suggest 
His dad had come home from a quest.
His mommy bore his harsh ill will.

He's gone, it's hard on her and me
And yet our fun and travel lives.
And to us both it always gives
A sense he's here, will always be.