McCallister Kennels

	Note: The title that I originally used for this page was One by One, but on Mother's Day, 2005, I received an email from Leslie Whalen. She wrote, "Just a quick note, I was surfing the net and came across this poem on your website. I am so happy that two years after his passing, Traylor will continue to live thru his poem. This poem is actually titled "Tray's Poem" and was written by me, Leslie Whalen, in February 2001. I am flattered that you have included it on your wonderful site, all I ask is that you correctly title it and put the credit on the bottom. Thank You so much, Leslie Whalen" Leslie attached a photograph of Tray. He is the good looking young man in the picture on the left side of this row! I emailed Leslie and asked that she come back to this page and look at it again... she wrote: Oh MY!! Thank you so much for that... I am so glad you were so kind as to do that! Its an amazing site, and I so love looking at Tray's little face... 2 years after his death, I still am moved to tears when I think about how he touched my life. I had found his photo on petfinder.org September of 1999. He was in Raleigh, NC, and I knew the manager of the shelter thru one of my rescue organizations. I emailed her about him, and she immediately emailed me back saying that he had had a stroke, and he probably would not live 2 more weeks, and would I please just take him home and love him for those weeks, because he was such a sweet little old man. I said yes without thinking, and on a cold rainy day, I drove 3 hours to pick him up. When I got to the meeting place, she pulled out this tiny little bundle, who was almost bald on one side from an old injury. He could barely stand up, he curled to one side, and he was very weak. I wondered if he would survive the drive home. Well... he did, and stayed in my arms for 2 days. On the third day the sun and warm temps came back and I took him out into the yard for a little walk, and he stopped at a patch of grass... looked up at me, looked up at the sun, and then laid himself down on that patch of grass, on his back, and rolled around in the sun with the biggest grin I had ever seen... I SWEAR! Tray moved to Orlando with me, and we lived happily for 2 and a half years. Finally his heart was so congested I had to lay him down at the Creator's feet, to care for him until I could be reunited with him. Just writing this reminds me of his smile, and his attempts to wag his tail, and how he would not even let my boyfriend hug me without trying to protect me! Thank you again for the awesome tribute to Tray! I had been having a hard day today, missing my boyfriend (who is fighting in Iraq), and this moved me to happy tears! God Bless! Leslie Whalen And a message for Leslie: Thank you for allowing me to include your poem on my website. Tray is waiting for you at the Rainbow Bridge. I will keep you and your boyfriend in my prayers. I hope you don't mind my sharing your story with people who visit my website. The story behind the poem is as good as the poem!
Tray's Poem by Leslie Whalen One by one, they pass by my cage, too old, too worn, too broken, no way. Way past his time, he can't run and play. Then they shake their heads slowly and go on their way. A little old man, arthritic and sore. It seems I am not wanted anymore. I once had a home, I once had a bed, a place that was warm, and where I was fed. Now my muzzle is gray, and my eyes slowly fail. Who wants a dog so old and so frail? My family decided I didn't belong, I got in their way, my attitude was wrong. Whatever excuse they made in their head can't justify how they left me for dead. Now I sit in this cage, where day after day, the younger dogs get adopted away. When I had almost come to the end of my rope, you saw my face, and I finally had hope. You saw thru the gray, and the legs bent with age, and felt I still had life beyond this cage. You took me home, gave me food and a bed, and shared your own pillow with my poor tired head. We snuggle and play, and you talk to me low, you talk to me dearly, you want me to know. I may have lived most of my life with another, but you outshine them with a love so much stronger. And I promise to return all the love I can give, to you, my dear person, as long as I live. I may be with you for a week, or for years, we will share many smiles, you will no doubt shed tears. And when the time comes that God deems I must leave, I know you will cry and your heart, it will grieve. And when I arrive at the Bridge, all brand new, my thoughts and my heart will still be with you. And I will brag to all who will hear, of the person who made my last days so dear.