Blind, Deaf, Geriatric Dog

If we had not been watching out for wildlife,
Roads thick with roos and wombats,
We might not have seen her white coat against the black,
Or caught her eyeshine in the headlights.
We did a 'Uie' and turned around,
Just to check.

If we had not picked up the cold fluffy circle of dog,
Sitting in the middle of the country road
She would have been an icicle by morning.
At nine o'clock it was minus three degrees.
We wrapped her in a woolen blanket
She snuggled down into the foot-well,
And didn't make a sound.

If we had not let her sleep the night,
In a wicker basket in our room.
We may not have woken,
To the multitude of small puddles on the carpet. 
She ate her food,
And  we carried her out onto the frosty grass.
She didn't respond to our voices,
And walked in small circles.

If we hadn't watched her bump around our bedroom,
Tripping over slippers, tipping the basket and getting stuck under the cot,
We would not have realized that she was both blind and deaf.
We made an appointment with the vet,
In case she had a head injury.

If it had not been such a small community,
And that the ladies like to keep up with the 'goss', via facebook.
She may not have so quickly,
Found her way home.
And we may not of discovered that,
The fluffy white puppy,
Was in fact a blind, deaf, geriatric dog.