i don't want this dog

she adopted a dog.
then tried to take it back
the next day.
she even gave it a name.
max.
then changed it to joe.
she was awful with names.
she kept away from the names
of ex boyfriends
or anyone she knew.
this made it difficult.
by the time she
put him into his carry
on crate, got him
back into the car,
she just called
him dog, or hey.
she lugged him back into
the store
and said, I can't keep
him.
i'm not good with dogs, plus
he barks a lot
and he peed on my carpet.
I can't live with that.
sorry, the girl with pigtails
told her at the counter, but no.
it's yours, you can't leave
him here.
we don't take dogs back.
but she didn't care.
sue me, she said, and walked
out, but not before
taking a long
look at the caged cats
that meowed so
sweetly.