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POEM TO MY FOSTER DOG
I am the bridge
Between what was and what can be.
I am the pathway to a new life.
I am made of mush,
Because my heart melted
When I saw you,
Matted and sore, limping, depressed,
Lonely, unwanted, afraid to love.
For one little time you are mine.
I will feed you with my own hand
I will love you with my whole heart
I will make you whole.
I am made of steel.
Because when the time comes,
When you are well and sleek,
When your eyes shine,
And your tail wags with joy -
Then comes the hard part.
I will let you go-- not without a tear,
But without a regret.
For you are safe forever.
A new dog needs me now.
- Diane Morgan, Basset Hound Rescue |
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ANIMAL RESCUERS CREED
I'll never bring about world peace.
I won't single-handedly save the rain forest.
I'm not a brain surgeon and
I'll never transplant an organ to save a life.
I don't have the ear of a powerful politician or world power.
I can't end world hunger.
I'm not a celebrity, and God knows I'm not glamorous!
I'm not looked up to by millions around the world.
Very few people even recognize my name.
I'll never win the Nobel prize or end global warming.
There are a lot of things that I'll never do or become.
But today I helped place an animal!
It was a small, scared, bundle of flesh and fur that was dumped at a
shelter, or on the streets, by unfeeling people who didn't care what
happened to it, but yet who were responsible for it having existence in
the first place.
I helped find it a loving home.
It now has contentment and an abundance of love.
No... I'm not a rocket scientist. But today, I made a difference!
And I'll do it tomorrow, too, if given a chance.
- Author Unknown |
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THE PIECES OF MY HEART
Our paths will cross for only a short time,
but while you are in my care I will be devoted to you.
If memories of your former life are painful, I will help erase them.
No longer will you hunger and I will help to heal your wounds.
If your former life was good, I will promise you an even better future.
One day our time together will come to an end
and you will go off to your new home, healthy, happy and healed.
As a parting gift, I will give you a piece of my heart to remember me by.
I may shed a tear...not for my loss, but for your gain.
Perhaps our paths may cross again for a fleeting instant
and I will be comforted by the aura of love that surrounds you.
There will always be a bond between us,
though we walk separate paths through this life.
After we reach our heavenly reward our paths may cross again.
You may try to return the piece of my heart
with thanks for all that I did for you.
I will tell you to keep it and thank you
for showing me that I could be better
than I thought I could be,
and that I learned in giving came the greatest gifts.
The pieces of our hearts are like grains of sand.
They are pulled along a current beyond our control
until they come together and form a safe haven.
I, like you, came to understand what it meant to be saved.
- Copyright © 2001 Jim Willis
I AM AN ANIMAL RESCUER
My job is to assist God's creatures
I was born with the need to fulfill their needs
I take in new family members without plan, thought or selection
I have bought dog food with my last dime
I have patted a mangy head with a bare hand
I have hugged someone vicious and afraid
I have fallen in love a thousand times
And I have cried into the fur of a lifeless body
I have Animal Friends and friends who have Animal Friends
I don't often use the word "pet"
I notice those lost at the road side
And my heart aches
I will hand raise a field mouse
And make friends with a vulture
I know of no creature unworthy of my time
I want to live forever if there aren't animals in Heaven
But I believe there are!
Why would God make something so perfect and leave it behind?
We may be master of the animals,
But the animals have mastered themselves
Something people still haven't learned
War and abuse make me hurt for the world
But a rescue that makes the news gives me hope for humankind
We are a quiet but determined army
And making a difference ever day
There is nothing more necessary than warming an orphan
Nothing more rewarding than saving a life
No higher recognition than watching them thrive
There is no greater joy than seeing a baby play
Who only days ago, was too weak to eat
I am an Animal Rescuer
My work is never done
My home is never quiet
My wallet is always empty
But my heart is always full
In the game of life, I have already won!
- Annette King Tucker
THE REASON
I would've died that day if not for you.
I would've given up on life if not for your kind eyes.
I would've used my teeth in fear if not for your gentle hands.
I would have left this life believing that all humans don't care
Believing there is no such thing as fur that isn't matted,
skin that isn't flea bitten,
good food and enough of it,
beds to sleep on,
someone to love me,
to show me I deserve love just because I exist.
Your kind eyes, your loving smile, your gentle hands
Your big heart saved me...
You saved me from the terror of the pound,
Soothing away the memories of my old life.
You have taught me what it means to be loved.
I have seen you do the same for other pets like me.
I have heard you ask yourself in times of despair
Why you do it
When there is no more money, no more room, no more homes
You open your heart a little bigger, stretch the money a
little tighter
Make just a little more room...to save one more like me.
I tell you with the gratitude and love that shines in my eyes
In the best way I know how
Reminding you why you go on trying.
I am the reason.
The pets before me are the reason
As are the ones who come after.
Our lives would've been wasted, our love never given
We would die if not for you.
-- Author Unknown
YOUR RESCUE "KIT" SHOULD INCLUDE:
- A heart of gold to accept those creatures that don't measure up as "perfect" in the eyes of the rest of the world.
- The people skills of a salesperson... to convince those that are looking for perfection that they will find it in a rescue dog if they willing to look a little deeper.
- A heart of steel to be able to say no when there just isn't any more room for just one more dog.
- Strong arms and cases of tissues for holding those that must die because there just isn't any other way.
- The knowledge that you cannot save them all and that the choice to euthanasia is ending the suffering and not the end of the world.
- The ability to smile and speak rationally when the 10th person for the day says "I don't want this stupid dog anymore... take him or I am going to shoot him.
- Some medical knowledge... or your rescue vet bill will be bigger than the national debt.
- Patience for: breeders who don't care, won't help, turn their backs and say its not their problem.
- Patience for: dogs that were incorrectly placed and come to rescue with so much excess baggage that you think they will never be adoptable.
- Patience for: owners who want a quick fix.
- Patience for: a world that no longer looks at life as a gift and the lives that we create as breeders as nothing short of miracles.
- A sense of humor...cause sometimes a smile on your face is the only way to hide the agony and turmoil in your heart.
- A husband with housekeeping skills that are so outstanding that they could be highlighted in Good Housekeeping Magazine...so you can devote your time to all the rescues and be secure in the knowledge that the local Board of Health will not condemn your house.
- Personal dogs that will tolerate the never ending stream of four legged orphans, waifs and street urchins that will start arriving the moment you say... "I have room".
- Children that like being the "child to socialize every dog that comes through the door... being able to say "good with kids" is a real selling point.
- Magician skills so you can change anything that come through the door, from black tri male to long tail and brown eyes, into blue merle female, good with kids, housebroke, crate trained and obedience trained.
- The ability to face the paperwork head-on and deal with it...or someone you can send it to and say..."Here, do something with this mess".
- Grooming skills for those ugly duckling waiting for their chance to be a swam...with a little help form you.
This appeared on the Aussie list with permission to share with others. It was written be written by an Aussie breeder and rescuer
- Diana Oliver | | |
