1. My life is likely to
last 10-15 years.
Any separation from you is likely to be painful.
2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.
3. Place your trust in me.
It is crucial for my well-being.
4. Don't be angry with me for long and don't lock me up
as punishment. You have your work, your friends,
your entertainment, but I have only you.
5. Talk to me. Even if I don't understand your words, I do
understand your voice when speaking to me.
6. Be aware that however you treat me,
I will never forget it.
7. Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember
that I could
hurt you, and yet, I choose not to bite you.
8. Before you scold me for
being lazy or
uncooperative, ask yourself if something
might be bothering me. Perhaps
I'm not getting the right food, I have been in the sun too
long, or my
heart might be getting old and weak.
9. Please take care of me when I grow old.
You too will grow old.
10. On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please.
Never say you can't bear to watch. Don't
make me face
this alone. Everything is easier for me
if you are
there, because I love you so. ALWAYS!
~Take a moment today to thank God for your pets.
Enjoy and take good care of them. Life would be
A much duller, less joyful experience without
God's critters~
________________________________________________________________________________
FOSTERING
There I
sat,
alone
and
afraid,
you got
a call
and came
right to
my aid.
You
bundled
me up
with
blankets
and
love
and when
I needed
it most,
you gave
me a
hug.
I
learned
that the
world
was not
all that
scary
and
cold,
that
sometimes
there is
someone
to have
and to
hold.
You
taught
me what
love is,
you
helped
me to
mend,
You
loved me
and
healed
me and
became
my first
friend.
And just
when I
thought
you'd
done all
you do,
There
came
along
not one
new
lesson,
but two.
First
you
said,
"Sweetheart,
you're
ready to
go,
I've
done all
I can,
and
you've
learned
all that
I know."
Then you
bundled
me up
with a
blanket
and
kiss,
along
came a
new
family,
they
even had
kids!
They
took me
to their
home,
forever
to stay
and at
first I
thought
you had
sent me
away.
Then
that
second
lesson
became
perfectly
clear,
that no
matter
how far,
you will
always
be near.
And so,
Foster
Mom, you
know
I've
moved on
and I
have a
new
home,
with
toys and
a lawn.
But I'll
never
forget
what I
learned
that
first
day.
You
never
really
give
your
fosters
away.
You gave
me these
thoughts
to
remember
you by,
We may
never
meet
again,
and now
I know
why.
You'll
remember
I lived
with you
for a
time.
I may
not be
your,
but
you'll
always
be mine.
- Author
Unknown
________________________________________________________________________________
|
The Cat in the Hat Gets Neutered
By Annie Bridge, CVT
It was not me – not me at all.
It was not me who made the call
The call to take me to the vet.
But it was you, yes you, I bet.
You took me in the family car
Just you and I, we went quite far.
You put me in my little box
And tightened down the little locks.
You gave me to the Dr.'s Tech
Who gently stroked me on my neck,
And called me "Handsome Kitty Boy,"
In voice so sweet and full of joy!!
Oh, yes! Oh, Yes! I love this place!
A smile appeared upon my face.
But then the nurse, she took my hat.
"Oh, no!" said I. "I can't have that!
You give it back! Don't play this game
Cat IN the hat – that is my name!"
She gave it back – a little wink –
"Something's up" I start to think.
But could I leave? Oh, no, not me.
They caged me up, my hat and me.
The nurse gave me a needle poke,
I knew right then, this is no joke.
My head! The room! They start to spin,
Oh my . . . Don't know . . . where I begin . . .
A tiny mask upon my nose,
A funny feeling in my toes,
Then someone took each of my paws
And clipped the tips off all my claws
And greased my eyes with phony tears
And stuck a cone in both my ears
Thennnnn . . .
The Dr. took my nu-nus small
And splashed them both with alcohol
And made a tiny little cut
And pulled them firmly from my butt.
Now . . . mind you . . . this is all a blur
It happened (`cause I'm missing fur)
I every now and then recall
The slightest smell of alcohol.
But still, I do go out at night,
And never yowl or scratch and fight,
Or sit upon the fencing rail,
And arch my back and bush my tail.
My human's happy most of all,
I've not since peed upon her wall
Or sprayed her bed or chair or door,
Nope, I don't do that anymore.
I now just "sun" upon my porch . . .
I really don't know why
I never chase the pretty girls
As they go strutting by.
I never run into the street,
Can you imagine that?
They may have got the family jewels
They'll never get the hat!
_______________________________________________________________________
My Foster Dog is
Beautiful!
My foster dog
stinks to high heaven. I don't know
for sure what breed he is. His eyes are blank and
hard. He won't let me pet him and growls when I reach
for him. He has ragged scars and crusty sores on his
skin. His nails are long and his teeth which he showed
me are stained. I sigh.
I drove two hours
for this. I carefully maneuver him
so that I can put him in the crate. Then I heft the
crate and put it in the car. I am going home with my
new foster dog.
At home I leave
him in the crate till all the other
dogs are in the yard. I get him out of the crate and
ask him if he wants 'outside.' As I lead him to the
door he hikes his leg on the wall and shows me his
stained teeth again. When we come in he goes
to the crate because that's the only safe place he
sees. I offer him food but he won't eat it if I look
at him, so I turn my back. When I come back the food
is gone.
I ask again about
'outside.' When we come back I pat
him before I let him in the crate, he jerks away and
runs into the crate to show me his teeth.
The next day I
decide I can't stand the stink any
longer I lead him into the bath with cheese in my
hand. His fear of me is not quite overcome by his wish
for the cheese. And well he should fear me,
for I will give him a bath.
After an attempt or two
to bail out he is defeated
and stands there. I have bathed four legged bath
squirters for more dog years than he has been alive.
His only defense was a show of his stained teeth that
did not hold up to a face full of water. As I wash him
it is almost as if I wash not only the stink and
dirt away but also some of his hardness. His eyes look
full of sadness now. And he looks completely pitiful
as only a soap covered dog can. I tell him that he
will feel better when he is cleaned. After the
bath the towels are not too bad so he lets me rub him
dry. I take him outside. He runs for joy. The joy of
not being in the tub and the joy of being clean. I,
the bath giver, am allowed to share the
joy. He comes to me and lets me pet him.
One week later I have a
vet bill. His skin is
healing. He likes for me to pet him. I think I know
what color he will be when his hair grows in.
I have found out he is
terrified of other dogs. So I
carefully introduce him to my mildest four legged
brat. It doesn't go well.
Two weeks later a new
vet bill for an infection that
was missed on the first visit.
He plays with the
other dogs.
Three weeks later
he asks to be petted. He chewed up
part of the rug.
Eight weeks later
his coat shines, he has gained
weight. He shows his clean teeth when his tongue lolls
out after he plays chase in the yard with the gang.
His eyes are soft
and filled with life. He loves
hugs and likes to show off his tricks, if you have the
cheese.
Someone called
today and asked about him, they saw
the picture I took the first week. They asked about
his personality, his history, his breed. They asked if
he was pretty. I asked them lots of questions. I
checked up on them. I prayed. I said yes.
When they saw him
the first time they said he was
the most beautiful dog they had ever seen.
Six months later I
got a call from his new family.
He is wonderful, smart, well behaved and very loving.
How could someone not want him?
I told them I
didn't know.
He is beautiful.
They all are. "
Written by:
Martha O'Connor
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
FINALLY JUSTICE
RETRIBUTION
The family's dog was
bought for a guard,
Chained to a post in a
chilly backyard,
Housed in a shed that
was airless and dark,
And every few weeks
had a run in the park.
When boredom set in
with no fun and no work,
One day it broke loose
and went quietly berserk.
Pa couldn't fathom
just why it went wild,
As it flattened his
wife and then bit his child.
The police were called
in to sort out the mess,
And the whole sorry
tale was revealed by the press,
The Rescue Society was
really annoyed,
So, the dog was
rehomed--and the owners destroyed.
Author unknown
________________________________________________________________________________
A foster parent speaks
Thank You for bringing this foster dog into my life.
Had I not made the decision to participate in rescue,
I would never have had the chance to meet him.
If I had sat here comfortably in my home and said
"I already have four dogs and I know that I couldn't take
in another - even on a temporary basis," I would never
have met this dog.
Yes, it takes time to rescue and foster... but who
gave me Time in the first place? And why or what was
the reason I was given Time? To fill my own needs? Or
was there another reason ever so small and seemingly
insignificant, like rescuing this one dog, that could
make a difference in an other's life? Perhaps to add
joy, hope, help and companionship to another who is in
need?
With great sadness, I sat down on a footstool in my
kitchen this morning and watched as this foster dog
bounced back into the house and skidded across the
floor to sit ever so perfectly in front of me. He was
the picture of health, finally. He was all smiles for
me.... and I smiled back at his happy face. Deep in
his eyes, the storm clouds of illness and generalized
poor health had blown away, and the clear light of his
perfection radiated out from his beautiful soul. He
holds no ill will toward man. He forgives us all.
I thought to myself as I impressed this one last long
look of him into my heart, what a very fine creature
You have created. Tears slowly pooled and spilled over
my cheekbones as the deeper realization of how
wonderful this dog is sank into my internal file
cabinet of Needful Things to Remember. Lord, he's a
dog - but he's a better human being than I am.
He has forgiven quickly. Would I do the same?
He passionately enjoys the simple things in life. And
I have often overlooked them.
He accepts change and gets on with his life. I fuss
and worry about change.
He lives today and loves today. And I often dwell in
the past or worry about the future.
He loves no matter what. I am not that free.
This very lovely dog has gone to his new home today
and already I miss him. Thank You for bringing this dog
into my life. And thank You for the beautiful and
tender lesson on how to be a better human.
-Author Unknown
________________________________________________________________
