In This House
author unknown
Here in this house...
I will never know the loneliness I hear in the barks of the other dogs "out there".
I can sleep soundly, assured that when I wake my world will not have changed.
I will never know hunger, or the fear of not knowing if I'll eat.
I will not shiver in the cold, or grow weary from the heat.
I will feel the sun's heat, and the rain's coolness, and be allowed to smell all that
can reach my nose.
My fur will shine, and never be dirty or matted.
Here in this house...
There will be an effort to communicate with me on my level.
I will be talked to and even if I don't understand, I can enjoy the warmth of the
words.
I will be given a name so that I may know who I am among many.
My name will be used in joy, and I will love the sound of it!
Here in this house...
I will never be a substitute for anything I am not.
I will never be used to improve people's images of themselves.
I will be loved because of who I am, not someone's idea of who I should be.
I will never suffer for someone's anger, impatience, or stupidity.
I will be taught all the things I need to know to be loved by all.
If I do not learn my lessons well, they will look to my teacher for blame.
Here in this house...
I can trust the arms that hold, hands that touch...
knowing that, no matter what they do, they do it for the good of me.
If I am ill, I will be doctored.
If scared, I will be calmed.
If sad, I will be cheered.
No matter what I look like, I will be considered beautiful and known to be of
value.
I will never be cast out because I am too old, too ill, or too unruly, or not cute
enough.
My life is a responsibility, and not an afterthought.
I will learn that my humans can almost, sometimes, be as kind and as fair as dogs.
Here in this house...
I will belong.
I will be home.
A Parody for Pups
by Nancy Mau
T'was the week before Christmas
Our rescue was brimming
The dogs needed baths
And the tree needed trimming
The calls, they keep coming
As they do every day
Did you know every year
We spend Christmas this way?
Just when we think
Every dog has a place
A new one comes in
And we're back in the race
There's no time for carols
Or drinking that 'nog
Someone calls on the phone
"Can you take one more dog?"
"Sure, what's one more?
Is he near? Is he far?"
It's still early; it's midnight
We jump in our car.
When we get to the home
At the end of our ride
The angel who called us
Invites us inside
|
"He's there by the fire
Quite tired, you know?
Were lucky we found him
In all that deep snow"
The sweet little Collie
Gets up and comes near
We wonder sometimes
If they know why we're here
"You'll soon have a home"
That's the promise we keep
"With plenty of food
And a warm place to sleep"
"Where love will surround you
The rest of your days.
So hop in the car
And we'll be on our way"
Of course "On our way"
Entails more than you know
This is just the first step
For our Dog from the Snow
First a good warm night's sleep
Then a trip to the vet's
Sets all of our urchins
Toward being great pets |
We test them for heartworm
We look up each nose
We poke them and scope them
Right down to their toes
Then we brush them and bathe them
So coats shine quite bright
All along we assure them
"You're okay, it's alright"
"There are people who love you
Who don't know you yet
They'll give you your name
You'll be more than a pet!"
"You'll be part of a family
That's waiting for you
So smile for the camera
Yes, that one will do!"
The old ones, the young ones
The smoothies, the roughs
The Shelties, the mixed breeds
They all count on us.
So hug your dog tight
Plant a kiss on her head
Make a wish on a star
As you snuggle in bed
That each dog still out there
Will pass through our doors
To a new life worth living
And love just like yours. |
|
