The young pup and the older dog lay on shaded
sweet grass watching the reunions. Sometimes a man, sometimes a woman, sometimes
a whole family would approach the Rainbow Bridge, be greeted by their loving
pets and cross the bridge together.
The young pup playfully nipped at the older one.
"Look! Something wonderful is happening!" The older dog stood up and barked,
"Quickly. Get over to the path." "But that's not my owner," whined the pup, but
he did as he was told.
Thousands of pets surged forward as a figure in
white walked on the path toward the bridge. As the glowing figure passed each
animal, that animal bowed its head in love and respect. The figure finally
approached the bridge, and was met by a menagerie of joyous animals. Together,
they all walked over the bridge and disappeared.
The young pup was still in awe. "Was that an
angel?" he whispered. "No, son." The older dog replied. "That was more than an
angel. That was a person who worked rescue."
Below is a poem written by Catherine Lucas
Mans Best Friend
Mans best friend.
What happened to that?
Lying alone and scared
In a dark, cold cage
The walls are screaming
Tales of ones before
That came and went
No! Im up next.
Thrown in a pen
Facing a snarling, spitting beast.
How did I get here?!
Where is my master?!
Why would he put me here?
Love can only go so far to save me
Ill fight with all my might
To please my master
Maybe Ill come out on top
But I doubt it
Hope someone loved me
Farewell
-Cat Lucas
I adopted your pet today, the one you left at the pound;
the one you had for ten years and no longer wanted around.
I adopted your pet today
Did you know that heīs lost weight?
Did you know heīs scared and depressed
and seems to have lost all faith?
I adopted your pet today
He had fleas and a little cold;
Guess you donīt care what shape heīs in
you abandoned him I am told
I adopted your pet today
Were you having a baby or moving away?
Did you suddenly develop allergies,
or was there NO reason he couldnīt stay?
I adopted your pet today
He doesnīt play or even eat much
I guess heīs very sad inside and itīll take time for him to trust
I adopted your pet today
and here he is going to stay
Heīs found his FOREVER home
and a warm bed in which to lay
I adopted your pet today
and shall give him all that he will need
patience, love, and security,
so he can forget your selfish deed
RESCUE *BARBIE
K-9 Rescue Barbie comes with her own SUV, and various size dog crates inside.
She has a cell phone that's barely working due to over use and underpayment.
Barbie herself is decked out in jeans, grungy athletic shoes, and a t-shirt that
says "Dogs are Better Than Any Other Living Thing on Earth". She comes with a
road atlas of every town and state in all of North America, and a GPS on the
dashboard of the SUV. She also has a map of every McDonald's in the world.
Optional is the special Rescue Dog Barbie laptop computer with the names and
addresses of every other dog rescue person on earth, in case she gets somewhere
and a contact fails to show up.
Running buddy, "Lucky", the three-legged, blind Shih Tzu doll is available for
an additional $49.95.
For $89.95, you can complete the set with "Pissed off husband at home, Ken," and
the various foster dogs at $20 each.
Prices for accessories are:
Fake snow falling on Barbie's SUV: $12.95
Flat tire for Barbie's SUV: (see Barbie's Road Service")
Barbie's First Aid Kit: (human): $11.75, (canine): $69.50
Barbie's Speeding Ticket: $95 (Mississippi--$195)
Barbie's coat-that-she-had-to-buy-in-Minnesota: $85
Barbie's Vet Bill for Lucky in Isla Mujeres, New Mexico: $63.45
Barbie's contact, Rhonda, who she had to give gas money to in Mesa Verde, Texas:
$20.
Barbie's bill to get her contact, Luis, out of jail in Bakersfield, California:
$500.
Barbie's bill to get Luis's dogs out of the pound in Bakersfield, California:
$265.
Barbie's hotel/kennel bill in Laughlin, Nevada, while she waits for her
contact:$532.
Barbie's overalls that she has to buy while in Minden, Nebraska, hunting down
lost coonhounds: $49.95
Pizza for suspicious looking hitch-hiker with sick puppy: $15
Vet bill for hitch-hikers sick puppy in Des Moines, Iowa: $143.29
Barbie's doggie wheelchair for "Klause" the rescue dachshund in Leavenworth,
Kansas: $143.
And Barbie's van detailing/fumigation from hauling parvo/kennel cough puppies:
$187.
Barbie's resume to get new job when she gets home from run: $29.95
And let us not forget her sister doll -
'Cat Rescue Barbie', comes with the same equipment, (substitute "cat" for
"dog"), as well as
Folding ladder in vehicle: $129.95
Have-a-heart trap: $29.95
Cans of tuna for baiting trap: $11.95
Long handled fishing net: $39.95
Case of Simple Clean: $259.95
Black light (to detect cat urine): $29.95
Tee shirt that says "The More I Know About Men, The More I Love My Cat"
$19.95
Running buddy "Jeep" - 3-legged tailless cat named after vehicle that claimed
her missing appendages: $89.95
Vet bill for Jeep $397.95
Friend Edith, 87-year-old feral colony feeder, who calls begging favors when her
arthritis acts up and she can't get out. $59.95
Food for Edith's colony cats (after all, Edith is on Social Security) $139.95
Friend Margie, do-gooder with pristine home and one spoiled cat, whose idea of
being a rescuer is to pick up strays and take them to Barbie for rehab, vetting,
fostering, and placement. $89.95
Vet bills for Margie's rescues $892.95
Mother Sadie, who calls weekly to ask Barbie when she is going to get rid of all
those smelly cats and give her some grandchildren already $ 89.95 (telephone
extra)
Shrink who talks Barbie out of killing above-mentioned persons each week $500
Vet who makes house calls and doesn't blink at unannounced visits and odd-hour
consultations:
*priceless*
'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 mankind.
We are a quiet but determined army and making a difference every 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.
Annette King-Tucker
Until there are none .................. rescue one!
Better to light a candle for one lost animal
than to curse the darkness of man's indifference.
Saving just one animal won't change the world, but
it surely will change the world for that one animal!
10 Commandments for a Responsible Pet Owner as dictated by
the pet.
Author unknown
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. Donīt be angry with me for long and donīt lock me up as punishment. You have
your work, your friends, your entertainments. But I have only you.
5. Talk to me. Even if I donīt 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 have teeth that
could easily crush the bones in your hand, 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 Iīm not getting the right food, I have
been in the sun too long or my heart might be getting old or weak.
9. Please take care of me when I grow old. You too will grow old.
10. On the difficult journey, on the ultimate difficult journey, go with me
please. Never say you canīt bear to watch. Donīt make me face this alone.
Everything is easier for me if you are there. Because I
love you so.
Room For One More!!
I see by his coat he must be a stray,
The untidy look gives him away.
He's lost his will and is so thin
Hasn't eaten since God knows when.
I know as I coax him through the door,
There's always room for just one more.
The other night in the freezing rain,
That little female came again.
Matted and soaked, crying in need,
Lost and alone with babies to feed.
Her pleading eyes I couldn't ignore,
There's always room for just one more.
There's a new face on the docks today,
Hungry but clean to our dismay,
I stroked her head, her body ripples.
When she got up I saw she was crippled.
She started to go, but fell on the floor.
There's always room for just one more.
There's the poor dog standing in the rain,
I've tried to entice him time and again.
One ears lopsided, the other's been torn,
Blind in one eye, lost and forlorn.
He's coming now, so I'll open the door.
There's always room for just one more.
These stories are true,
As I've said before,
There's always room for just one more!
My Dogs Live Here
by Unknown Author
My dogs live here, they're here to stay.
you don't like pets, be on your way.
they share my home, my food, my space
this is their home, this is their place.
You will find dog hair on the floor,
they will alert you're at the door.
they may request a little pat,
a simple "no" will settle that.
It gripes me when I hear you say
"just how is it you live this way?
they smell, they shed, they're in the way.."
WHO ASKED YOU? is all I can say..
They love me more than anyone,
my voice is like the rising sun,
they merely have to hear me say
"C'mon girls, time to go and play"
then tails wag and faces grin,
they bounce and hop and make a din.
They never say "no time for you",
they're always there, to GO and DO.
and if I'm sad? They're by my side
and if I'm mad? they circle wide
and if I laugh, they laugh with me
they understand, they always see.
so once again, I say to you
come visit me, but know this too..
My dogs live here, they're here to stay.
you don't like pets, be on your way.
they share my home, my food, my space
this is their home, this is their place..
Author Unknown
My Foster Dog
by Unknown Author
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 stuff 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 hands.
His fear of me is not quite overcome by his longing 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 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 the 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 soap, 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 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.
Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a
ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife,
Lisa, and their little boy, Shane, were all very attached to Belker and they
were hoping for a miracle. I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I
told the family there were no miracles left for Belker, and offered to perform
the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home. As we made arrangements,
Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for the four-year-old Shane
to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from
the experience.
The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family
surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time,
that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker
slipped peacefully away. The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition
without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's
death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than
human lives.
Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."
Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd
never heard a more comforting explanation.
He said, "People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life -- like
loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?"
The four-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they
don't have to stay as long."
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
Dear Dogs and Cats,
The dishes with the paw print are yours and contain your food. The other dishes
are mine and contain my food. Please note, placing a paw print in the middle of
my plate and food does not stake a claim on it becoming your food and dish, nor
do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.
The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Beating me to
the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help because I fall faster
than you can run.
I cannot buy anything bigger than a king-sized bed. I am very sorry about this.
Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort. Dogs
and cats can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It is not necessary to
sleep perpendicular to each other stretched out to the fullest ex! tent
possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues
hanging out the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.
For the last time, there is not a secret exit from the bathroom. If by some
miracle I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to
claw, whine, bark, meow, try to turn the knob or get your paw under the edge and
try to pull the door open. I must exit through the same door I entered. Also, I
have been using the bathroom for years; canine or feline attendance is not
mandatory.
The proper order is kiss me, then go smell the other dog or cat's butt. I cannot
stress this enough!
To pacify you, my dear pets, I have posted the following message on our front
door:
Rules for Non-Pet Owners Who Visit and Like to Complain About Our Pets:
1. They live here. You don't.
2. If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture. (That's
why they call it "fur" niture.)
3. I like my pets a lot better than most people.
4. To you, it's an animal. To me, he/she is an adopted son/daughter who is
short, hairy, walks on all fours and doesn't speak clearly.
Dogs and cats are better than kids...they eat less, don't ask for money all the
time, are easier to train, usually come when called, never drive your car, don't
hang out with drug-using friends, don't smoke or drink, don't worry about having
to buy the latest fashions, don't wear your clothes, and don't need a gazillion
dollars for college!
Grow Old With Dogs
When I am old...I will wear soft gray sweatshirts...and a bandana over my silver
hair.....and I will spend my social security checks on wine and my dogs.
I will sit in my house on my well-worn chair and listen to my dogs' breathing.I
will sneak out in the middle of a warm summer night and take my dogs for a run,
if my old bones will allow...
When people come to call, I will smile and nod as I show them my dogs...and talk
of them and about them......the ones so beloved of the past and the ones so
beloved of today....
I will still work hard cleaning after them, mopping and feeding them and
whispering their names in a soft loving way.
I will wear the gleaming sweat on my throat, like a jewel and I will be an
embarrassment to all...especially my family...who have not yet found the peace
in being free to have dogs as your best friends....
These friends who always wait, at any hour, for your footfall...and eagerly jump
to their feet out of a sound sleep, to greet you as if you are a God.
With warm eyes full of adoring love and hope that you will always stay, I'll hug
their big strong necks...I'll kiss their dear sweet heads...and whisper in their
very special company....
I look in the Mirror...and see I am getting old....this is the kind of person I
am...and have always been. Loving dogs is easy, they are part of me.
Please accept me for who I am. My dogs appreciate my presence in their
lives...they love my presence in their lives......When I am old this will be
important to me...you will understand when you are old....if you have dogs to
love too.
~Author Unknown
THINGS DOGS
MUST REMEMBER
I will not play tug-of-war with Dad's underwear when he's on the toilet.
The garbage collector is NOT stealing our stuff.
I do not need to suddenly stand straight up when I'm lying under the coffee
table.
I will scootch my bottom along the grass to rid myself of hangers-on.
I will not roll my toys behind the fridge.
I must shake the rainwater out of my fur BEFORE
entering the house.
I will not drop soggy tennis balls in the underwear of someone who is sitting on
the toilet.
I will not roll my head around in other animals' poop.
I will not eat the cats' food, before or after they eat it.
I will stop trying to find the few remaining pieces of clean carpet in the house
when I am about to throw up.
I will not throw up in the car.
I will not roll on dead birds, seagulls, fish, crabs, etc.
I will not lick my human's face after eating animal poop.
"Kitty box crunchies" are not food.
I will not eat any more socks and then redeposit them in the backyard after
processing.
The diaper pail is not a cookie jar.
I will not wake Mommy up by sticking my cold, wet nose up her bottom end.
I will not chew my human's toothbrush and not tell them.
I will not chew crayons or pens, especially not the red ones, or my people will
think I am hemorrhaging.
When in the car, I will not insist on having the window rolled down when it's
raining outside.
We do not have a doorbell. I will not bark each time I hear one on TV.
I will not steal my Mom's underwear and dance all over the backyard with it.
The sofa is not a face towel. Neither are Mom & Dad's laps.
My head does not belong in the refrigerator, dishwasher or trashcan.
I will not bite the officer's hand when he reaches in for Mom's driver's license
and car registration.
I will not spend more than 5 minutes trying to find the "perfect" place to poop.
I will not eat other animals' poop.
I will not take off while on leash to chase squirrels while Mommy is standing on
a slippery grass slope.
.
.OO..
..OO..
