In HONOR of all of you who have rescued/adopted!

[MoonandBean]

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 cats 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 cats 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.

[Randi]

Thank you for sharing this, it's beautifully put. I hope many will read it and think.

[kb2yjx]

THANKS!! I am going to print it out and give it to the women at a local rescue group.....

[moosmom]

Thanks for sharing such a wonderful poem. SOOOO true!!!

[MoonandBean]

Thanks everyone...I changed the "dogs" to "cats" because it is just as true for our kitties!!!!!

[catmandu]

That poem is so wonderful , and it lets us know that theres a reason that we take in these Creatures of Our Lord God who through no fault of thier own have fallen by the wayside.
I feel blessed by the LOVE of My Cats, they make a poor Old Fellow a lot less lonesome.

[astrid]

What a beautiful poem, I got teary eyes just imagining the life of a little defenseless creature without food and not knowing how it is to be loved or how it is to have a warm home to protect him from the cold or rain, or living in pain...
Thank you for sharing it!!

[meetthemews]

Thank you for sharing, that is a wonderful poem.

[lvpets2002]

WoW that was so nice & thanks for sharing..

[catnapper]

What a beautiful poem!

And very true too. No matter how tight our budget might get, we ALWAYS find the money for our pets, and the fosters. I spent $20 yesterday just for kitten food and treats (ok, so a Callie treat or two leapt off the hooks fell into the basket ) But its all worth it in the end, especially when I know they've found AWESOME homes.

[GILL]

THANK YOU very much.

[phesina]

That is just beautiful. Thank you so much.

[momtomany]

What a wonderful poem and how true. My local Pets Mart knows me by name. They know when I buying for my home gang (12 cats, 4 dogs and 2 birds) and when I buying for my colonies (about 35 fur babies). You just do what you got to do.