Rescue Poem

A POEM TO SHARE

Copied with permission.....

Once I was a lonely dog,
Just looking for a home.
I had no place to go,
No one to call my own.
I wandered up and down the streets,
in rain in heat and snow.
I ate whatever I could find,
I was always on the go.
My skin would itch, my feet were sore,
My body ached with pain.
And no one stopped to give a pat
Or to gently say my name.
I never saw a loving glance,
I was always on the run.
For people thought that hurting me
was really lots of fun.
And then one day I heard a voice
So gentle, kind and sweet,
And arms so soft reached down to me
And took me off my feet.
"No one again will hurt you
Was whispered in my ear."
"You'll have a home to call your own
where you will know no fear."
"You will be dry, you will be warm,
you'll have enough to eat."
"And rest assured that when you sleep,
your dreams will all be sweet."
I was afraid I must admit,
I've lived so long in fear.
I can't remember when I let
A human come so near.
And as she tended to my wounds
And bathed and brushed my fur
She told me about the rescue group
And what it meant to her.
She said, "We are a circle,
A line that never ends."
"And in the center there is you
protected by new friends."
"And all around you are
the ones that check the pounds,
And those that share their home
after you've been found."
"And all the other folk
are searching near and far.
"To find the perfect home for you,
where you can be a star."
She said, "There is a family,
that's waiting patiently,
and pretty soon we'll find them,
just you wait and see."
"And then they'll join our circle
they'll help to make it grow,
so there'll be room for more like you,
who have no place to go."
I waited very patiently,
The days they came and went.
Today's the day I thought,
my family will be sent.
Then just when I began to think
It wasn't meant to be,
there were people standing there
just gazing down at me.
I knew them in a heartbeat,
I could tell they felt it too.
They said, "We have been waiting
for a special dog like you."
Now every night I say a prayer
to all the gods that be.
"Thank you for the life I live
and all you've given me.
But most of all protect the dogs
in the pound and on the street.
And send a Rescue Person
to lift them off their feet."

Arlene Pace
September 18, 1998

When I wrote this poem it was inspired by my foster Sheltie
"Patchie" who, by the way, is in a home where he is the
light of their eyes. I think now that it is more in the way
I see the rescue efforts of all the people that are doing
such a great a job all over this country. So I wish to
dedicate this poem to all of you in rescue, the doers, the
helpers, the donators of money and/or time and tears.

Please feel free to recopy, reprint or resend to anyone you
would like
to
Kim Litz
Aussie Rescue
ARPH Rep & Foster Home
Central Florida

Angels3 That poem is so inspiring, it just tells the story of the homeless dog and all the wonderful things that the rescue people do to help. I loved it! We are a little to old to do rescue or foster, but we send donations to Bestfriends in Utah. The people are wonderful and so caring. Have you ever checked bestfriends.com ? Our Kona who passed away in October is in Angels Rest there. Thank you so much for such a wonderful tribute to all who do rescue of our precious animals.

Jackiesdaisy, I'm glad you liked the poem. You're right...it does inspire people to help out with rescue, whatever ways they can.
Thank you for telling me about the best friends site. I visted it & am so impressed.
I especially liked the schoolhouse section which has all sorts of ideas for children & their teachers. I still do some work in teacher education so I'm going to recommend it to teachers & students here in australia. You're right that we may not always be able to do direct rescue work but we can contribute in other ways...and you've just given something to animal welfare in my country by leading me to that wonderful site!!! Your beautiful Kona must truly be at peace there.

I got chills reading that poem. This site has inspired me to get involved. I'm even rubbing off on the people I work with. A co-worker who was going to buy a certain breed recently adopted a lab mix from the shelter. My section and another one in the building are volunteering at a wildlife rescue organization. We're going next Saturday to get them ready for their tour season. We'll clear trails, clean bird cages, and repair damage from Hurricane Georges. The hurricane was two years ago but they can't afford repairs. I've always loved animals, and was saddened by the sight of strays on the streets. I never really thought about getting involved until I came to this site.

Genia, that is so wonderful that you are going to give time to help with the wildlife restoration and also encourage your friends and co-workers to do the same. Wouldn't that be a great project for young people all over the country to take this on. Maybe you will be the beginning of this happening.
Angels3 Thank you for the kind words. I have checked many of the sites you have listed and really enjoyed them, keep them coming!
Jackie

Angels3, that was a very touching poem and definitely does a good job painting a picture into one's mind about a homeless dog's point of view. I really do think they are greatful for all the kindness that rescue people give and their 2nd chance at a good life in a forever home.
Doing volunteer work has been such a rewarding experience for me. In college I did volunteer work at Wolf Park(http://www.wolfpark.org/)in Battle Ground, Indiana which was the best thing! I learned so much! Since moving to California I have gotten involved in a cat rescue organization (www.towncats.org)and it's just amazing to see these people do everything they can for these cats, giving up personal time and money to care for these animals. They are all so adorable!
Genia, that's great that you're doing the wildlife volunteering! How do you like it?? Besides Town Cats, I help out about once a month (because I'm so busy with work and my own family and Town Cats too!!!)at the Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley(http://www.wcsv.org/)where I am a "squirrel mamma". It's such a intense feeling when you are holding a baby squirrel that hasn't even opened its eyes yet, giving it food and any necessary medication. The idea to volunteer here all started when a friend of mine found some baby doves whose parents had been killed. We took them to the wildlife center where we found out about volunteering opportunities. So, our second day at the center, we got to witness the release of 3 oppossums. What a rush! To think, we helped make that possible! It's now "baby season" at the center, so things are starting to get busy! Way to go Genia! Enjoy the experience and let us know how everything goes!! http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/biggrin.gif
Karen

A POEM TO SHARE IS BEUTIFUL IT TOCHED ME DEEPLY. WHEN I READ IT I COULD PICTURE MY BABY BOY WANDERING THE STREETS, THE THOUGHT MAKES ME WANT TO CRY. http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif



------------------
CRS