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

[sdm]

I found this post on Pet Talk and thought I'd post it for all the fellow rescuers out there. I couldn't find the author's siggy to give credit where credit is due. Enjoy!

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 dogs 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 dogs 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.

 

[muttdog]

I need to put that by my bed, so I can read it when the puppy wakes me up at 5am on weekends. All three of mine dogs came from shelter.

 

[devenny99]

What a beautiful poem!! My husband and I have always adopted from the shelter. When we moved from MD to VA the first dog we adopted was from SMAWL and the two we just adopted in April were from SMAWL also. We've always gotten wonderful dogs from them.

 

[frequentflier]

Our dog, Sophie, was literally "3rd in line and in the room" for the shot that would have ended her heartbeat forever. Someone I know heard about her and called Howard County AS to say we were going to come and get her. When they brought her out, they handed her to me. She was stinky and shaking like a leaf. When I got her outside she peed and pooped like she hadn't gone in days. The longer she was outside, the more it was sinking in that she was FREE! By the time we got back to Calvert County, she was licking our faces and sitting on our laps looking out the windows of the car.
They only allowed a rescue to pull her and the person I was with pulled her out though CAWL. I had no intentions of adopting her but she was so dang cute and full of life! I DID adopt her and no one from CAWL had even met her!
Every morning, Sophie wakes up happy to be alive. She isn't the sharpest doggie on the planet but I do believe she knows we saved her life!

 

[TurboK9]

Our dog, Sophie, was literally "3rd in line and in the room" for the shot that would have ended her heartbeat forever. Someone I know heard about her and called Howard County AS to say we were going to come and get her. When they brought her out, they handed her to me. She was stinky and shaking like a leaf. When I got her outside she peed and pooped like she hadn't gone in days. The longer she was outside, the more it was sinking in that she was FREE! By the time we got back to Calvert County, she was licking our faces and sitting on our laps looking out the windows of the car.
They only allowed a rescue to pull her and the person I was with pulled her out though CAWL. I had no intentions of adopting her but she was so dang cute and full of life! I DID adopt her and no one from CAWL had even met her!
Every morning, Sophie wakes up happy to be alive. She isn't the sharpest doggie on the planet but I do believe she knows we saved her life!

I adopted my first rescue under similar circumstances. Male Doberman, very skinny, agressive in the shelter kennel to where even the personell were frightened of him. They were going to put him down. I walked in, he was the only dog not barking, and when I walked up to his 'door', he just stood there in silence and stared at me. I walked in to I think 3 "No, dont!"s, and he walked over, whined ear piercingly, and leaned on my leg. One of the shelter girls said "I think he's your dog...".

By the time he died at 13 he had earned 23 trophies including 3 national championships in protection dog competitions, he served for 4 years as my partner doing security in Orlando's 'crime hills', where he was responsible for the detention and subsequent apprehension of 7 violent offenders and several burglars and drug dealers, and saved my life on at least 2 occasions.

When not working, those that met him were always confused that he was capable of such feats of courage and violence, he was such a sweet dog when he was 'off duty'. I took him everywhere. I still see him out of the corner of my eye, sometimes, when I am driving, as if he is still sitting in the passenger seat. I don't turn my head anymore to look, because I know he's gone, but that dog will be with me for the rest of my life.

Thanks to him, I've fosterd a few, and have two rescued dobes as we speak. They can't hold a candle to him, few dogs can. But they are still damned good dogs.

I'll never have another dog like him.

 

[luvscats]

....
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 can't begin to tell you how timely this poem was for me. I will send it to all my rescue and animal lover friends, and will print it out to post to my bulletin board. Thank you ever so much.

 

[navigator]

"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went."
--Will Rogers

 

[sdm]

....
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 can't begin to tell you how timely this poem was for me. I will send it to all my rescue and animal lover friends, and will print it out to post to my bulletin board. Thank you ever so much.

I know the feeling. Just when you think you can't go on and you ask yourself why you put yourself through the never ending cycle, (and we have all been there!) something like this comes along, and renews the determination. It gives you that little push... that's why I posted it. Thank you to all who do rescue work, the fosters, the transporters, the donations, the blankets, toys, treats, leashes, collars, meds, etc. that help the rescues continue on. Every small token helps! Bless you! Bless all pet owners that go to the local shelters and adopt a homeless pet. That is one less dog or cat that we rescuers don't have to worry about.

 

[sdm]

I still see him out of the corner of my eye, sometimes, when I am driving, as if he is still sitting in the passenger seat. I don't turn my head anymore to look, because I know he's gone, but that dog will be with me for the rest of my life.QUOTE]

You are not seeing things. It is your baby sitting there and he will always be there beside you protecting you!

 

[ooktdoo]

That is SOOOOO cute! I absolutely love service dogs, I have the utmost admiration for them.

I adopted my first rescue under similar circumstances. Male Doberman, very skinny, agressive in the shelter kennel to where even the personell were frightened of him. They were going to put him down. I walked in, he was the only dog not barking, and when I walked up to his 'door', he just stood there in silence and stared at me. I walked in to I think 3 "No, dont!"s, and he walked over, whined ear piercingly, and leaned on my leg. One of the shelter girls said "I think he's your dog...".

By the time he died at 13 he had earned 23 trophies including 3 national championships in protection dog competitions, he served for 4 years as my partner doing security in Orlando's 'crime hills', where he was responsible for the detention and subsequent apprehension of 7 violent offenders and several burglars and drug dealers, and saved my life on at least 2 occasions.

When not working, those that met him were always confused that he was capable of such feats of courage and violence, he was such a sweet dog when he was 'off duty'. I took him everywhere. I still see him out of the corner of my eye, sometimes, when I am driving, as if he is still sitting in the passenger seat. I don't turn my head anymore to look, because I know he's gone, but that dog will be with me for the rest of my life.

Thanks to him, I've fosterd a few, and have two rescued dobes as we speak. They can't hold a candle to him, few dogs can. But they are still damned good dogs.

I'll never have another dog like him.

 

[krazd_kat]

Great poem - thank you for posting it!