AIN’T IT THE TRUTH??

From time to time, people tell me, “lighten up, it’s just a dog,” or,
“that’s a lot of money for just a dog.” They don’t understand the
distance traveled, the time spent, or the costs involved for “just a dog.”

Some of my proudest moments have come
about with “just a dog.” Many hours have passed and my only company was
just a dog,” but I did not once feel slighted. Some of my saddest
moments have been brought about by “just a dog,” and in those days of
darkness, the gentle touch of “just a dog” gave me
comfort and reason to overcome the day. If you, too, think it’s “just a
dog,” then you will probably understand phrases like “just a friend,”
“just a sunrise,” or “just a promise.” “Just a dog” brings into my life
the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy. “Just a
dog” brings out the compassion and patience that make me a
better person. Because of “just a dog”, I will rise early, take long
walks and look
longingly to the future. So for me and folks like me, it’s not “just a
dog” but an embodiment of
all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past,
and the pure joy of the moment. “Just a dog” brings out what’s good in
me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day.
I hope that someday they can understand that it’s not “just a dog”, but
the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being “just a man or
woman.” So the next time you hear the phrase “just a dog” just smile…
because they “just don’t understand.”

Written by an unknown Doctor of
Veterinary Medicine. From the Therapy Dog Inc. News Magazine

This is Sadie.

C’mon, old friend, the time has come
For you to finally rest.
You’ve given me your finest years
And I feel truly blessed.
We’ve walked many trails together
The best of times we’ve known
And now your aging body aches
And I must let you go.

You’ve taught me things I want to know
How to love, to share, to give,
To play, to laugh, and most of all
How wonderful it is to live,
And perhaps the most important thing-
How to graciously let go.

Good-bye, old friend, we’ve shared it all-
Our youth, our aging years
The best of times, and some hard times…
I’ve shed my share of tears
Worrying about you, watching you,
Fearing when we’d part
And now old friend, the time has come.
You know you take my heart.

I’ll miss you every moment
My heart hurts so inside
But you’ve suffered much too long, my friend
And that I can’t abide.

I pet you, gently hugging you.
I hear you softly moan.
You must depart,
You take my heart,
But you must go alone.

I’ll hold you in my arms, my friend
And my tears will wet your fur.
And you’ll know I’ll always love you
Our loyal bond endures. . .

Sent to the Rainbow Bridge List by

Christina

This is Sarge

I don’t remember much from the place I was born.It was cramped and
dark and we were never played with by humans. I remember Mom and her
soft fur, but she was often sick, and very thin. She had hardly any
milk for me and my brothers and sisters. I remember many of them
dying, and I missed them so.

I do remember the day I was taken from Mom. I was so sad and scared,
my milk teeth had only just come in, and I really should have been
with Mom still, but she was so sick, and the humans kept saying that
they wanted money and were sick of the “mess” that my sister and I
made. So we were crated up and taken to a strange place. Just the two
of us. We huddled together and were scared, still no human hands came
to pet us or to love us.

So many sights and sounds, and smells!! We are in a store where there
are many different animals! Some that squawk! Some that meow! Some
that peep! My sister and I are jammed into a small cage, I hear other
puppies whine. I see humans looking at me, I like the “little
humans”, they look like they’d be fun, like they would play with me!

All day we are kept in the small cage, sometimes mean people will hit
the glass and frighten us, every once in a while we are taken out to
be held or shown to humans. Some are gentle, some hurt us, we always
hear “AW they are so cute! I want one!” but we never get to go with
any.

My sister died last night, when the store was dark. I lay my head on
her soft fur and felt the life leave her small thin body. I had heard
them say she was sick, and that I should be sold at a “discount
price” so that I would quickly leave the store. I softly whined to
mourn for her as they took her body out
of the cage in the morning, I wondered where they put her?

Today, a family came and bought me! Oh happy day!! They are a nice
family, they really, really wanted me! They had bought a dish and
food and the little girl held me so tenderly in her arms. I love her
so much! The mom and dad say what a sweet and good puppy I am! I am
named Angel. I love to lick my new humans!

The family takes such good care of me, they are loving and tender and
sweet. They gently teach me right from wrong, give me good food and
lots of “LOVE”. I want only to please these wonderful people! I love
the little girl and I enjoy running and playing with her.

Today I went to the Veterinarian. It was a strange place and I was
frightened. I got some shots, but my best friend (the little girl)
held me softly and said it would be OK. So I relaxed. The Vet must
have said sad words to my beloved family, because they looked awfully
sad. I heard severe hip dysplacia, and
something about my heart… I heard the vet say something about, back
yard breeders and my parents not being tested. I didn’t know what any
of this meant, just that it hurt me to see my family so sad. But they
still loved me, and I still loved them very much!!!

I am now 6 months old. Where most of the other puppies are robust and
rowdy, it hurts me terribly just to move. The pain never lets up. It
hurts to run and play with my beloved little girl, and I find it hard
to breathe. I keep trying my best to be the strong pup I know I am
supposed to be, but it is so hard. It breaks my heart to see the
little girl so sad, and to hear her mom and dad talk about, it might
now be the time. Several times I have gone to the Veterinarians
place. I just wanted to feel the warm sunshine and run, and play and
nuzzle with my family.

Last night was the worst. Pain has been my constant companion now, it
hurts even to get up and get a drink. I try to get up but can only
whine in pain. I am taken in the car one last time. Everyone is so
sad, and I don’t know why.

Have I been bad? I try to be good and loving, what have I done wrong?
Oh if only this pain would be gone! If only I could soothe the tears
of the little girl. I reach out my muzzle to lick her hand, but have
to stop because of the pain.

The Veterinarian’s table is so cold. I am so
hug and love me, they cry into my soft fur. I can feel their love and
sadness. I manage to lick their hands softly. Even the vet doesn’t
seem so scary today. He is gentle and I sense some kind of relief for
my pain. The little girl holds me softly and I thank her, for giving
me all her love. I feel a soft pinch in my foreleg.

The pain is beginning to lift. I am beginning to feel a peace descend
upon me. I can now softly lick her hand. My vision is becoming dream
like now, and I see my Mother, my brothers and sisters, in a far off
green place. They tell me there is no pain there only peace and
happiness. I tell the family, good-bye in the only way I know how, a
soft wag of my tail and nuzzle of my nose. I had hoped to spend many,
many happy years with them, but it was not meant to be. The pain ends
now and, I know it will be many years until I see my beloved family
again. If only things could have been different.

“I am sorry,” said the Vet. “Pet shop puppies do not come from
ethical breeders. I am so tired of putting so many of these kind of
puppies to sleep.”

This story may be published or reprinted in the hopes that it will
stop
unethical breeders and those who breed only for money and not for the
betterment
of the breed.

Copyright J.Ellis

From the Rainbow Bridge list.

Please, please adopt or buy from reputable breeders!!

 No pet store puppies!

St. Francis of Assisi loved all the birds and animals of the world. They
were his special charges. Daily he would sit in the garden and the birds
would perch on his shoulders, the squirrels would cuddle on his lap. The
rabbits and foxes and the animals of the forest would sit at his feet. All
the animals adored him.

St. Francis was especially fond of a small bird who would sit in his
window and wake him in the morning with his sweet song. In the evening the
little bird would again sit in the window and his sweet song would lull St
Francis to sleep.

Each day St Francis would save the crumbs from his breakfast for his good
friend, the little bird. The little bird would accompany St. Francis on his
daily chores and would cheer him up with a song when St Francis seemed sad.
The little bird would sing with joy when St. Francis smiled.

One day the little bird went to the window to waken his friend with a song,
only to find that St. Francis was not there. Puzzled, the little bird asked
of the squirrels “Where is our good friend?” the rabbits did not know. Then
the little bird asked the wisest of creatures, the owl, “where is our good
friend?” the owl looked sadly on the little bird and said ” He has gone to
join his father.” The little bird smiled and said
“Then I shall go and join him also!”

The owl told the little bird ” No my little friend. St. Francis has gone to
heaven. Only humans can go to heaven. You must stay here on the earth with
us.”

The little bird drooped his wings and began to cry, so sad to think that he
would never see his friend again. Suddenly, he lifted his head and dried his
tears. “there must be some way that I can get to Heaven too!”
“Tell me”, he asked the owl. “Where is Heaven?” “Oh, little bird”, said the
owl, “it is so far up in the sky that you could never reach it with your
tiny wings!” I can do it! Whispered the little bird to himself. “I MUST DO
IT!”

The little bird gathered all his energy together and flew up into the sky,
higher and higher he flew. He went up above the clouds and still flew on.
Higher and higher until he had no strength in his wings. With a sob he said
” If I can not be with my friend, I will just die!” With that he folded his
wings and started plummeting to the ground. He closed his
eyes in resignation, ready to give up his life.

Suddenly, a bright light shown down from above and lit upon the little bird.
A puff of wind lifted the little bird up. He opened his eyes and saw far,
far above him the face if his dear friend. The little bird rejoiced and with
renewed vigor he started flying again. Higher and higher until he reached
the hand of his friend St. Francis. The two rejoiced in their reunion with
one another.

” Owl told me that birds cannot go to Heaven”, the little bird said. ” Your
devotion to me has earned your right to join me here in my Father’s home.”
St. Francis said. ” From now on, all birds and animals of the world will
have a place in Heaven with us.”

And to this day, whenever a little bird who loves his owner dies, when ever
a dog or a cat or other pet loses his grip on this world, St Francis
of Assisi reaches down from above and lifts the little one up to Heaven,
there to await the arrival of his dear friend.

-Author Unknown

Thanks to Jean for posting this on the list

Planning Ahead

This thoughtful article comes from the HSUS.

by Christina Rossetti

Remember me when I am gone away,
Gone far away into the silent land;
When you can no more hold me by the hand,
Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay.

Remember me when no more day by day
You tell me of our future that you plann’d:
Only remember me; you understand
It will be late to counsel then or pray.

Yet if you should forget me for a while
And afterwards remember, do not grieve:
For if the darkness and corruption leave
A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,
Better by far you should forget and smile
Than that you should remember and be sad.

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

W.H.Auden