I looked at all the caged animals in the shelter...the cast-offs of human society.
I saw in their eyes love and hope, fear and dread, sadness and betrayal.
And I was angry.
"God," I said, "this is terrible! Why don't you do something?"
God was silent for a moment and then He spoke softly.
"I have done something," He replied.
"I created you.”
Jim Willis
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For Those Who Foster/Rescue
Melissa sat on the floor, unable to sit straight and tall like her mother had always admonished her to do when she was a child. Today, it would be impossible. And tomorrow... it probably wouldn't be possible then either. Her mind was too busy thinking about the dog that lay across her lap. When he came to be with her, he had no name. She remembered that day very well. The first sight of him was enough to break her heart into little pieces. The woman, who had taken this dog from the rough streets where he had lived, had tried to save him because she was unable to watch this young dog find his own food in a dumpster outside the crack house where he lived. Nobody cared that he was gone. His fur was very thick; so thick that she had to wiggle her fingers down to feel his bony body. And as she pulled her fingers away again, they were coated in old dirt. Black and white, he was supposed to be. But on that day he was beige and dust. He sat in the back of her car panting continuously, ears laid outward for he had lost his courage and couldn't keep them proud and tall. He sat motionless, waiting and limp. But the thing that was the most disturbing was the look in his eyes. They were quiet eyes, sunken into his head - and they watched her. They were alive with thought. He was waiting for her to do something "to" him. Little did he know at the time that, instead, she would "give" something to him. She gave him one of the little broken pieces of her heart. She reached out to stroke his head and he instinctively squinted his eyes shut and dropped his head, waiting for the heavy hand. With that little bit of movement she gave him another one of the broken pieces of her heart.
She took him home and gave him a bath. She toweled him dry and brushed some order back into his coat. For that, he was grateful and even though his own heart was loaded with worms, he accepted yet another piece of her heart, for it would help to heal his own. "Would you like some water, big boy?" She whispered to him as she set down a large bowl of cold well water. He drank it up happily. He had been dehydrated for a long time and she knew it would take him most of the week to re-hydrate. He wanted more water - but it was gone. Ah... that's how it is, he thought to himself. But he was grateful for what he had been able to get. "Would you like some more?" and she gave him another bowl along with another little piece of her heart. "I know that you are hungry. You don't have to find your own food anymore. Here's a big bowl of good food for you. I've added some warm water and a little piece of my heart." Over the four months that he stayed with her, his health improved. The heart full of worms was replaced piece by piece with little bits of her loving heart. And each little piece worked a very special kind of magic. When the warmth of love and gentle caresses are added, the little broken pieces knit together again and heal the container it resides in. That container becomes whole again. She watched each little broken piece fill a gap in the gentle dog until his quiet eyes radiated the light from the little pieces. You see, kind words gently spoken turn the little pieces into illumination for the spirit that resides within. He rested beside her, happy to be with her always. Never had he known such kindness, such gentle caresses; such love. His health had returned, his spirit was playful as a young dog's should be and he had learned about love.
Now his heart was full. The healing was complete. It was time to go.
There was another person who had another heart that was meant to be shared with him. So she sat shapeless on the floor because all the broken pieces of her heart were with the dog. It is difficult to sit tall when your heart is not with you. She wrapped her arms around the dog that sat with tall, proud ears for her.
Lean on me, he said. And she gave him one last thing that would keep him strong; that would keep the pieces of her heart together long after he had gone on to live his new life. She gave him her tears and bound them to the pieces with a simple statement made from the ribbons of her heart. "I love you, Joe." And Joe lived happily ever after.
Melissa sat on the floor, straight and tall like her mother had always admonished her to do when she was a child. Today, it would be possible. And tomorrow... it probably would be possible too. Because her mind was busy thinking about this, the next dog that lay across her lap.Where did she get the heart to help yet another dog, you ask? Ahhh... it came with the dog. They always bring a little bit of heart with them.And when the rescuer breathes in that little bit of heart, it quickly grows and fills the void left by the last dog.
~ Jo Ellen Rice |
"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened."
~ Anatole France
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"I am involved in dog rescue: my wallet and gas tank are always running on empty,
my house is never quiet, nor is my car,
my inbox is full of ongoing despair and misery, but my heart and soul are replenished with unconditional love, loyalty, and joy that can only come from a rescued dog!
~ Author Unknown
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“It came to me that every time I lose an animal, they take a
piece of my heart with them.And every new animal who comes into
my life gifts me with a piece of his heart. If I live long enough,
all the components of my heart will be animal and I will become as
generous and loving as they are.”
~ Author unknown
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The Dog Ten Commandments
1. My life is likely to last 10 to 15 years. Any separation from you will be very 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. Don't be angry with me for long, and don't lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainment. I HAVE ONLY YOU!
5. Talk to me. Even if I don't understand your words, I understand your voice when it's speaking to me.
6. Be aware that however you treat me, I'll never forget it.
7. Before you hit me, remember that I have teeth that could easily crush the bones in your hand, BUT 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 I'm not getting the right food, I've been out in the sun too long, or my heart may be getting old and weak.
9. Take care of me when I get old. YOU, TOO, WILL GROW OLD.
10.Go with me on difficult journeys OR my LAST JOURNEY. Never say, "I can't bear to watch it," or "Let ithappen in my absence." Everything is easier for me if you are there. ****** REMEMBER, I LOVE YOU.
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RAINBOW BRIDGE VARIATION
Unlike most days at the Rainbow Bridge, this day dawned cold and gray. All
the recent arrivals at the Bridge did not know what to think, as they had never
seen such a day. But the animals who had been waiting longer for their
beloved people to accompany them across the Bridge knew what was happening, and they
began to gather at the pathway leading to the Bridge.
Soon an elderly dog came into view, head hung low and tail dragging. He
approached slowly, and though he showed no sign of injury or illness, he was in
great emotional pain. Unlike the animals gathered along the pathway, he had not
been restored to youth and vigor upon arriving at the Bridge. He felt out of
place, and wanted only to cross over and find happiness.
But as he approached the Bridge, his way was barred by an angel, who
apologized and explained that the tired and broken-spirited old dog could not cross
over. Only those animals accompanied by their people were allowed to cross the
Bridge. Having nobody, and with nowhere else to turn, the dog trudged into the
field in front of the Bridge.
There he found others like himself, elderly or infirm, sad and discouraged.
Unlike the other animals waiting to cross the Bridge, these animals were not
running or playing. They simply were lying in the grass, staring forlornly at
the pathway across the Rainbow Bridge. The old dog took his place among them,
watching the pathway and waiting, yet not knowing what he was actually waiting
for. One of the newer dogs at the Bridge asked a cat who had been there
longer to explain what was happening. The cat replied, "Those poor animals were
abandoned, turned away, or left at rescue places, but never found a home on
earth. They all passed on with only the love of a rescuer to comfort them.
Because they had no people to love them, they have nobody to escort them across the
Rainbow Bridge."
The dog asked the cat, "So what will happen to those animals?" Before the
cat could answer, the clouds began to part and the cold turned to bright
sunshine. The cat replied, "Watch, and you will see."
In the distance was a single person, and as she approached the Bridge the
old, infirm and sad animals in the field were bathed in a golden light. They
were all at once made young and healthy, and stood to see what their fate would
be. The animals who had previously gathered at the pathway bowed their heads
as the person approached.
At each bowed head, the person offered a scratch or hug. One by one, the now
youthful and healthy animals from the field fell into line behind the person.
Together, they walked across the Rainbow Bridge to a future of happiness and
unquestioned love. The dog asked the cat, "What just happened?"
The cat responded, "That was a rescuer."
The animals gathered along the pathway bowing in respect were those who had
found their forever homes because of rescuers. They will cross over when their
people arrive at the Bridge. The arrival here of a rescuer is a great and
solemn event, and as a tribute they are permitted to perform one final act of
rescue. They are allowed to escort all those poor animals they couldn't place on
earth across the Rainbow Bridge and into Heaven."
The dog thought for a moment, then said, "I like rescuers." The cat smiled
and replied, "So does heaven, my friend. So does heaven.
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I AM AN ANIMAL RESCUER
My job is to assist God's creatures.
I was born with the drive to fulfill their needs.
I take in helpless, unwanted, homeless creatures without planning 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 too many times to count.
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.
Some may think we are 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 we are 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.
By the love of those who I've been privileged to rescue
I have been rescued.
I know what true unconditional love really is
for I've seen it shining in the eyes of so many.
Grateful for so little
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.
~ Author Unknown
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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." So the next time you hear the phrase "just a dog," just smile, because they "just don't understand."
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