I AM FAMOUS NOW

I was born today. One of ten. My daddy was very famous. I have lots
of half brothers and sisters. My mother is very famous. Since she
got famous, she only has puppies. No more loving hands. No more fun
trips...just puppies. She is always sad when they leave her.

I left home today. I didn't want to go, so I hid behind my mama and
my 3 littermates that were left. I didn't like you. But one day they
said I would be famous. I wonder - is famous the same as fun and good times? 
So you picked me up and carried me away, even though you were concerned about me
hiding from you. I don't think you liked me.

My new home is far away. I am scared and afraid. My heart says, "BE
BRAVE". My ancestors were. Did they go to "good homes", like mine? I'm hungry because 
I can't eat too much because it will be bad for my bones. I can't bite or snap when the children
are mean to me. I just run and play and pretend I am in a big green fields with butterflies and
robins and frogs. I can't understand why they kick me.

I am quiet but the man hits and says loud things. The lady doesn't feed me good things like I had
with my mother. She just throws dry food on the ground, then goes away before I can come too
close for touching and petting. Sometimes my food smells bad but I eat it anyway..

Today I had ten puppies. They are so wonderful and warm. Am I famous now? I wish I could 
play with them, but they are so tiny. I am so young and playful that it is hard to lay here in this 
hole under the house nursing my puppies. They are crying now. I am so hungry. I scratch and 
worry at my fur. I wish someone would throw me some food. I am also very thirsty.

Now I have eight puppies. They got cold in the night and I could not make them warm again.
They are gone. We are all very weak. Maybe if  I take them all out on the porch, we could 
get some food?

Today they took us away. Someone grabbed my puppies. They cried and whimpered. We 
were put into a truck with boxes in it. Are my babies famous now? I hope so because I miss 
them. They are gone, and this new place smells of urine, fear and sickness. Why am I here? 
I was beautiful and proud like my ancestors. Now I am hungry, dirty, in pain and unwanted. 
Maybe the worst is unwanted. No one came although I tried to be good.

Today someone came. They put a rope on me and led me to a room that was very clean 
and had a shiny table. They put me on the table and someone held me and hugged me. 
It felt so good!! Then I felt tired and laid down in the arms of someone who cared.

I AM FAMOUS NOW.    TODAY SOMEONE CARED.

( Author Unknown...)

This is a prayer for little paws
All up and down the land

Driven away, no friendly voice
Never an outstretched hand.

For weary little paws of beasts
Torn and stained with red

And never a home and never a rest
Till little beasts are dead.

Oh, God of homeless things, look down
And try to ease the way

Of all the little weary paws
That walk the world today.

author unknown

(Many Thanks to Anne Lively, "THE CASSETTE" for allowing us to use this)

THE STRAY DOG

Your wistful eyes searched each one as he passed.....
Stray dog - so lost, so starved and starkly thin.
And yet your gallant hope held to the last
that there would come a heart to take you in.

Some came who jeered at your bewilderment;
Some kicked you, shouted, threw things till you'd gone.
But, oh, more cruel was the one who bent
and petted you, and murmured,

..and went on.

Charlotte Mish