A RESCUE PRAYER

Now I lay me down to rest
I pray my soul can stand this test
Of watching critters lose their homes
While owners gripe and cry and moan

I long for strength of spirit that
They'll find a loving home again
Where they will know a loving heart
I can't do much, but it's a start

And spare me from the owner's pleas
About the baby's allergies
Or how they're moving out of state
Or spitefulness 'tween cat and mate

Please keep me sane while dealing with
The woman who bought as a gift
A wriggling tiny ball of fluff
That now is playing way too rough

Remind me I should bite my lip
When confronted with "he grew too quick"
"I didn't know he'd get so large"
"He seems to think that he's in charge"

Protect my heart when I hear them say
"I think we'll breed our dog one day"
Sometimes I think it'll break in two;
Each day brings trials harsh and new

And if I die before I wake
I pray one hopeless soul you'll take
My tears are gone, my faith is bare
Lord, please hear my rescue prayer.

~Author  Unknown

The Night before Christmas at The Shelter

'Tis the night before Christmas, and all through the town,
every shelter is full ~ we are lost but not found. 

Our numbers are hung on our kennels so bare,
we hope every minute that someone will care.

They'll come to adopt us and give us the call,
"come here, Max and Sparkie ~ come fetch your new ball"

But now we sit here and think of the days...
we were treated so fondly ~ we had baby ways.

Once we were little, then we grew and we grew,
now we're no longer young and no longer new.

So out the back door we were thrown like trash,
they reacted so quickly ~ why were they so rash?

We "jump on the children," " don't come when we call",
we "bark when they leave us", "climb over the wall".

We should have been neutered, we should have been spayed,
now we suffer the consequences of the errors They made.

If only they'd trained us, if only we knew...
we'd have done what they asked us and worshipped them too.

We were left in the backyard, or worse ~ left to roam...
now we're tired and lonely and out of a home.

They dropped us off here and kissed us good-bye...
"Maybe someone else will give you a try".

So now here we are, all confused and alone...
in a shelter with others who long for a home.

The kind workers come through, with a meal and a pat,
with so many to care for, they can't stay to chat.

They move to the next kennel, give each of us cheer...
we know that they wonder how long we'll be here.

We lay down to sleep and sweet dreams fill our heads...
of a home filled with love and our own cozy beds.

Then we wake to see sad eyes, brimming with tears ~
our friends filled with emptiness, worry and fear.

If you can't adopt us and there's no room at your inn ~
could you help with the bills and fill our food bin?

We count on your kindness each day of the year ~
can you give more hope to everyone here?

Please make a donation to pay for the heat...
and help us get something special to eat.

The shelter that cares for us wants us to live,
and more of us will, if more people give.

~Author Unknown