Rescue Poetry

Shirley's Afghan Hound Rescue Pages Poems

Some of Shirley's Many Rescued Afghans here

For Shirley, her fosterer carers and the new Affie owners

We could have died if not for you.
We could have given up on life if not for your kind eyes.
We could have used our teeth in fear if not for your gentle hands.
We could 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 us, to show us
We deserve love just because we exist.
Your kind eyes, your loving smile, your gentle hands
Your big heart saved us.
You saved us from the terror of the pound,
soothing away the memories of our old lives.
You have taught us what it means to be loved.
We have seen you do the same for other dogs like us.
We have heard you ask yourself in times of despair why you do it
when there is 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 us.
We tell you with the gratitude and love that shines in our eyes
In the best way we know how
Reminding you why you go on trying.
We are the reason.
The dogs before us are the reason, as are the ones who come after.
Our lives would've been wasted, our love never given.
We could have died if not for you! anon

BAGGAGE
Now that I'm home, bathed, settled, and fed,
All nicely tucked into my warm new bed.
I would like to open my baggage Lest I forget,
There is so much to carry - So much to regret.
Hmm... Yes there it is, right on the top -
Let's unpack Loneliness, Heartache and Loss,
And there by my leash hides Fear and Shame.

As I look on these things I tried so hard to leave -
I still have to unpack my baggage called Pain.
I loved them, the others, the ones who left me,
But I wasn't good enough - for they didn't want me.
Will you add to my baggage? Will you help me unpack?
Or will you just look at my things and take me right back?

Do you have the time to help me unpack?
To put away my baggage, To never re-pack?
I pray that you do - I'm so tired you see,
But I do come with baggage - Will you still want me?

By Evelyn Colbath

A DOGS BILL OF RIGHTS
I have the right to give and receive unconditional love.
I have the right to a life that is beyond mere survival.
I have the right to be trained so that I do not become the prisoner of my misbehaviour.
I have the right to adequate food and medical care.
I have the right to fresh air and green grass.
I have the right to socialize with people and dogs outside my own family.
I have the right to special time with my people.
I have the right to be bred responsibly, if at all.
I have the right to be foolish and silly, and to make my person laugh.
I have the right to earn my person's trust and to be trusted in return.
I have the right to be forgiven.
I have the right to die with dignity.
I have the right to be remembered well.
Author Unknown

PLEASE RESCUE ME
Rescue me not only with your hands
but with your heart as well.
I will respond to you.
Rescue me not out of pity
but out of love.
I will love you back.

Rescue me not because of my past
but because of my future.
I will relax and enjoy.
Rescue me not simply to save me
but to give me a new life.
I will appreciate your gift.

Rescue me not only with a firm hand
but with tolerance and patience.
I will please you.
Rescue me not only because of who I am
but who I'm to become.
I will grow and mature.

Rescue me not to revere yourself to others
but because you want me.
I will never let you down.
Rescue me not with a hidden agenda
but with a desire to teach me to trust.
I will be loyal and true.

Rescue me not to be chained or to fight
but to be your companion.
I will stand by your side.
Rescue me not to replace one you've lost
but to soothe your spirit.
I will cherish you.

Rescue me not to be your pet
but to be your friend.
I will give you unconditional love.
Please Rescue Me!
Author Unknown

I AM FAMOUS NOW!
I was born today. One of 10. My daddy was very famous. I have lots of half brothers and sisters. My mother is very famous. Since she got famous, she has only had 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 three 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 field 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 get too close for touching and petting. Sometimes my food smells bad, but I eat it anyways.
Today I had 10 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 my fur. I wish someone would throw me some food. I am also very thirsty.
I now have eight. Two got cold during the night and I couldn't make them warm again. They are gone. We are all very weak. Maybe if I take them out on the porch, we can get some food.

Today they took us away. It was too much trouble to feed us and someone came to take us away. Someone grabbed my puppies, they were crying and whimpering. We were put in a truck with boxes in it.
Are my babies famous now?
I hope so, because I miss them. They are gone.

The place smelled of urine, fear and sickness. Why was I here? I was beautiful, like my ancestors. Now I am hungry, dirty, in pain and unwanted. Maybe the worst is unwanted. No one came though I tried to be good.

Today someone came. They put a rope on my neck and led me to a room that was very clean and had a shiny table. They put me on the table. Someone held me and hugged me. It felt so good!!! Then I felt tired and laid over the last one who cared.
I AM FAMOUS NOW. Today someone cared.
Author Unknown

FOR SALE TO A GOOD HOME
I was born in the Summer a few years ago.
Quite why I was born, I'll never know.
Some folk who owned my mother, decided to breed.
No reason I know of except for their greed.

I know I was hungry, I know I was cold.
They sold me quite early at just five weeks old.
My number one owners seemed friendly at first.
And life was quite good till my bubble burst.

They started to argue, their marriage split up.
And in the AD: "For Sale - 4 months old pup".
Some folk arrived, the next ones in line.
They treated me kind and life was just fine.

But Master dropped dead, and she couldn't cope.
So she sold me again (I'll soon give up hope).
I now had a new home right up in the sky.
We went up in the lift fourteen floors high!

The new folk were kind but they left me all day.
I was bursting to wee and had nowhere to play.
It was boredom, I think, when I chewed up the chair.
They agreed I should go as it just wasn't fair.

The next home was good and I thought "this is it"!
They started to show and I won....well, a bit.
Then somebody told them that I had no bone.
And in went the Ad: "For Sale...to a good home".

The next lot were dreadful, they wanted a guard.
But I didn't know how, although I tried hard.
One night they got burgled and I didn't bark.
Tied up in that shed and alone in the dark.

For four months I lay in that cold and dark shed.
With only an old paper sack for a bed.
A small dish of water all slimy and green.
The state I was in, well, it had to be seen!

I longed for destruction, and an end to the pain.
But some new people came and I went off again.
Well now I'm with Rescue and this home is good.
There's walks in the country and lots of good food.

There's kisses and cuddles to greet me each day.
But I dread the time they will send me away.
But for now here I stand, skin and bone on all four.
PLEASE......don't let "ME" happen to any of yours!!
Author Unknown

DO I GO HOME TODAY?
My family brought me home cradled in their arms.
They cuddled me and smiled at me and said I was full of charm.
They played with me and showered me with toys.
I sure do love my family, especially the little girls and boys.

The children loved to feed me; they gave me special treats.
They even let me sleep with them - all snuggled in the sheets.
I used to go for walks, often several times a day.
They even fought to hold the leash, I am proud to say!

These are the things I will not forget - a cherished memory.
I now live in a shelter without a family.
They used to laugh and praise me when I played with that old shoe.
But I didn't know the difference between the old one and the new.

The kids and I would grab the rug, for hours we would tug.
So I thought I did the right thing when I chewed the bedroom rug.
They said I was out of control and would have to live outside.
This I didn't understand, although I tried and tried.

The walks stopped, one by one; they said they hadn't got the time.
I wish that I could change things; I wish I knew my crime.
My life became so lonely in the backyard, on a chain.
I barked and barked all day long to keep from going insane.

So they brought me to the shelter but were embarrassed to say why.
They said I had caused an allergy and then they waved me good-bye.
If I had only had some training as a little pup
I wouldn't have been so hard to handle when I was all grown up.

"You only have one day left," I heard a worker say.
Does that mean I have a second chance?
Do I go home today?

Author unknown

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"They are our friends, our partners , our defenders , our dogs. We are, their loves, their leaders. They will be ours, faithful and true, to the last beat of their hearts. We owe it to them to be worthy of such devotion." Unknown

Updated 21/01/2008 19:27