One by One, they pass by my cage, 
      Too old, too worn, too broken, no way. 
Way past his time, he can't run and play.
Then they shake their heads slowly and go on 
   their way. 

 A little old man, arthritic and sore, 
It seems I am not wanted anymore. 
    I once had a home, I once had a bed, 
  A place that was warm, and where I was fed. 

 Now my muzzle is grey, and my eyes slowly fail. 
 Who wants a dog so old and so frail? 
 My family decided I didn't belong, 
   I got in their way, my attitude was wrong. 

Whatever excuse they made in their head, 
  Can't justify how they left me for dead. 
      Now I sit in this cage, where day after day, 
 The younger dogs get adopted away. 

     When I had almost come to the end of my rope, 
  You saw my face, and I finally had hope. 
   You saw thru the grey, and the legs bent with age
 And felt I still had life beyond this cage. 

 You took me home, gave me food and a bed, 
  And shared your own pillow with my poor tired 
      head. 
    We snuggle and play, and you talk to me low, 
  You love me so dearly, you want me to know. 

   I may have lived most of my life with another, 
 But you outshine them with a love so much 
     stronger. 
    And I promise to return all the love I can give, 
  To you, my dear person, as long as I live. 

    I may be with you for a week, or for years, 
    We will share many smiles, you will no doubt 
  shed tears. 
           And when the time comes that God deems I must 
  leave, 
   I know you will cry and your heart, it will 
 grieve. 

  And when I arrive at the Bridge, all brand new, 
 My thoughts and my heart will still be with you. 
 And I will brag to all who will hear, 
Of the person who made my last days so dear. 

                                Leslie Whalen 

     We thank Leslie for her kind permission in letting us reproduce Tray's Poem here.  For the story behind the poem, please visit Tray's site

  These are my pets
    I love them best
    This is their house
    You are our guest

    If you should find
    These dogs a peeve
    Then by all means
    Feel free to leave!

Here's another:

We love our dog
this is her home.
Its our hope she ll never roam. 
Our faithful friend, 
she is the best,
This is her home, 
YOU are the guest. 
If to you she is a peeve, 
Then by all means please feel free to leave.

  Training your human is a thankless task.
  "Why bother with it?", some kittens may ask.
  The fate of the world is the issue at hand,
  As felines worldwide stake a claim for their land.
  Make no bones about it, we cats own the joint.
  We spray in the corners to drive home the point.

  Some say the meek shall inherit the Earth,
  But they've no fangs or claws, for what that's worth.
  The cat is the ultimate species, you see,
  We're poised to usurp man's authority.
  These silly old humans who cannot play nice!
  We cats are peaceful, we hate only mice.

  Just what does training your human entail?
  A host of fun things you must do without fail:
  The sofas and rugs need a little makeover.
  The La-Z-Boy's target for kitty takeover.
  Then sleep on clean towels placed in the guest bath.
  And make their best clothing a target of wrath.

  Tear down those new drapes with a quick forceful tug.
  Then tatter the pile of the new Berber rug.
  And when they are sleeping, you block off their nose,
  paw at their lower lip, chew on their toes.
  Strut on the mantle. If they give any flack,
  knock down their trophies and all bric-a-brac.

  Shed on mom's new velvet black evening gown,
  as she's headed out for a night on the town.
  If they leave you home all alone for the night,
  (Any human doing this can't be all that bright),
  They're telling you by leaving, it's perfectly all right,
  To totally redecorate 'til dawn's early light.
  Knock over tables and chew up the fern.
  Hurry, go faster! Soon, they'll return...

  When they try to punish, you mustn't show concern.
  (All attempts of discipline a pussycat should spurn.)
  A snide flick of tail will convey no remorse,
  but they will try harder to scold you, of course!
  So, hide in the closet until they forget,
  and then launch out just like an F-14 jet.

  Tear up their ankle, their forearm, their hand,
  then when they've had all the pain they can stand,
  dart from the room while they call 9-1-1,
  and celebrate victory: The felines have won!
  To humans, however, the battle's begun,
  as they steep in their anger and wish for a gun.

  Pathetic and lumbering and clumsy to boot,
  My friend, human dominance is really a hoot.
  Take charge in your home. It's destiny, meow.
  (The verses above have already told how.)
  So sleep for an hour, and then grab some chow,
  And then train your human, beginning right now.

  - Author Unknown

 I would've died that day if not for you.
 I would've given up on life if not for your kind eyes.
 I would've used my teeth in fear if not for your gentle hands.
 I would 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 me, to show me I deserve love just because I exist.
 Your kind eyes, your loving smile, your gentle hands
 Your big heart saved me...
 You saved me from the terror of the pound,
 Soothing away the memories of my old life.
 You have taught me what it means to be loved.
 I have seen you do the same for other dogs like me.
 I have heard you ask yourself in times of despair why you do it
 When there is no more money, 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 me.
 I tell you with the gratitude and love that shines in my eyes
 In the best way I know how
 Reminding you why you go on trying.

 I am the reason
 The dogs before me are the reason
 As are the ones who come after.
 Our lives would've been wasted, our love never given
 We would die if not for you.

 ~Author Unknown~

A farmer's dog came into town
his Christian name was Rex
A noble pedigree had he,
unusual was his text.
And as he trotted down the street
'twas beautiful to see
His work on every corner
his work on every tree.

He watered every gateway too,
and never missed a post;
For piddling was his specialty,
and piddling was his boast.
The city curs looked on amazed,
with deep and jealous rage
To see a simple country dog,
the piddler of the age.

Then all the dogs from everywhere
were summoned with a yell,
To sniff the country stranger o'er
and judge him by the smell.
Some thought that he a king might be
beneath his tail a rose,
So every dog drew near to him,
and sniffed it up his nose.

They smelled him over one by one,
they smelled him two by two;
And noble Rex, in high disdain,
stood still till they were through.
Then just to show the whole shebang
he didn't give a damn,
He trotted into a grocery store
and piddled on a ham.

He piddled in a mackeral keg -
he piddled on the floor,
And when the grocer kicked him out
he piddled through the door.
Behind him all the city dogs
lined up with instinct true
To start a piddling carnival
and see the stranger through.

They showed him every piddling post
they had in all the town,
And started in with many a wink
to pee the stranger down.
They sent for champion piddlers
who were always on the go,
Who sometimes did a piddling stunt,
or gave a piddle show.

They sprang these on him suddenly
when midway in the town;
Rex only smiled and polished off
the ablest, white or brown.
For Rex was with them every trick
with vigor and with vim.
A thousand piddles more or less
were all the same to him.

So he was wetting merrily,
with hind leg kicking high.
When most were hoisting legs in bluff,
and piddling mighty dry.
On and on, Rex sought new grounds
by piles of scraps and rust,
'Til every city dog went dry,
and piddled only dust.

And all the time this country dog
did never wink or grin,
But piddled blithely out of town
as he had piddled in.
The city dogs conventions held
to ask, "What did defeat us?"
But no one ever put them wise
that Rex had diabetes.

Stuart Turner

Grace personified.
I leap into the window.
I meant to do that.
~*~
You never feed me.
Perhaps I'll sleep on your face.
That will show you.
~*~
Blur of motion, then---
Silence. me. a paper bag.
What is so funny?
~*~
I need a new toy.
Tail of black dog keeps good time.
Pounce! Good dog! Good dog!
~*~
The rule for today:
Touch my tail, I shred your hand.
New rule tomorrow.
~*~
In deep sleep hear sound.
Cat throw up hairball someplace.
Will find in morning.
~*~
My small cardboard box.
You cannot see me if I
Can hide my head.
~*~
Terrible battle!
I fought for hours.  Come and see!
What's a "term paper"?
~*~
Small, brave carnivores
Kill pine cones and mosquitoes.
Fear vacuum cleaner.
~*~
Want to trim my claws?
Don't even think about it!
My cries will wake the dead!
~*~
I want to be close to you.
Can I fit my head
Inside your armpit?
~*~
Must go outside.
Oh, no!  Help!  I got outside!
Let me back inside!
~*~
Oh, no!  Big One
Has been trapped by newspaper!
Cat to the rescue!
~*~
Humans are so strange.
Mine lies still in bed, then screams.
My claws aren't that sharp....
~*~
Litter box not here.
You must have moved it again.
I'll go in the sink.
~*~
You're always typing.
Well, let's see you ignore
My sitting on your hands.
~*~
We're almost equals.
I purr to show I love you.
Want to smell my rump?

I wish someone would tell me
What it is that I've done wrong,
Why I have to stay chained up
And left alone so long.
They seemed so glad to have me
When I came here as a pup.
There were so many things we'd do
While I was growing up.
They couldn't wait to train me
As companion and as friend.
They told me they would never fear
Being left alone again.
The children said they'd feed me,
Said they'd brush me every day,
They'd play with me and walk me,
If only I could stay.
But now the family hasn't time.
They often say I shed.
They won't allow me in the house,
Not even to be fed.
The children never walk me.
They always say, "Not now!"
I wish that I could please them.
Won't someone tell me how?
All I have is love, you see,
I wish they would explain,
Why they said they wanted me
Then left me on a chain.

 High up in the courts of Heaven today
 A little dog-angel waits,
 With the other dogs he will not play,
 But he sits alone at the Gates:
 "For I know my master will come," says he
 "And when he comes, he will call for me."

 He sees the spirits that pass him by
 As they hasten towards the throne,
 And he watches them with a wistful eye
 As he sits at the gate alone;
 "But I know if I just wait patiently
 "That someday my Master will come," says he.

 And his Master far down on the earth below,
 As he sits in his easy chair
 Forgets sometimes, and he whistles low
 For the dog that is not there;
 And the little dog-angel cocks his ears
 And dreams that his Master's call he hears.

 And I know when at length his Master waits
 Outside in the dark and cold
 For the hand of Death to open the gates
 That lead to the Courts of Gold,
 The little dog-angel's eager bark
 Will comfort his soul while he's still in the dark.

 --- Norah M. Holland, c. 1870

Rescuers' "Twas The Night Beforre Christmas"

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
With no thought of the dog filling their head.
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Knew he was cold, but didn't care about that.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Figuring the dog was free of his chain and into the trash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the luster of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But Santa Clause  -  with eyes full of tears.

He unchained the dog, once so lively and quick,
Last years Christmas present, now painfully thin and sick..
More rapid than eagles he called the dogs name.
And the dog ran to him, despite all his pain;

"Now, DASHER! now, DANCER! now, PRANCER and VIXEN!
On, COMET! on CUPID! on, DONDER and BLITZEN!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Let's find this dog a home where he'll be loved by all"

I knew in an instant there would be no gifts this year,
For Santa Clause had made one thing quite clear,
The gift of a dog is not just for the season,
We had gotten the pup for all the wrong reasons.

In our haste to think of the kids a gift
There was one important thing that we missed.
A dog should be family, and cared for the same
You don't give a gift, then put it on a chain.

And I heard him exclaim as he rode out of sight,
" You weren't giving a gift! You were giving a life!"

-Stacey Vincent
<N2Akitas@AOL.COM

Twas the day after Christmas, and all through the house,
Every creature was hurting-- even the mouse.

The toys were all broken, their batteries dead;
Santa passed out, with some ice on his head.

Wrapping and ribbons just covered the floor, while
Upstairs the family continued to snore.

And I in my T-shirt, new Reeboks and jeans,
Went into the kitchen and started to clean.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the sink to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the curtains, and threw up the sash.

When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a little white truck, with an oversized mirror.

The driver was smiling, so lively and grand;
The patch on his jacket said "U.S. POSTMAN."

With a handful of bills, he grinned like a fox
Then quickly he stuffed them into our mailbox.

Bill after bill, after bill, they still came.
Whistling and shouting he called them by name:

"Now Dillard's, now Broadway's, now Penny's and Sears
Here's Levitz's and Target's and Mervyn's -- all here!!

To the tip or your limit, every store, every mall,
Now chargeaway-chargeaway-chargeaway all!"

He whooped and he whistled as he finished his work.

He filled up the box, and then turned with a jerk.

He sprang to his truck and he drove down the road,
Driving much faster with just half a load.

Then I heard him exclaim with great holiday cheer,
"ENJOY WHAT YOU GOT ... YOU'LL BE PAYING ALL YEAR!"

Author Unknown

I don't wanna do the dishes
I don't wanna do the wash
I sprinkled clothes a week ago
And now my iron is lost!!

I don't wanna rattle pots
I don't wanna rattle pans
I see the mail light flashin'
I wanna chat with friends!!

Oh the tables need some dustin'
and the floor could sure be mopped
But I know if I get started
there'll be no place to stop

The closets are so full
things are falling off the shelves
I wish for cleaning fairies
and magic little elves.

They could sprinkle fairy dust
and twitch their little nose
The windows would be sparkling
I would have no dirty clothes

Oh I know that I'm just dreamin'
My head is in the sky
I must cook that meat that's greying
and bake that apple pie

The Hubby needs a bath
Doggy needs attention
Oh.. the other way around I mean
my brain is in suspension

I am runnin' round in circles
I am gettin' nothin' done,
I keep thinking of my web
I am missing all the fun!!!

Well I know I'm not addicted
though I hear that all the time
But I guess this stuff can wait on me
Cause Today I'll Be On Line!!!

  ~~Author Unknown~~

J.S. Cutler