Eau Claire County Humane Association

Tail tucked between your legs,
Confusion in your eyes-
I know it's hard to understand
That Someone heard your cries.

The medicine to make you well
Good food to make you strong,
And finally to help you learn,
That hugs are never wrong.

When loneliness is all you know
and pain is all you feel-
And no one can be trusted,
And hunger's all too real.

The perfect place then must be found-
The home where you can live
Secure and safe and happy-
With joy to get and give.

That's the time the Lord sees you
And lets you know He's there.
That's when He sends His messengers-
The hearts that love and care.

When you reach your Forever Home,
Your place to feel whole,
The Angels smile, and off they go-
To save another soul

Now that I'm home, bathed, settled and fed,
All nicely tucked in my warm new bed.
I'd like to open my baggage
Lest I forget,
There is so much to carry -
So much to regret.

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 repack?
I pray that you do - I'm so tired you see,
But I do come with baggage -
Will you still want me?

I remember bringing you home. You were so small and cuddly with your tiny paws and soft fur.
You bounced around the room with eyes flashing and ears flopping.

Once in a while, you’d let out a little yelp, just to let me know this was your territory.
Making a mess of the house and chewing on everything in sight became a passion, and when I would scold you, you just put your head down and looked up at me with those innocent eyes, as if to say “I’m sorry, but I’ll do it again as soon as you’re not watching.”

As you got older, you protected me by looking out the window and barking at everyone who walked by.
When I had a tough day at work, you would be waiting for me with your tail wagging just to say, “Welcome home. I missed you.”
You never had a bad day, and I could always count on you to be there for me.

When I sat down to watch TV, you would hop on my lap, looking for attention. You never asked for anything more than to have me pat your head so you could go to sleep with your head over my leg.
As you got older, you moved around more slowly. Then, one day, old age finally took its toll, and you couldn’t stand on those wobbly legs anymore. I knelt down and patted you lying there, trying to make you young again.

You just looked at me as if to say you were old and tired and that after all these years of not asking for anything, you had to ask me for one last favor.
With tears in my eyes, I drove you one last time to the vet. One last time, you were lying next to me.
For some strange reason, you were able to stand up in the animal hospital; perhaps it was your sense of pride.

As the vet led you away, you stopped for an instant, turned your head and looked at me as if to say ”Thank you for taking care of me.” - I thought, “No, thank you for taking care of me.”

A DOG SITS WAITING (author unknown)
.A dog sits waiting in the cold autumn sun,
Too faithful to leave, to frightened to run
He's been here for days now with nothing to do
But sit by the road waiting for you
He can't understand why you left him that day
He thought you were stopping to play
He's sure you'll come back and that's why he stays
How long will he suffer? How many more days?
His legs have grown weak, his throat's parched and dry
He's sick now from hunger and falls with a sign
He lays down his head and closes his eyes
I wish you could see how a waiting dog dies

Visitors
These are our dogs
This is their home
from which we hope
they'll never roam
They're faithful friends
we love them best.
This is their home
you are a guest
If dogs to you
are just a peeve
Then by all means
feel free to leave.

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to some-
one here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows
and hills for all our special friends so they can run and
play together. There is plenty of food, water, and sunshine
and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who have been ill and old are restored to health
and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong
again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times
gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small
thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be
left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when
one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are
intent; his eager body begins to quiver. Suddenly, he begins to run
from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him
faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend
finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to
be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your
hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more
into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your
life but never absent from your heart.

Dear God, please send me somebody who'll care!
I'm tired of running, I'm sick with despair.
My body is aching, it's so racked with pain,
and dear God I pray, as I run in the rain.
That someone will love me and give me a home,
a warm cozy bed and a big juicy bone.
My last owner tied me all day in the yard
Sometimes with no water, and god that was hard.
So I chewed my leash, and God I ran away.
To rummage in garbage and live as a stray.
But now God, I'm tired and hungry and cold,
and I'm so afraid that I'll never grow old.
They've chased me with sticks and hit me with stones,
while I run the streets just looking for bones!
I'm not really bad, God, please help if you can,
or I have become just a "Victim of Man!"
I'm wormy dear God and I'm ridden with fleas,
and all that I want is an Owner to please!
If you find one for me God, I'll try to be good,
and I won't chew their shoes, and I'll do as I should.
I'll love them, protect them and try to obey....
when they tell me to sit, to lie down or to stay!
I don't think I'll make it too long on my own,
cause I'm getting so weak and I'm so all alone.
Each night as I sleep in the bushes I cry,
cause I'm so afraid God, that I'm gonna die.
And I've got so much love and devotion to give,
that I should be given a new chance to Live!
So dear God, please answer my prayer,
and send me someone who will REALLY care..
That is, dear God, if YOU'RE REALLY there!
author unknown

Old dog.
Why do you stay so near?
Go lie in the sun and drowse.
You needn't follow my every step,
And jump up when I appear.
Your joints are stiff;
You've earned a rest;
Lived your life well;
Passed every test.
And now you're very dear.
Old dog.
Why do you stay so near?
You lie close to my side
Each time I pause,
Head in my lap, alert to hear
Every nuance of my voice. You long ago made your choice
And never once looked to the rear.
Old dog.
Why do you stay so near?
What is it that you hear?
A far-off call, coming closer,
That I, too, know is there?
With each day our time together
Draws nearer to its end.
Please stay a while, old friend!

Happy Puppy
Do you beg on the doorstep when you're hungry as sin?
Can a puppy just hope there's a way to get in?

I'm lost-and no home-and it's raining today-
Oh, why should a puppy get treated this way?

I guess I'm a mongrel with no fancy tag-
Should I bark or look mournful or let my tail wag?

Shhhh! Someone is coming-it looks like a boy!
Does HE need a puppy?-I'd be such a joy!

I'm so hungry!-He knows it...He's gone for some chow...
Will his mom let him feed me?-I'll pray harder now...

He feeds me! He pets me!-Could I stay just a while?
Could I play just an hour?-He's starting to smile...

There's his mom!-She sees me! He grabs me up tight!
Then she smiles...and pets me...maybe, just for tonight...

Now, what shall he call me? Oh, who will I be?
A home and a name...what a great day for me!

Tomorrow?-Who knows what my Fate will contrive...?
But tonight...I'm the happiest puppy...alive...

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 laughed with me, they showered me with toys.
I sure do love my family, especially 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'm very proud to say.
These are the things I'll never forget-a cherished memory.
I now live in the shelter-without my 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 and the new.
The kids and I would grab a rag, 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 did not understand, although I tried and tried.
The walks stopped, one by one; they said they hadn't 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 so the shelter, but were embarrassed to say why.
They said I caused an allergy, and then kissed me goodbye.
If I'd only had some classes 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 the worker say.
Does this mean I have a second chance?
Do I go home today?