Once I was a lonely dog,
Just looking for a home
I had no place to go,
No one to call my own.

I was wandered up and down the streets,
in rain in heat and snow.
I ate whatever I could find.
I was always on the go.

My skin would itch, my feet were sore,
My body ached with pain.
And no one stopped to give a pat
Or to gently say my name.

I never saw a loving glance,
I was always on the run.
For people thought that hurting me
was really lots of fun.

And then one day I heard a voice
So gentle, kind and sweet,
And arms so soft reached down to me
And toll me off my feet.

“No one again will hut you
What whispered in my ear.”
“You’ll have a home to call your own
Where you will know no fear”

You will be dry, you will be warm,
you’ll have enough to eat”
“And rest assured that when you sleep,
your dreams will all be sweet”.

I was affraid I must admit.
I’ve lived so long in fear.
I can’t remember when I left
A human came so near.

And as she tended to my wounds
And bathed and brushed my fur
She told me about the rescue group
And what it meant to her.

She said. “We are a circle,
A line that never ends”.
“And in the center there is you
protected by new friends”.

“And all around you are
the ones that check the pounds,
And those that share their home
after you’ve been found.

And all the other folk
are searching near and far.
To find the perfect home for you,
where you can be a star.

She said, There is a family,
that’s waiting patiently,
and pretty soon we’ll find them,
just you wait and see.

And then they’ll join our circle
they’ll help to make it grow,
so there’ll be room for more like you,
who have no place to go.

I waited very patiently,
The days they came and went.
Today’s the day I thought,
my family will be sent.

Then just when I began to think
I wasn’t meant to be,
there were people standing there
just gazzing down at me.

I knew them in a heart beat,
I could tell they felt it too.
They said, We have been waiting
for a special dog like you.

Now every night I say a prayer
to all the gods that be.
Thank you for the life I live
and all you ‘ve given me.

But most of all protect the dogs
in the pound and on the street
And send a Rescue Person
to lift them off their feet.

Arlene Pace
Sept 18th, 1998

My job is to assist God's creatures
  I was born with the need to fulfill their needs
  I take in new family members without plan, thought or selection
  I have bought dog food with my last dime
  I have patted a mangy head with a bare hand
  I have hugged someone vicious and afraid
  I have fallen in love a thousand times and I have cried into the fur of a
  lifeless body

  I have Animal Friends and friends who have animal friends
  I don't often use the word "pet"
  I notice those lost at the road side
  And my heart aches
  I will hand raise a field mouse
  And make friends with a vulture
  I know of no creature unworthy of my time

  I want to live forever if there aren't animals in Heaven
  But I believe there are, why would God make something so perfect and leave
  it behind
  We may be master of the animals, but the animals have mastered themselves,
  something people still haven't learned.

  War and Abuse makes me hurt for the world
  But a rescue that makes the news gives me hope for mankind
  We are a quiet but determined army
  And making a difference ever day

  There is nothing more necessary than warming an orphan
  nothing more rewarding than saving a life
  No higher recognition than watching them thrive
  There is no greater joy than seeing a baby play who only days ago, was too
  weak to eat.

  I am an Animal Rescuer
  My work is never done,
  My home is never quiet
  My wallet is always empty
  But my heart is always full

  In the game of life, we have already won !

  ~ Written from the heart by:

  Annette King-Tucker
  Wild Heart Ranch Wildlife Rescue
  Claremore, Ok
  www.wildheartranch.org

I wasn't a pup when I came to your home;
  I'd been dumped on the road, left to roam.
  Don't remember the people except the pain;
  they left me to die in the cold and the rain.

  You were driving down the highway, it was late at night;
  when you saw the faintest glimmer of light.
  You took a chance and turned around;
  got out of the van and knelt to the ground.

  My quivering body felt the gentlest of hands;
  I knew I need not make any demands.
  In your heart, and your home, there was always room;
  for those who would face certain doom.

  You healed my body and you healed my heart;
  you gave me what I needed, a fresh start.
  When I cried at night, you were always there;
  with soft words, a kiss, and hug to share.

  When I misbehaved and would cower with guilt;
  you only showed love up to the hilt.
  You loved and cared for me in sickness and health;
  our love for each other was more precious than wealth.

  Even when you were tired and had a bad day;
  you'd always come home to me and say,
  "I missed you my baby. I'm glad to be back."
  Then you'd give me a kiss, a hug and a pat.

  We'd have a nice dinner then go out to play;
  there was so much love I wanted to stay.
  But my eyes, they faded and my heart grew weak;
  as my time grew closer you could not speak.

  You held me tight, tears flowed from your eyes;
  we both had to say our good-byes.
  The release from pain we knew must end;
  no more time on this earth would we spend.

  Running in the fields, playing ball;
  sitting quietly together at the end of it all.
  Because I'll be there waiting for you;
  at the edge of the Rainbow Bridge I'll stand;
  until I once again see those gentle hands.

  I'll run to you with tail held high;
  we will never again have to say good-bye.
  My love at death, it does not end;
  because you are indeed, dog's best friend.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  Thanks to all of you for all you do!!!

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 God and 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,
For I have just become "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 on their shoes,
But 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 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 going to die
And I've got so much love and devotion to give
That I should be given a chance to live.
So dear God please, please answer my prayer