A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead.

He remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead for years. He wondered where the road was leading them.

After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight.

When he was standing before it he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother-of-pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold. He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side.

When he was close enough, he called out, “Excuse me, where are we?”

“This is Heaven, sir,” the man answered.

“Wow! Would you happen to have some water?” the man asked.

“Of course, sir. Come right in, and I’ll have some ice water brought right up.”
The man gestured, and the gate began to open.
“Can my friend,” gesturing toward his dog, “come in, too?” the traveler asked.
“I’m sorry, sir, but we don’t accept pets.”

The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going with his dog.

After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road leading through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed.

As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book.

“Excuse me!” he called to the man. “Do you have any water?”

“Yeah, sure, there’s a pump over there, come on in.”

“How about my friend here?” the traveler gestured to the dog.

“There should be a bowl by the pump.”

They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it.

The traveler filled the water bowl and took a long drink himself, then he gave some to the dog.

When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree.

“What do you call this place?” the traveler asked.

“This is Heaven,” he answered.

“Well, that’s confusing,” the traveler said. “The man down the road said that was Heaven, too.”

“Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? Nope. That’s hell.”

“Doesn’t it make you mad for them to use your name like that?”

“No, we’re just happy that they screen out the folks who would leave their best friends behind.”

From time to time, people tell me, “lighten up, it’s just a dog,” or, “that’s a lot of money for just a dog.” They don’t understand the distance traveled, the time spent, or the costs involved for “just a dog.”
Some of my proudest moments have come about with “just a dog.” Many hours have passed and my only company was “just a dog,” but I did not once feel slighted.
Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by “just a dog,” and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of “just a dog” gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.
If you, too, think it’s “just a dog,” then you will probably understand phases like “just a friend,” “just a sunrise,” or “just a promise.” “Just a dog” brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy. “Just a dog” brings out the compassion and patience that make me a better person.
Because of “just a dog” I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future. So for me and folks like me, it’s not “just a dog” but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment.
“Just a dog” brings out what’s good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day.
I hope that someday they can understand that it’s not “just a dog” but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being “just a human.”
So the next time you hear the phrase “just a dog.” just smile, because they “just don’t understand.”

Authored by Richard A. Biby

I think the author did a wonderful job explaining our emotional connection to dogs, however, for those that don’t understand the emotional connection with a dog, I’ll try a different approach.

If you still think its just a dog…………….then you are just a human.

Meet Mack. Mack is a small ( 11 lb) dog that almost got us both killed on Thursday ( I adore him anyway). I was on my way home from bringing a friend home, when Mack darted out from a Hardees parking lot and into traffic. He crossed 107 narrowly avoiding being hit. I pulled my van over and parked to try to get him. I wasn’t even out of my vehicle when Mack dart across 107 again and entered the Exxon parking lot. Once out of my vehicle, Mack was yet again standing in he middle of 107 with an 18 wheeler coming straight at him ( and now me) he wouldnt come to me so I shooed him to the other side of the road, handed a bystander 10.00 to buy him a Slim Jim at the Exxon to try to coax him to come to me. He allowed me to get within 3 ft of him but not to actually touch him. Frustrated and worried I would not be able to keep him from the hwy I called the cheif ACO ,Bill. He was only 7 miles away. He and Chris placed a bowl of food on the ground with the loop from the catch pole around the bottom of the bowl as mack ate he gentley slipped it over his head. Thankfully Mack was safe but because I had no choice but to involve AC he could not come home with me but rather had to go to the shelter to give his owners a chance to reclaim him. I followed Bill’s truck to the shelter and spent 30 min with the little guy though still frightened from his ordeal he is a happy little guy giving me kisses like he had know me forever.
I have put our name on him to keep him safe. We are looking for a foster/adopter for little Mack in the highly likely event no one comes to reclaim him.

Mack safe after his ordeal

Ps Would someone please explain to me how a lil dog with legs three inches long can run so fast………….it totally defies everything I ever learned in physics class LOL

Please be advised that due to the severe pet over population in the southern states we do not adopt to Ar/Ga/Sc/Mi/La or Fl. We strongly recommend to residents of those statess to frequent their area shelters to adopt as so very many animals are euthanized on a daily basis. Simpley visit www.adoptapet.com click on find a shelter near me, enter your zip code and viola’ it will kick you out a list of shelters/rescues near you.
We will adopt to folks in states other than those listed above,however, fosters must be within a 3 hr drive of us as getting the animal back to show to potential adopters is next to impossible if they are any further away than thatplease keep in mind that already means a 6 hr round trip drive every time

“Never, Never be afraid to do what’s right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Society’s punishments
are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our souls when we look the other way.” ~ Martin Luther King Jr.

“And I am my brother’s keeper And I will fight his fight, And speak the word for beast and bird, Till the world shall set things right. ” Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850-1919)

The following is written by Mollie McCurdy, a Retired Humane Investigator,Shelter Supervisor, Animal Activist and my friend.

JUST ONE DAY

I would like to be God for just one day,
I’d give all my creatures a chance to play.
I would bring to the suffering quick release,
I’d give to the frightened comfort and peace.
And those that were suffering would hunger no more,
I would heal all the wounded, bleeding and sore.
I’d close all the doors where sadists reign,
With their tests and their knives so ready for pain.

I would open the doors of the cages wide,
And offer their freedom to those inside.
I would throw out the traps that lie in wait,
For a small furry creature, a cruel fate.
I would close all the bullrings and break every spear,
And the rabbit no longer the greyhound would fear.
I would clean all the oil from out of the sea,
I would let all the fish in the nets go free.

I would throw out the arrows that pierce so deep,
I would give to the tired the blessing of sleep.
I’d close all the tracks where the races are won,
By horses abused to make them run.
I would teach little children that birds are frail,
And puppies and kittens…….don’t hold by the tail.
And the bunnies and chicks and ducklings so small,
I would not let stores have for sale at all.

I would free all the animals raised for fur,
I would tear down the ranches where they were.
I would open the pens that are stacked so high,
So legs could run free and wings could fly.
I would silence the sound of the hunters guns,
I’d give speed to the legs of the fox that runs.
I would break every rope by the rodeo used,
I would comfort the cattle the cowboy abused.

I would make all the streams run pure and sweet,
I’d show mercy to animals used for meat.
I would offer green grass to the worn out nag,
I would throw out the snares in the hunters bag.
I would break all the clubs that batter their prey,
I would take all the poison and throw it away.
I would close the arenas and bloody pits,
Where roosters and dogs are torn to bits.

I’d find homes for the homeless in cities and farms,
I would gather the strays in my loving arms.
I know it’s not given to mind of man
The workings of God to understand,
But oh how I long for the day to come
Bringing help for the helpless, tortured and dumb.
And I mean no irreverence because I say
I would like to be God for just one day.

By Guila Manchester

Until you have held a tiny puppy in your arms as it kissed your face with slobbery puppy breath and felt the love,
Until you have held an injured or severely ill dog in your arms and felt their pain
Until you have looked into the eyes of a tired aging senior dog and felt their wisdom,
And until you have seen and understood the look in your dogs eyes that tell you their time on earth with you is over …. and you humanely let them go,

You will never understand the life of a rescuer.

We find beauty in the most incomprehensible places and the otherwise homely faces.
It is our gift to see beyond the dirt, terror, sadness and defeat and find the true soul that lies within.
We are Rescue.

by Kathie Sullivan-Parkes

A Letter from a Shelter Manager

I think our society needs a huge “Wake-up” call. As a shelter manager, I am going to share a little insight with you all…a view from the inside if you will.

First off, all of you breeders/sellers should be made to work in the “back” of an animal shelter for just one day.
Maybe if you saw the life drain from a few sad, lost, confused eyes, you would change your mind about breeding and selling to people you don’t even know.

That puppy you just sold will most likely end up in my shelter when it’s not a cute little puppy anymore.
So how would you feel if you knew that there’s about a 90% chance that dog will never walk out of the shelter it is going to be dumped at? Purebred or not! About 50% of all of the dogs that are “owner surrenders” or “strays”, that come into my shelter are purebred dogs.

The most common excuses I hear are; “We are moving and we can’t take our dog (or cat).” Really? Where are you moving too that doesn’t allow pets? Or they say “The dog got bigger than we thought it would”. How big did you think a German Shepherd would get? “We don’t have time for her”. Really? I work a 10-12 hour day and still have time for my 6 dogs! “She’s tearing up our yard”.
How about making her a part of your family? They always tell me “We just don’t want to have to stress about finding a place for her we know she’ll get adopted, she’s a good dog”.

Odds are your pet won’t get adopted & how stressful do you think being in a shelter is? Well, let me tell you, your pet has 72 hours to find a new family from the moment you drop it off. Sometimes a little longer if the shelter isn’t full and your dog manages to stay completely healthy. If it sniffles, it dies. Your pet will be confined to a small run/kennel in a room with about 25 other barking or crying animals. It will have to relieve itself where it eats and sleeps. It will be depressed and it will cry constantly for the family that abandoned it. If your pet is lucky, I will have enough volunteers in that day to take him/her for a walk. If I don’t, your pet won’t get any attention besides having a bowl of food slid under the kennel door and the waste sprayed out of its pen with a high-powered hose.
If your dog is big, black or any of the “Bully” breeds (pit bull, rottie, mastiff, etc) it was pretty much dead when you walked it through the front door.

Those dogs just don’t get adopted.
It doesn’t matter how ’sweet’ or ‘well behaved’ they are.

If your dog doesn’t get adopted within its 72 hours and the shelter is full, it will be destroyed. If the shelter isn’t full and your dog is good enough, and of a desirable enough breed it may get a stay of execution, but not for long . Most dogs get very kennel protective after about a week and are destroyed for showing aggression. Even the sweetest dogs will turn in this environment.
If your pet makes it over all of those hurdles chances are it will get kennel cough or an upper respiratory infection and will be destroyed because shelters just don’t have the funds to pay for even a $100 treatment

Here’s a little euthanasia 101 for those of you that have never witnessed a perfectly healthy, scared animal being “put-down”

First, your pet will be taken from its kennel on a leash. They always look like they think they are going for a walk happy, wagging their tails. Until they get to “The Room”, every one of them freaks out and puts on the brakes when we get to the door. It must smell like death or they can feel the sad souls that are left in there, it’s strange, but it happens with every one of them. Your dog or cat will be restrained, held down by 1 or 2 vet techs depending on the size and how freaked out they are. Then a euthanasia tech or a vet will start the process. They will find a vein in the front leg and inject a lethal dose of the “pink stuff”. Hopefully your pet doesn’t panic from being restrained and jerk. I’ve seen the needles tear out of a leg and been covered with the resulting blood and been deafened by the yelps and screams.
They all don’t just “go to sleep”, sometimes they spasm for a while, gasp for air and defecate on themselves

When it all ends, your pets corpse will be stacked like firewood in a large freezer in the back with all of the other animals that were killed waiting to be picked up like garbage. What happens next? Cremated? Taken to the dump? Rendered into pet food? You’ll never know and it probably won’t even cross your mind.
It was just an animal and you can always buy another one, right?

I hope that those of you that have read this are bawling your eyes out and can’t get the pictures out of your head I deal with everyday on the way home from work

I hate my job, I hate that it exists & I hate that it will always be there unless you people make some changes and realize that the lives you are affecting go much farther than the pets you dump at a shelter

Between 9 and 11 MILLION animals die every year in shelters and only you can stop it.
I do my best to save every life I can but rescues are always full, and there are more animals coming in everyday than there are homes

My point to all of this DON’T BREED OR BUY WHILE SHELTER PETS DIE!

Hate me if you want to. The truth hurts and reality is what it is. I just hope I maybe changed one persons mind about breeding their dog, taking their loving pet to a shelter, or buying a dog. I hope that someone will walk into my shelter and say “I saw this and it made me want to adopt”.
THAT WOULD MAKE IT WORTH IT!!!!

“Baggage”

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.

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 repack?
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

This Old Dog
I’m getting on in years,
My coat is turning gray.
My eyes have lost their luster,
My hearing’s just okay.
I spend my days dreaming
Of earlier times with you
When I could run and jump and play
And fetch the ball you threw.
I remember our first visit,
I was coming to you free
Hoping you would take me in
And keep me company.
I wasn’t young or handsome,
Two years I’d roamed the street.
There were scars upon my face,
I hobbled on my feet.
I could sense your disappointment
As I left my prison cage.
Oh, I hoped you would accept me
And look beyond my age.
You took me out of pity,
I accepted without shame.
Then you grew to love me,
And I admit the same.
I have shared with you your laughter,
You have wet my fur with tears.
We’ve come to know each other
Throughout these many years.
Just one more hug this morning
And as you drive away
Know I will think about you
Throughout your busy day.
I’ll faithfully wait here for you
And though my head’s a fog
My heart is yours forever.
I promise-

Author Unknown