June 29, 2011

I AM A DOG, NOT A THING

QUOTE OF THE DAY:


"You think dogs will not be in heaven? I tell you, they will be there long before any of us." ~~~Robert Louis Stevenson


SHELBY on July 5, 2010 at Vet's office

Shelby smiling.
Shelby on March 25, 2011Hi dearest friends.


Remember me? It's Shelby!! It's been almost a year, July 3rd to be exact, since I began my life as a dog, not a thing. I look lots better than I did then, sometimes my Mommy Sandra and my dear Aunt Sarah forget that I am the same dog. I am who I am today because of them and all of you for what you all did to help save me and made be whole again. I have 5 strong babies that survived their birth and they are all happy with their new families. My two angel puppies are at the bridge being cared for by Angel Samantha and learning to be puppies with that little imp Jody.


So why am I here today. Because Aunt Sarah has been thinking alot about me and plans on doing a post on July 3rd just about me and my pups and how far we have come and how far she has come in the last year, but today a volunteer with ATDR sent something to her that made her cry. It's the way us dogs feel about how sometimes we are treated. I should know, because a lot of this has happened to me and I know too that so many of our friends have gone through the same torture and pain. That's all over for us now but I want your peeps to read it too. Here it is:


I AM A DOG, NOT A THING

I am a dog. I am a living, breathing animal. I feel pain, joy, love, fear and pleasure.


I am not a thing. If I am hit - I will bruise, I will bleed, I will break. I will feel pain. I am not a thing.

I am a dog. I enjoy playtime, walk time, but more than anything, I enjoy time with my pack - my family - my people. I want nothing more than to be by the side of my human. I want to sleep where you sleep and walk where you walk. I am a dog and I feel love...I crave companionship.

I enjoy the touch of a kind hand and the softness of a good bed. I want to be inside of the home with my family, not stuck on the end of a chain or alone in a kennel or fenced yard for hours on end. I was born to be a companion, not to live a life of solitude.

I get too cold and I get too hot. I experience hunger and thirst. I am a living creature, not a thing.

When you leave, I want to go with you. If I stay behind, I will eagerly await your return. I long for the sound of your voice. I will do most anything to please you. I live to be your treasured companion.

I am a dog. My actions are not dictated by money, greed, or hatred. I do not know prejudice. I live in the moment and am ruled by love and loyalty.

Do not mistake me for a mindless object. I can feel and I can think. I can experience more than physical pain, I can feel fear and joy. I can feel love and confusion. I have emotions. I understand perhaps more than you do. I am able to comprehend the words you speak to me, but you are not always able to understand me.

I am a dog. I am not able to care for myself without your help. If you choose to tie me up and refuse to feed me, I will starve. If you abandon me on a rural road, I will experience fear and loneliness. I will search for you and wonder why I have been left behind. I am not a piece of property to be dumped and forgotten.

If you choose to leave me at a shelter, I will be frightened and bewildered. I will watch for your return with every footfall that approaches my kennel run.

I am a dog - a living, breathing creature. If you choose to take me home, please provide me with the things that I need to keep me healthy and happy.

Provide me with good food, clean water, warm shelter and your love. Do not abandon me. Do not kick me. Do not dump me when your life gets too busy. Make a commitment to me for the entirety of my life, or do not take me home in the first place.

If you desert me, I do not have the means to care for myself. I am at the mercy of the kindness of people - if I fall into the wrong hands, my life will be ruined.

I will experience pain, fear and loneliness. If I wind up in an animal shelter, I have only my eyes to implore someone to save me, and my tail to show you that I am a friend. If that is not good enough, I will die.

I am a dog. I want to give and receive love. I want to live. I am not a thing. I am not a piece of property. Please do not discard me. Please treat me with kindness, love and respect. I promise to repay you with unconditional love for as long as I live.


Please forgive me and Aunt Sarah if we made you cry. We didn't mean to but this is powerful stuff.


With much love and thankfulness........Shelby

14 comments:

Two French Bulldogs said...

Shelby you look absolutely beautiful. July 3 is one special day
Benny & Lily

booahboo said...

Hello Shelby! Its been almost one year and you are looking most beautiful thanks to the kindness of your loved ones. We remember you on your special day when you found your forever home.

woofs n licks,
Dommy + Piper

Amber-Mae said...

That did make us cry, Shelby. That was beautifully written & I am SO happy to see that you are looking so beautiful now than when you were 1st rescued. You are one beautiful dog. Here's me wishing you a long & happy life!

Molly the Airedale said...

You have our mom in tears. What a beautiful post today, Mona!

Love ya lots,
Maggie and Mitch

How Sam Sees It said...

We are going to pass this poem on if you don't mind.

Looking great, Shelby!

Sam

A MilShelb Mom said...

What a beautiful poem!
~Milly and Shelby

Nadine, Chewy and Lilibell said...

Oh sweet Shelby, you look so wonderful and healthy!! We thank God that you were saved by angels.

And that poem made our Mom's eyes super leaky!

Waggles & Chi kisses, Chewy & Lilibell

Unknown said...

You got us; we are crying :)

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

Shelby, what a difference a year can make - but no, wait - we really need to say what a difference love and respect can make. That is a very sad poem, but it carries a very powerful message.

Woos ~ Phantom, Thunder, and Ciara

Lorenza said...

Shelby!
Of course I remember you one year ago... but sure I prefer to see you this day!
Beautiful and surrounded by super duper people who loves you a lot!
I love you too!
Kisses and hugs
Lorenza

Jed and Abby in MerryLand said...

Thank you for all the wonderful updates, Mona - on Shelby and Faith and little Amelia. Thank goodness that their lives, like those of all of us rescue doggies, took such a turn for the better.

Jed & Abby

K9 Katastrophie said...

Yes Mommy did cry. But it is so true. What us dogs feel when we are abandoned. It reminds mommy of the time when Angel Beaulah wandered off. Mommy and the other humans looked for hours driving all over the county. Finally it was dark and after they put up signs they went home. Mommy prayed and prayed that nothing bad had happened and that Beaulah didn't get caught by bad people. The next day a woman called. She had Beaulah. They went and got her. The nice lady told them that Beaulah had slept by her bed on her Grandmother's crocheted blanket. She had found Beaulah running down our street headed toward our house but it was raining and so she let her in her truck. Of course the nice lady did not know it was our house or she would have brought her back to us.

Mommy thanks God every time she thinks of Beaulah that the nice lady picked her up. Beaulah was spoiled by her!! And how grateful she is that Beaulha was returned safe and sound.

Thanks for sharing!

Licks,
Ruthie

kishiko said...

Hi Shelby!
Wow you became very very beautiful. I love the picture of you smiling.
And it was a beautiful story. Thank you for sharing us.
Hugs
Matilda

kishiko said...
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