“The question is not,
Can they reason?
Nor, can they talk?
But rather,
Can they suffer?”
Jeremy Bentham
Each and every end of year now
I reflect on the cruelty I have seen
And, I think about all of the orphans
That we’ve found battered on the streets
Mankind’s cruelty now seems to be getting worse
We now abuse, and abandon, and we torture them
Instead of being their stewards, and their guardians
We inflict abysmal, man-made suffering, without end
It wasn’t very long at all after New Year’s, last year
When we found emaciated old Trucker in that yard
A walking skeleton, left for dead, by uncaring humans
No food, or shelter, or any love – his life extremely hard
Next came old Izzy, a gentle old dog left behind by his family
Attempting to survive in a backyard, behind a foreclosed home
The very same day we found Marty, the chain-dragging Husky
Another victim of neglect, starving out in the cold, and all alone
And it wasn’t very long after them, that we found sweet little Lucy
Living in a field, digging through the trash in a grocery store parking lot
Soon came sweet Lady, dumped at our vet’s door in the dead of night
Although she had been a loyal friend for many years, her family cared not
Then along came Theo, so battered and bruised and sick, he couldn’t walk
And not that very long ago, I got a phone call about extremely loyal Carrie
Who had been so very cruelly abandoned, at a boarded up, foreclosed house
How we humans can move and leave our pets behind remains a mystery to me
And recently, gentle Noelle, freezing in a parking lot, on Christmas Eve
Obviously dumped there, by her cruel family, just prior to the Holidays
These are but a few of man’s best friends that we humans have betrayed
The plight of homeless canines seems to sadly worsen each and every day
Then there are the homeless, starving, unwanted, felines like Shy Girl
In her attempt to stay warm last winter, burned by the motor of a truck
It took us forever to gain her trust, and get her needed medical attention
So many once treasured cats are now struggling to survive, with little luck
Add thousands more, all across this vast nation of ours, that are now abused
Every animal rescuer I know, has so many sad stories, about so many of them
And we sadly know that we will meet many more of these street waifs in 2012
Please resolve in the New Year to help us bring their abysmal suffering to an end
©End of Year 2011, Mr. Ed
Anna
You inspire us!
I'm reading a wonderful book right now..."Inside of a Dog", and am learning so much about these precious animals and what geniuses they truly are!
Christine
Personally, I object to the term "lower animal." We are all animals. What is done to one is done to us all!
Thank you for everything you are doing to help. Our Sugar (who passed away last year of old age) was a rescue dog. She could not have been more sweet and precious. Ray and I are looking for another one to keep us & our Yorkie Nicky company.
I belatedly began donating monthly to an organization that is dedicated to stopping the cruelty and rescuing victims. You inspire me to vow to give more. DO more!!
Let's hope 2012 brings more peace, compassion, and sanity to this
Vale of Tears.
For ALL !
xOx Phyllis xOx
Patrick
ONE DAY ... I HOPE MANY MANY YEARS FROM NOW ...
YOU WILL ALSO CROSS 'THE RAINBOW BRIDGE' ...
THOUSANDS WILL GREET YOU !!! PEACE ... TK...
Mr. Ed blessing of a true heart ~ Lady Mary Ann
In the context of my Islamic Religion you are exactly doing what Allah has instructed us to do when He said: Those who give mercy, care, love and protection to the creatures on earth be them human or otherwise, shall be reciprocated with similar or more love and mercy by those in the sky (Heaven) Though you are not a Moslem by faith, you are teaching me my religion. I´m proud to call you a friend and a true poet of nature. Happy New Year dear Human.
God Bless you always.
From Kay
legged friends...grateful for your
caregiving grace...praying that 2012
will have more like You!!! *Mr. Ed*
Lady Vivian
We have a lovely lively new pup in the family :-) It took most of the season for me to gain his trust but once he trusted me he was all over me licking and playing with me like a puppy. His trust was gained when I got him to run with me, enjoying the first snowflakes falling from the sky last night, being in the spirit of the innocene of children we played like the puppies we are :-) Oh did I get a glimpse of what we are in for LOL. One more dog has a hope. :-)
Happy New years :-)
I can hardly say "Happy New Year" after reading the words in the poem that you sent. However, each day is a new day and I seen hardened criminals turn around and become very productive and caring members of our society so why not pet abusers? There needs to be a clinic to treat these folks. Hurting people hurt others and it's easy (and cowardly) to take frustrations out on a helpless animal. We think it's insane, yes, but these folks need a brain transplant as well as a heart transplant. What goes around comes around and I am sure these abusers have been kicked and abused themselves so they sadly pass it on. Love conquers all and I have seen many miracles and I pray for a BIG one for this country of ours next year. With that said "Happy New Year" dear friend. God Bless You Mr. Ed!