Love of Labs, Indiana (LOLIN)

I'm a little puppy, so cuddly, sweet and small
I live inside a cage, you see at a Pet Store in the mall.
I'm not an only puppy, my sisters are all here.
My brothers, too, except for Ralph who died coz he was scared.
It's lonely here at nighttime when all the lights go dark,
We tremble in our cages and we whimper and we bark.
But no one comes to hold us or pet our fears away.
We sit all night in terror til the store opens next day.
We don't remember mama, left so far behind.
she did the best she could for us til Man said "It is time."
He crammed us all in cages too small for us you see.
We rode for hours; we could not help but lay in poop and pee.
And now we sit in a Pet Store where kids come taunt and squeeze.
They do not hear our whimpers or understand our pleas.
We're miserable and it's scary here we all would rather die.
But since we don't we do our best to run away and hide.
I know you think my story too sad to leave me be.
You want to take me home with you, a happy little puppy.
But please, though it is fearful to live here against our will.
If you take me that leaves a spot another pup will fill.
You can stop our suffering but not by taking us home.
You must be strong and leave us here, unsold and all alone.
For if you do not take me, then another pup won't come.
And maybe he will not be shipped so far away from home.
Tho some of us may not survive the cycle 'ere it falls.
If we don't sell they will not need more puppies in these halls.
And if they need no puppies then the Man will not bring more.
Eventually it can all stop! You CAN close the door.
So when you see a puppy face so sad and sweet and small.
In a cage at a Pet Store at your neighborhood shopping mall.
The best thing you can do for him is leave him sitting there.
That is the best way you can tell all dogs how much you care.

Please remember, we are a 100% volunteer NON-Profit Public Charity 501(c)3, tax deductible organization.

The Journey

When you bring a pet into your life, you begin a journey - a journey that will bring you more love and devotion than you have ever known, yet also test your strength and courage.

If you allow, the journey will teach you many things, about life, about yourself, and most of all, about love. You will come away changed forever, for one soul cannot touch another without leaving its mark. Along the way, you will learn much about savoring life's simple pleasures - jumping in leaves, snoozing in the sun, the joys of puddles, and even the satisfaction of a good scratch behind the ears. If you spend much time outside, you will be taught how to truly experience every element, for no rock, leaf, or log will go unexamined, no rustling bush will be overlooked, and even the very air will be inhaled, pondered, and noted as being full of valuable information. Your pace may be slower - except when heading home to the food dish - but you will become a better naturalist, having been taught by an expert in the field.

Too many times we hike on automatic pilot, our goal being to complete the trail rather than enjoy the journey. We miss the details - the colorful mushrooms on the rotting log, the honeycomb in the old maple snag, the hawk feather caught on a twig. Once we walk as a dog does, we discover a whole new world. We stop; we browse the landscape, we kick over leaves, peek in tree holes, look up, down, all around. And we learn what any dog knows: that nature has created a marvelously complex world that is full of surprises, that each cycle of the seasons bring ever changing wonders, each day an essence all its own.

Even from indoors you will find yourself more attuned to the world around you. You will find yourself watching summer insects collecting on a screen. (How bizarre they are! How many kinds there are!), or noting the flick and flash of fireflies through the dark. You will stop to observe the swirling dance of windblown leaves, or sniff the air after a rain. It does not matter that there is no objective in this; the point is in the doing, in not letting life's most important details slip by. You will find yourself doing silly things that your pet-less friends might not understand: spending thirty minutes in the grocery aisle looking for the cat food brand your feline must have, buying dog birthday treats, or driving around the block an extra time because your pet enjoys the ride. You will roll in the snow, wrestle with chewie toys, bounce little rubber balls till your eyes cross, and even run around the house trailing your bathrobe tie - with a cat in hot pursuit - all in the name of love. Your house will become muddier and hairier. You will wear less dark clothing and buy more lint rollers.

Why should I adopt?

If you have room in your home and in your heart for a new dog or cat, adopting makes sense for lots of reasons. Here are just four of them:

1. You will be saving a life. Even if you adopt from an organization that has a no-kill policy, you will be helping to rescue an­other animal by making space available at the shelter.

2. You will be saving money because adop­tion costs less than buying an animal from a pet shop or a breeder.

3. By adopting rather than buying a new companion animal, you will reduce the de­mand that drives the commercial breeding of puppies and kittens. Each year, millions of healthy and well-behaved animals are destroyed in shelters simply because there are not enough homes for all of them.

4. If you adopt a young adult or older pet, you can avoid many of the domestic hassles related to house-training and teething. Pup­pies and kittens are cute, but they require lots of attention, training, patience … and newspapers!

An older dog might fit in better with your loyal old Labrador than a rambunctious tor­pedo of a puppy. Kittens are easier than pup­pies, but you may also want to consider the benefits of an adult kitty, who has already gone through the precocious kitten stage.

So, there are plenty of good reasons to adopt your next pet, but probably the best reason to adopt a dog or cat is that you just might meet your best friend.

Where can I adopt?

You may already know of several shelters and rescue organizations near where you live. If not, here are a few suggestions:

1. The municipal animal control shelter or local humane society is a good place to start. If you don’t know where it is, call your local police and ask for the name and location of the facility or organization that handles stray animal problems in your community.

2. Many animal rescue organizations hold regular adoption days at pet supply outlets. Most of the larger and more enlightened pet supply stores don’t sell dogs and cats at all. Instead, they partner with the humane com­munity in promoting pet adoptions. Check your Yellow Pages for pet supply stores or feed stores near you.

3. Some rescue groups specialize in specific breeds of dogs and cats. So if you have your heart set on a Jack Russell, a German shep­herd, or a fluffy Persian cat, you can adopt one through a breed rescue organization.

What else do I need to know?

Health ~

If you already have a dog or cat at home, make sure that your new pet has a clean bill of health from a vet before ex­posing your oth­er animals to any risk. This is par­ticularly impor­tant if you adopt from a municipal shelter, where veterinary care is usually minimal.

Most private rescue organizations will guar­antee the health of your new pet and will see to it that the animal has been tested for any contagious diseases, received the necessary shots, and been spayed or neutered before you take him or her home.

Spay/Neuter ~

If your new pet is not already fixed, you’ll want to make sure to arrange for spay/neuter as soon as possible. Information about low-cost spay/neuter services in your area is available by dialing 1-800-248-SPAY or visiting www.spayusa.org.

Children ~

A new pet in the house is an ex­citing event for youngsters, but don’t let their enthusiasm turn into a nightmare for you or the new animal. Being pulled from under the bed by eager little hands or be­ing flopped on by a child is very distressing to most animals, and especially for those in unfamiliar surroundings. Their only recourse is to scratch, snap, or run. Two out of three of these natural responses are likely to land them back in the shelter, which is hardly fair. Teach your children to respect animals as they would any other playmate. If their new pet doesn’t want to play for now, teach your children to leave him or her alone.

Behavior ~

While your new pet may turn out to be the perfect lady or gentleman from day one, it is more likely that he/she will take a little while to adjust to new surroundings and routines. Be patient. Be positive.

Where can I get more information?

For more informa­tion on basic pet care, training and behavior, visit the “You and Your Pets” section of the Best Friends web­site at www.best­friends.org. The following books can also be helpful to you:

• Second-Hand Dog: How to Turn Yours into a First-Rate Pet by Carol Lea Benjamin

• The Chosen Puppy: How to Select and Raise a Great Puppy from an Animal Shelter by Carol Lea Benjamin

• Child-Proofing Your Dog: A Complete Guide to Preparing Your Dog for the Chil­dren in Your Life by Brian Kilcommons and Sarah Wilson

• How to Get Your Cat to Do What You Want by Warren and Fay Eckstein

• Cat Love: Understanding the Needs and Nature of Your Cat by Pam Johnson

• Twisted Whiskers: Solving Your Cat’s Be­havior Problems by Pam Johnson

If you need additional advice, you can try a behavior helpline, a professional trainer or a behaviorist. Check out the resource called “Behavior Helplines” in the “You and Your Pets” section of the Best Friends website.

Behaviors like chewing, digging, and separa­tion anxiety are just as common in dogs who come with a fine pedigree from a pet store or breeder as they are in mutts who have been rescued. Most behavior problems can be straightened out with patient and con­sistent application of a few simple training techniques.

Please remember, we are a 100% volunteer NON-Profit Public Charity 501(c)3, tax deductible organization.

Disposable?

I was born in the summer a few years ago;
Quite why I was born I never will know.
Some folks owned my mother; decided to breed
No reason I know of except for their greed.
I know I was hungry, I know I was cold
And they sold me quite early, at just five weeks old.
Owner number one seemed friendly at first,
And life was quite good, until my bubble burst.
They started to argue; their marriage split up,
And in went the ad, for sale 4 month pup.
Some more folks arrived, the next ones in line.
They treated me kindly, and life was just fine.
But the master dropped dead, and she couldn't cope,
So they sold me again as I began to lose hope.
I now had a new home up in the sky.
We went up the lift, fourteen floors high.
The new folks were kind, but they left me all day.
I was busting to pee, and had no where to play.
It was boredom, I think, when I chewed up that chair.
They agreed I should go, but it just wasn't fair.
The next home was good, and I thought this was it.
They started to show, and I won, well, a bit.
Then somebody told them that I had "no bone,"
And in went the ad, for sale to good home.
The next lot were dreadful. They wanted a guard,
But I didn't know that, although I tried hard.
One night they got burglarized and I didn't bark,
Tied up in that shed, alone in the dark.
For four months I lay in that cold dark shed
With only an old paper sack for a bed.
A small dish of water all slimy and green,
The state I was in, well, it had to be seen.
I longed for some help, for an end to the pain,
Then some new people came, and I went off again.
So now I'm with rescue, and this home is good!
There are walks in the country and lots of good food.
There are kisses and cuddles to greet me each day,
And I dread the time that they send me away.
But for now here I stand, skin and bone, on all fours.
PLEASE!!! Don't let this happen to any of yours.

Please remember, we are a 100% volunteer NON-Profit Public Charity 501(c)3, tax deductible organization.

I AM FAMOUS

I was born today One of 10. My daddy was very famous. I have lots of half brothers and sisters. My mother is very famous. Since she got famous, she has only had puppies. No more loving hands, no more fun trips just puppies. She is always sad when they leave her.

I left home today. I didn't want to go, so I hid behind my mama and my three littermates that were left. I didn't like you. But one day they said I would be famous. I wonder; is famous the same as fun and good times? So you picked me up and carried me away, even though you were concerned about me hiding from you. I don't think you liked me.

My new home is far away. I am scared and afraid. My heart says BE BRAVE. My ancestors were. Did they go to good homes like mine? I'm hungry because I can't eat too much because it will be bad for my bones. I can't bite or snap when the children are mean to me. I just run and play and pretend I am in a big green field with butterflies and robins and frogs.

I can't understand why they kick me. I am quiet, but the man hits and says loud things. The lady doesn't feed me good things like I had with my mother. She just throws dry food on the ground, then goes away before I can get too close for touching and petting. Sometimes my food smells Bad but I eat it anyway.

Today I had 10 puppies. They are so wonderful and warm. Am I famous now? I wish I could play with them, but they are so tiny. I am so young and playful that it is hard to lay here in this hole under the house nursing my puppies. They are crying now. I am so hungry. I scratch and worry my fur. I wish someone would throw me some food. I am also very thirsty. I now have eight. Two got cold during the night and I couldn't make them warm again. They are gone. We are all very weak. Maybe if I take them out on the porch, we can get some food.

Today they took us away. It was too much trouble to feed us and someone came to take us away. Someone grabbed my puppies, they were crying and whimpering. We were put in a truck with boxes in it. Are my babies famous now? I hope so, because I miss them. They are gone.

The place smelled of urine, fear and sickness. Why was I here? I was beautiful, like my ancestors. Now I am hungry, dirty, in pain and unwanted. Maybe the worst is unwanted. No one came though I tried to be good. Today someone came. They put a rope on my neck and led me to a room that was very clean and had a shiny table. They put me on the table. Someone held me and hugged me. It felt so good!!! Then I felt tired and laid over the last one who cared.

I AM FAMOUS NOW. Today someone cared.