Do you have a favorite saying or poem that's related to the world of Rescue or Animals? Has a piece of literature inspired you? Have you heard something that you'd like to share? If you send them to us we will publish them to inspire all of us. All submissions should be sent to mailto:RescueRegistry@Live.com.

And, please, if you are not the author, include the authors name and the source of your submission. As authors ourselves we know how frustrating it can be to see your work credited to another individual.

One last thing. Occasionally a piece is copyrighted, which means permission must be obtained before it can be reprinted. We ask that you make sure any submissions are in the public domain, or have the proper releases if they are privately held. We're not very rich and can't afford to lose a lawsuit for more than, oh, $2.76, over a copyright infringement dispute. Thanks.

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Four Feet in Heaven

Your favorite chair is vacant now...
No eager purrs to greet me.
No softly padded paws to run
Ecstatically to meet me.

No coaxing rubs, no plaintive cry
Will say it's time for feeding.
I've put away your bowl, and all
The things you won't be needing;

But I will miss you little friend,
For I could never measure
The happiness you brought me,
The comfort and the pleasure.

And since God put you here to share
In earthly joy and sorrow;
I'm sure there'll be a place for you
In Heaven's bright tomorrow...

- Alice E. Chase

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Your Friend

He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog.
You are his life, his love, his leader.
He will be yours, faithful, and true until the last beat of his heart.
You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.

— Author Unknown

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A Pet's Loss

In your heart, you probably realize that in time the sadness you are feeling will fade.
For now, just know that it's all right to hurt...
I hurt with you.
It's all right to cry...
I share your tears.
It is only through crying that you learn what it's really like to laugh...
only after feeling sadness can you really experience joy.
So allow yourself to feel what comes natural...
but know that someday life will be better...
it will be easier to smile.

- Renee Duvall

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I Only Wanted You

They say memories are golden
well maybe that is true.
I never wanted memories,
I only wanted you.

A million times I needed you,
a million times I cried.
If love alone could have saved you
you never would have died.

In life I loved you dearly,
In death I love you still.
In my heart you hold a place
no one could ever fill.

If tears could build a stairway
and heartache make a lane,
I'd walk the path to heaven
and bring you back again.

Our family chain is broken,
and nothing seems the same.
But as God calls us one by one,
the chain will link again.

 – Author unknown

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A Prayer For Animals

Hear our humble prayer, O God, for our friends the animals,
especially for animals who are suffering;
for animals that are overworked, underfed and cruelly treated;
for all wistful creatures in captivity that beat their wings against bars;
for any that are hunted or lost or deserted or frightened or hungry;
for all that must be put death.

We entreat for them all Thy mercy and pity,
and for those who deal with them we ask a heart of compassion
and gentle hands and kindly words.
Make us, ourselves, to be true friends to animals,
and so to share the blessings of the merciful.

- Albert Schweitzer

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Cat's Eulogy (With Love)

To My Mom & Dad With Love

Don’t be sad you had to end my pain
And know that you will see me once again
God’s given me a place to wait for you
And you know what? He says He loves me too!!!

There’s lots of different critters all around
In Heaven there’s no evil to be found
So all of us just seem to get along
And Angels serenade us with their songs

People here are kind and stroke my fur
And they all seem to love it when I purr
I’m no longer sick so I am glad
Please don’t fill your days by being sad

I haven’t really gone that far away
And I’m really looking forward to the day
That we can be together up above
In this land of peace and happiness and love

 - Karen Post

Written December 15, 2007

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 Tribute To A Best Friend

Sunlight streams through window pane
unto a spot on the floor....
then I remember,
it's where you used to lie,
but now you are no more.

Our feet walk down a hall of carpet,
and muted echoes sound....
then I remember,
It's where your paws would joyously abound.

A voice is heard along the road,
and up beyond the hill,
then I remember it can't be yours....
your golden voice is still.

But I'll take that vacant spot of floor
and empty muted hall
and lay them with the absent voice
and unused dish along the wall.

I'll wrap these treasured memorials
in a blanket of my love
and keep them for my best friend
until we meet above.

- Author Unknown

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I Am An Animal Rescuer

I am an Animal Rescuer
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 masters 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 every 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.

-A poem by Annette King Tucker (with thanks to our friend Jeanie for sharing this with us)

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This is a prayer for little paws
All up and down the land,
Driven away, no friendly voice
Never an outstretched hand.
For weary paws of little beasts
Torn and stained with red,
And never a home and never a rest,
Till all little beasts are dead.
Oh God of homeless things look down
And try to ease the way
Of all the little weary paws
That walk the world today.

Anonymous

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"Rescued Hearts" 
 
Taking care of rescue dogs 
Is something I do best. 
I know because I've done it, 
And I've surely passed the test. 
The dogs I've bathed, the food I've fed, 
The vacuuming I've done, 
And all to watch a frightened soul 
Sit dreaming in the sun. 
My own dogs I've neglected, 
But I tell them everyday 
That I love and cherish each of them 
Though a new dog's come to stay. 
I know they understand this, 
For in their eyes I see 
The love that I have given them 
Come shining back at me. 
Some people think I'm crazy, 
Some others think I'm great. 
But very few can understand 
What really is at stake. 
If I can love and help a dog 
To find a better way, 
My own life is much richer, 
I look forward to each day. 
So now you know my secret, 
It's there for all to see, 
The love I give, the life I save, 
I do it all for me. 
 
by Kathleen Parsons 

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   The Reason (to you from all your rescue dogs) 
 
I would've died that day if not for you. 
I would've given up on life if not for your kind eyes. 
I would've used my teeth in fear if not for your gentle hands. 
I would have left this life believing that all humans don't care 
Believing there is no such thing as fur that isn't matted 
Skin that isn't flea bitten 
Good food and enough of it 
Beds to sleep on 
Someone to love me 
To show me I deserve love just because I exist. 
Your kind eyes, your loving smile, your gentle hands 
Your big heart saved me... 
You saved me from the terror of the pound, 
Soothing away the memories of my old life. 
You have taught me what it means to be loved. 
I have seen you do the same for other dogs like me. 
I have heard you ask yourself in times of despair 
Why you do it 
When there is no more money, no more room, no more homes 
You open your heart a little bigger, stretch the money a little tighter 
Make just a little more room...to save one more like me. 
I tell you with the gratitude and love that shines in my eyes 
In the best way I know how 
Reminding you why you go on trying. 

I am the reason 
The dogs before me are the reason 
As are the ones who come after. 
Our lives would've been wasted, our love never given 
We would die if not for you.

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