KPA faculty member Carolyn Clark recently received the chain e-mail below, which you may have received yourself. The poem had been sent to Carolyn by several friends, with author unknown. Carolyn tracked down author Janine Allen, who works for Rescue Me Dog, an organization committed to promoting shelter adoption and providing education and training resources to adoptive pet owners. Carolyn and Janine discovered their mutual interests, including their shared appreciation for Karen Pryor's Don't Shoot the Dog. Many thanks to Janine for allowing us to reprint her poem here. Enjoy!
I RESCUED A HUMAN TODAY
I rescued a human today.
Her eyes met mine as she walked down the corridor peering apprehensively into the kennels. I felt her need instantly and knew I had to help her.
I wagged my tail, not too exuberantly, so she wouldn't be afraid. As she stopped at my kennel I blocked her view from a little accident I had in the back of my cage. I didn't want her to know that I hadn't been walked today. Sometimes the overworked shelter keepers get too busy and I didn't want her to think poorly of them.
As she read my kennel card I hoped that she wouldn't feel sad about my past. I only have the future to look forward to and want to make a difference in someone's life.
She got down on her knees and made little kissy sounds at me. I shoved my shoulder and side of my head up against the bars to comfort her. Gentle fingertips caressed my neck; she was desperate for companionship. A tear fell down her cheek and I raised my paw to assure her that all would be well.
Soon my kennel door opened and her smile was so bright that I instantly jumped into her arms. I would promise to keep her safe. I would promise to always be by her side. I would promise to do everything I could to see that radiant smile and sparkle in her eyes.
I was so fortunate that she came down my corridor. So many more are out there who haven't walked the corridors. So many more to be saved. At least I could save one.
I rescued a human today.
by Janine Allen, CPDT
Trainer, Rescue Me Dog
www.rescuemedog.org
toll-free 888-777-0071
I've never seen this before
...but what a lovely message and particularly touching for those of us who have been that human, rescued by a dog that we needed as much as the dog needed us.
Clicks for Janine and to Miranda for sharing, this made my day!
How sweet. I hadn't seen
How sweet. I hadn't seen that.