An awesome animal poem:

[tatertop]

Here in this house.........................


>
I will never know the loneliness I hear in the barks of the other dogs 'out
> there'.
> I can sleep soundly, assured that when I wake my world will not have
> changed.
> I will never know hunger, or the fear of not knowing if I'll eat.
> I will not shiver in the cold, or grow weary from the heat.
> I will feel the sun's heat, and the rain's coolness, and be allowed to
> smell
> all that can reach my nose.
> My fur will shine, and never be dirty or matted.
>
> Here in this house...
>
> There will be an effort to communicate with me on my level.
> I will be talked to and, even if I don't understand, I can enjoy the
> warmth
> of the words.
> I will be given a name so that I may know who I am among many.
> My name will be used in joy, and I will love the sound of it!
>
> Here in this house...
>
> I will never be a substitute for anything I am not.
> I will never be used to improve peoples' images of themselves.
> I will be loved because I am who I am, not someone's idea of who I should
> be.
> I will never suffer for someone's anger, impatience, or stupidity.
> I will be taught all the things I need to know to be loved by all.
> If I do not learn my lessons well, they will look to my teacher for blame.
>
> Here in this house...
>
> I can trust arms that hold, hands that touch...knowing that, no matter
> what
> they do, they do it for the good of me.
> If I am ill, I will be doctored.
> If scared, I will be calmed.
> If sad, I will be cheered.
> No matter what I look like, I will be considered beautiful and thought to
> be
> of value.
> I will never be cast out because I am too old, too ill, too unruly, or not
> cute enough.
> My life is a responsibility, and not an afterthought.
> I will learn that humans can almost, sometimes, be as kind and as fair as
> dogs.
>
> Here in this house...
>
> I will belong.
> I will be home.
>
> ~Author Unknown
>

[xchrom]

1. here in this house...

''I will learn that humans can almost, sometimes, be as kind and as fair as
> dogs.''

great poem -- not in the classical sense or anything like that -- but in that way that i like to know that my dog knew he was loved as much as he loved me.

[RedCloud]

2. Kicked for the dog lovers among us!

Arf! arf!