The Yuletide joy, when first to see,

A puppy lying on my knee,

The bite, the scratch, the naughty chew,

The sort of thing that puppies do.

The wondrous look when first they see,

A butterfly or bumble bee.

To chase a bird and try to fly,

The gazing up into the sky.

The roly poly in the grass,

The itchy back soon to pass.

The endless walks through the wood,

Until without, the lead you could.

The blob of snow upon your nose,

The winter fun, the frozen toes.

The rabbit chase, but never caught,

Was it just for fun or sport.

The long days apart, the two of us,

The coming home, oh what a fuss.

But now dear friend you are no more,

The pain, the grief, my heart is sore.

No more fear of thunder crash,

Gone is the startling, lightning flash.

So rest my friend, and wait for me,

Until once more, thy face I see.

Michael McNicholas - July 2009

The poem explained - here.

Don't lead, I may not follow.
Don't follow, I may not lead.
Just walk beside me and be my friend forever.
Author Unknown

Some very apt quotes:

"Animals have a life of their own that is of importance to them apart from their utility to us.  They are not only in the world, they are aware of it.  What happens to them matters to them.  Each has a life that fares better or worse for the one whose life it is" ~Dr. Tom Regan, Animal Rights Philosopher

"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." ~Will Rogers

"We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." ~Immanuel Kant

"Animals cannot speak, but can you and I not speak for them and represent them? Let us all feel their silent cry of agony and let us all help that cry to be heard in the world." ~Rukmini Devi Arundale

"Cruelty has cursed the human family for countless ages. It is almost impossible for one to be cruel to animals and kind to humans. If children are permitted to be cruel to their pets and other animals, they easily learn to get the same pleasure from the misery of fellow humans. Such tendencies can easily lead to crime." ~Fred A. Mc Gran, 1895

"Kindness to animals and respect for all life are the only meaningful foundation for a civilized world." ~ Michael Mountain

The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated" ~Gandhi (1869-1948)

"I hold that the more helpless a creature, the more entitled it is to protection by man from the cruelty of man" ~M. Gandhi (1869-1948)