Passports for Pets' Members Reflections
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If you have recently lost an animal friend this is for you. (It is okay to cry)
RAINBOW BRIDGE
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigour; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special, someone who was left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; his eager body begins to quiver. Suddenly he breaks from the group; flying over the green grass, faster and faster. You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face, your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into those trusting eyes so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart: THEN YOU CROSS THE RAINBOW BRIDGE TOGETHER........................
Pamela Steele's poem 'No wonder he wags his tail'
When God had made the earth and sky
The flowers and trees
He then made all the animals
And all the birds and bees
And when his work was finished
Not one was quite the same
He said "I'll walk this earth of mine
And give each one a name."
And so he traveled the land and sea
And everywhere he went
A little creature followed him
Until its strength was spent.
When all were named upon the earth
And in the sky and sea
The little creature said "dear Lord,
There's not one left for me?"
The Father smiled and softly said
"I've left you to the end.
I've turned my own name back to front
And called you Dog, my friend."
PAMELA STEELE 1999
Anne Aubrey's poem is a strong condemnation against Quarantine.
A dog is dead
chop off it's head
you've done it before
it's the British law
if it dies in a quarantine kennel
The veterinary experts check out the brain cell
did they find signs of rabies? - did they hell
for this is a British quarantine kennel.
Lt. Colonel, corporal, diplomat or ex-pat
it makes no difference, there's no eye contact
on visits. You can't show emotion, your feelings are raw
from the row upon row of desperate faces you saw
that you're helpless to rescue.
The proprietor sits in her office before her software
taking kennel bookings from around the world everywhere,
warming her toes in a big armchair
Outside a hundred dogs shiver and shake
in sodden beds, wind howling at them through the locked gates
of their prison cells.
Immune to their cries and howls of misery
she glances through the window to check out her armoury
of four wheel drive cars. And in the distance
a splendid new house with a lovely vista.
Your heart screams out, spend some money do
on keeping the dogs dry - on wind shields - good food.
There's no one to check the dog's welfare
even the vet needs permission to enter in there
In your nightmares you think she's the Fuhrer from hell
as you drive to her kingdom and ring the bell.
The all powerful one that you come to hate
and she always makes you wait at the gate.
When you get through the locked gates - clunk click - clunk click
your handbag is confiscated, it makes you feel sick.
No cameras, keep to the footpaths do,
no loitering, no talking to animals, no going to the loo,
anyway there isn't one. Visitors aren't encouraged to stay
you're locked in with your dog so you won't be in the way.
You hug your dog very close to you
She vomits, and shivers, doesn't recognise who
has come to visit her in that miserable square cell.
Her haunted eyes tell you she's in hell
and you are destroyed because you know dammed well
there's nothing you can do, except pray she survives.
A shriek of delight comes from the management
quarantine won't be reformed for this parliament
Michael Howard has got this way
over his dead body he insists it will stay.
I wish.
A change of government brings new promises.
One year on and it's still on the pending desk
Vested interests are still ahead in the queue.
Why am I surprised, so what else is new?
A dog is dead
chop off it's head
you've done it before
it's the British law
if it dies in the quarantine kennel.
ANNE AUBREY May 1998
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PASSPORTS FOR PETS
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