And finally, if you need a reason to volunteer,
maybe this will persuade you…
I will never know the loneliness I hear in the barks of the other Goldens ‘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
Here in this house…
I can trust arms that hold, hands that touch
Knowing that, no matter what, 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 known 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 be as kind and as fair as dogs.
Here in this house…
I will belong I will be home!