~ The Whelping Party ~

The coffee is brewing, TV is still on,
We’re all prepared for this night will be long.
Whelping bag open, everything is ready,
Eyes glued to the bitch, “is she now pushing steady?”
Her bed is in shreds, she begs pitifully….
“Whoops!  Here comes a pup, we all shout with glee!”
Squealing and kicking, what sex, can you see?
Mom’s in the way trying to tend her new pup
Between human hands trying to see just what’s up!
Crisis over, we grab coffee and cookies,
Mom eye’s us all…she thinks we’re quite kooky!
The 3 A.M. silly’s is what’s wrong with us….
Uh Oh!!  There she goes, she’s starting to fuss!
Pushing hard now, we spring into action
And work as a team in veterinary fashion!
One grabs the pup trying not to get bit,
One grabs the bag, Mom’s having a fit!
We now have pup number two and is she a beauty!!
Give back the first pup and let Mom do her duty.
Second pot of coffee is in the making, TV still going
What program is on, no one’s in the knowing.
Chattering so much we sound like old hens,
Keep an eye on her now…is she pushing again??
Oh yes, a third pup is well on its way
So one more time we jump into play!
Ouch!! This time she got me as I reached for the pups!
Don’t you take my babies, you old such and such!!
This one’s a big one and its feet that we see,
Now we must move fast if this pup is to be.
Once more we made it, now Mom’s all settled down
Bathing each pup as they crawl around.
Was that the alarm?  You mean its time to get up?
But I guess it was worth it, just look at those pups.
Thank goodness this bitch is of a toy breed,
Many more pups and a Dr. “I’ll” need!
A whelping party is always such fun,
But boy are we pooped when her work is done!!
Kathy Henderson

 

Thrown-away Heart

There was a car that came down our road
And stopped long enough for a pup to unload.
As they drove off the pup tried to follow them
They stopped for their “child” to kick the pup in the chin!
My daughter a witness to this awful deed,
She ran for the pup as the car picked up speed.
Secure in her arms she brought her to me,
“I can’t keep this pup, can you help Moma, please?”
I already have so many dogs of my own
But I’ll do my best to find this pup a home.
A mixed breed she was, such a pretty little girl
With the most beautiful blue eyes like ice blue pearls.
My guess to her age, about 4 months old,
How could they treat this sweet baby so cold?
My husband said, “no, you can’t keep this pup,
If no home can be found then you give her up.”
For days I searched with no luck to be found,
My only recourse was the local dog pound.
I cried all the way there with the pup beside me
And all the way home for the whole world to see.
She’ll always haunt me, her eyes I still see
This little thrown-away heart that bonded to me.
My heart is torn but not just for the pup
But for the child that’s taught cruelty as he grows up.
A prayers said in silence for the pup and the child,
How can parents teach children something so vile?
The pup I’ll never forget for she’s etched in my soul
For I know before long she’ll be in God’s hold.
Safe from man and the cruelty he brings,
Happy she’ll be trying out her new wings.
Those who’ve been through this can sympathize
With one who is haunted by a little lost pups eyes.
A thrown-away heart is a great sin to me,
Be it canine or human, its God’s gift you see.
To abandon His creatures be it a dog or a child
Is one of man’s sins He considers most vile!
Kathy Henderson
2-1999

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