For the first year, American Pet Products Association will accept poems from students in 3^rd-8^th grades;

kids can win scholarship dollars and other pet prizes!

Calling all creative kids!

The American Pet Products Association (APPA) President, Bob Vetere, announced recently that the organization will be accepting poems for its 4^th Annual Pets Add Life Children’s Poetry Contest.

“The last three years have not only been successful, but fun,” Vetere said. “We are overwhelmed, year after year, by the number and creativity of poems we receive from kids across the country. This is a great opportunity to get and keep kids excited about pets in a fun and educational way. It was only natural for us to expand the contest in its fourth year to allow for more students to have the opportunity to participate.”

For the first year ever, students in grades 3^rd-8^th are invited to write a unique poem about their pets, what they love about them, the joys they bring, and then post it online at www.PetsAddLife.org or mail their final poem and submission form to:

Pets Add Life

661 Sierra Rose Dr.

Reno, NV 89511

Deadline for submissions is January 31, 2012 at 5:00pm EST.

In addition, teachers within our contest grade levels are welcome to incorporate this national contest into their lesson plans, and submit poems in one entry, on behalf of his/her classroom.

One student from each grade level (6 total) nationwide will win a $250 gift certificate for pet products, and a “by-line” in a nationally circulated publication! (As a published poet myself, I can tell you that this is a big deal!)

*** In addition, the six winning students’ classrooms will each win a $1,000 scholarship to spend on pet related education.***

“In past years, winning poems have featured pets from hamsters and birds to dogs that are best friends, kittens and fish,” Vetere said. “And, it has been wonderful to receive updates from our winning teachers who have spent the scholarship dollars on classroom fieldtrips to the zoo, a classroom pet and supplies, and educational materials regarding pet and animal wellness.”

To learn more about the Pets Add Life Children’s Poetry Contest, read previous winning poems, upload your submission, or download a printed submission form, please visit www.petsaddlife.org or contact Kerry Sutherland at The Impetus Agency, 775.322.4022 or Kerry@theimpetusagency.com.

More info on PAL: Pets Add Life website, or PAL on Facebook

** See my other Pets Add Life posts here and here!

Renowned Animal Communicator & Energy Therapist at The Healing Journey, Barb Borkowski wrote the following post. We met through Linked In and I was so excited to feature a guest post from her; I’ve never met an animal communicator before.

Barb Borkowski

Barb has a gift that allows her to speak for animals. Working with animals has been very beneficial. Barb has assisted with behavioral problems caused by anxiety, fear, grief, loneliness, separation anxiety and stress. Sessions include communicated information and energy balancing. Energy therapy helps to decrease stress & promote relaxation. Barb assists owners of horses and dogs to have a better understanding of their pets.

One of the first questions I asked Barb was, “how ever did you become an animal communicator?” And lucky for me, she has a post on that very subject. It’s contents are posted here below:

Many of my clients have asked me how I became an animal communicator. Did I take classes? How am I able to do it? The answer to that is simple. I was born with the ability to know what animals need and what they would like people to know.

As a toddler  my best friend was my great-grandfather’s Collie, Long John. There are pictures of me standing beside him, my hand touching the top of his head. As I got older, I spent a majority of my time outdoors with my dad’s Beagles. I felt such a connection to those dogs. They knew my thoughts and feelings and I knew theirs. Animals are so in tune with human emotions.

Growing up, my intuition was very keen. I did not like knowing things about people, animals or future events. That frightened me and I did not want to be considered strange. I decided to tune out all intuitive thoughts.

Years passed and my journey brought me back to my roots. After establishing my massage therapy business, The Healing Journey, I started to receive requests from clients to help their pets. Reluctant at first, I accepted. Word spread of how I was able to help animals who had behavioral problems. After several years of giving free advice, I included animal communication as a part of my business.

What once was considered a curse by me is now the greatest blessing. Relaying to pet owners what their 4 legged friends need and would like them to know is such an honor. Through my work, people have a better understanding of their pet. That leads to a closer relationship. You see – I was born to be an animal communicator.

And a final post that I will share with you is an excellent poem — I happen to love animal poetry; many of you know I often post dog poems and cat poems or pet loss poems. They help heal and comfort. Here is Barb’s poem, entitled “4-Legged Friend.” (You might need a Kleenex, FYI…)

The love held in your heart
Captivates me from the start

Barb's Dog

Holding you in my arms

You lick my face with all your charm

Watching you as days go by
You quickly grow, I wonder why
That you are given so little time
To live on earth and be all mine

Years pass by, you run and play
I know one day you cannot stay
For time takes a lasting toll
One day you’ll have a new role

To leave the world and be set free
I know you will be watching me
With a saddened heart I will go on
Because of you I can sing a song

The day has come to say goodbye
Holding you, I start to cry
Memories come rushing in
Of  how you’ve been my best friend

Losing you, I will go on
You worry that I’m not that strong
Because of you my life was blessed
And filled with so much happiness

Thank you, my 4 legged friend
In due time my heart will mend
A part of me, you’ll always be
My friend for all eternity

You can follow Barb’s daily journeys at her blog, The Healing Journey.

My family brought me home, cradled in their arms,

They cuddled me and smiled at me and said I was full of charm.

They played with me and laughed with me,

They showered me with toys,

I sure do love my family,

Especially the girls and boys,

The children loved to feed me,

They gave me special treats.

They even let me sleep with them, all snuggled in the sheets.

I used to go for walks, often several times a day,

They even fought to hold the leash, I’m

very proud to say.

They used to laugh and praise me when

I played with that old shoe,

But I didn’t know the difference between

the old ones and the new.

The kids and I would grab a rag,

For hours we would tug,

So I thought I did the right thing when I chewed the bathroom rug.

They said that I was out of control and

would have to live outside,

This I didn’t understand although I’ve

tried and tried.

The walks stopped one by one, they said

they hadn’t time.

I wish that I could change things.

I wish I knew my crime.

My life became so lonely in the backyard

on a chain,

I barked and barked all day long to keep

from going insane.

So they brought me to the shelter  but

were embarrassed to say wny,

They said I caused an allergy and then

kissed me goodbye.

If I’d only had some classes as a little pup,

I wouldn’t have been so hard to handle

when I was all grown up.

“You only have one day left,” I heard the

worker say,

Does this mean a second chance for me,

Do I go home today?

Some of you may have heard these famous, funny or serious pet dog and cat quotes before – at least one or two of them - but a good friend of mine sent them to me as a “cheer-up-Charlie” note on Facebook last week.

So here they are: the most popular of ALL the funny cat quotes, dog quotes, pet loss quotes, and all animal quotes throughout history. Some famous animal quotes, mostly dog quotes and cat quotes, were not sent to me but taken from the ten million books I own on pets, cats, dogs, pet care, funny pets and animals, etc (and some that I know by heart as a rescue volunteer):

“Animals are such agreeable friends – they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms.” – George Elliot

“Dogs come when they’re called. Cats take a message and get back to you later!” – Mary Bly

“The average dog is a nicer person than the average person.” – Andrew A. Rooney

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” — Gandhi

“All of the animals except for man know that the principle business of life is to enjoy it.” — Samuel Butler

“To err is human. To forgive, canine.” – Unknown

“Did you ever walk into a room and forget why you walked in? I think that is how dogs spend their lives!” – Sue Murphy

“No heaven will not ever Heaven be, unless my pets are there to welcome me.” – Unknown

“The trouble with a kitten is that eventually it becomes a cat!” – Ogden Nash

“If I have any beliefs about immortality it is that certain dogs I know will go to Heaven, and very very few people.” – James Thurber

“I’ve met many thinkers and many cats, but the wisdom of cats is infinitely superior.” – Hippolyte Taine

“A dog has lots of friends because he wags his tail and not his tongue.” – Author Unknown

“The dog represents all that is best in man.” – Etienne Charlet

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I think this should be posted in every shelter, pound, city council building, police station, dog park, pet store, pet rescue, library, and utility pole across the country.

This for sure puts BSL in its place…

A Pit Bull’s Prayer

Spirit in the sky, who watches over all animals: it is my prayer and my request that you grant greater understanding, and acceptance to humans; those who love us, and those who hate us.

That they will know how loyal we are, how brave we are, and how loving we are.  Help them to accept us as a breed in whole and not let the few tragedies shine brighter then the many great traits that we have.

And those who would kill me, let them know, I forgive them even though I don’t understand their hatred.  And those who would beat me, let them know I still love them, even though it is not the honorable way (to treat me).

Thank you for all the strong traits that you have given to me and my breed.  Help those to know that I stand for courage, strength, loyalty, and bravery, and as my master already knows, let those who would come against my family know that I would surely die defending them.

And just one thing that I would ask: let my master know, that if you should call me away, that I will wait patiently at those pearly gates until the one who chose me comes home.

Amen.

This is borrowed from my favorite dog rescuer’s blog: A Dog Rescuer’s Life. It talks about how vital animal rescuers are in our pets’ lives. Prepare to need Kleenex…

———————————————————————————

It is said that when animals die they don’t go to heaven, they go to the Rainbow Bridge where they wait for their owners. The area around the Rainbow Bridge is sunny, warm but not too warm, flowers, grass and all the animals have been restored to a youthful healthy state.

On one particular day it was unlike most days at Rainbow Bridge, this day dawned cold and gray, damp as a swamp and as dismal as could be imagined. All of the recent arrivals had no idea what to think, as they had never experienced a day like this before.

But the animals who had been waiting for their beloved people knew exactly what was going on and started to gather at the pathway leading to The Bridge to watch.

It wasn’t long before an elderly dog came into view, head hung low and tail dragging. The other animals, the ones who had been there for a while, knew what his story was right away, for they had seen this happen far too often.

He approached slowly, obviously in great emotional pain, but with no sign of injury or illness. Unlike all of the other animals waiting at The Bridge, this animal had not been restored to youth and made healthy and vigorous again! As he walked toward The Bridge, he watched all of the other animals watching him. He knew he was out of place here and the sooner he could cross over, the happier he would be.

But, alas, as he approached The Bridge, his way was barred by the appearance of an Angel who apologized, but told him that he would not be able to pass. Only those animals who were with their people could pass over Rainbow Bridge.

With no place else to turn to, the elderly animal turned towards the fields before The Bridge and saw a group of other animals like himself, also elderly. They weren’t playing, but rather simply lying on the green grass, forlornly staring out at the pathway leading to The Bridge. And so, he took his place among them, watching the pathway and waiting.

One of the newest arrivals at The Bridge didn’t understand what he had just witnessed and asked one of the animals that had been there for a while to explain it to him.

“You see, that poor animal was abanonded by his owners. He was turned into a shelter just as you see him now, an older animal with his fur graying and his eyes clouding. He never made it out of the shelter and passed on. Because he had no family to give his love to, he has no one to escort him across The Bridge. ”

The first animal thought about this for a minute and then asked, “So what will happen now?”

As he was about to receive his answer, the clouds suddenly parted and the gloom lifted.

Approaching The Bridge could be seen a single person and among the older animals, a whole group was suddenly bathed in a golden light and they were all young and healthy again, just as they were in the prime of life.

“Watch, and see” said the second animal.

A second group of animals from those waiting came to the pathway and bowed low as the person neared. At each bowed head, the person offered a pat on the head or a scratch behind the ears. The newly restored animals fell into line and followed him towards The Bridge.

They all crossed The Bridge together.

“What happened?”

“That was a rescuer. The animals you saw bowing in respect were those who found new homes because of his work. They will cross when their new families arrive. Those you saw restored were those who never found homes. When a rescuer arrives, they are allowed to perform one, final act of rescue. They are allowed to escort those poor animals that they couldn’t place on earth, across The Rainbow Bridge. ”

“I think I like rescuers,” said the first animal.

“So does GOD,” was the reply.

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I got this in one of those adorable email forwards but it was so cute I had to share it with everyone here…

DOG LOGIC

-The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue. -Anonymous

-There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face. -Ben Williams

- A dog is the only thing on Earth that loves you more than he loves himself. -Josh Billings

-The average dog is nicer than the average person. -Andy Rooney

-Anybody who doesn’t know what soap tastes like never washed a dog. -Franklin P. Jones

-My dog is worried about the economy because Alpo is up to $3.00 a can. That’s almost $21.00 in dog money. -Joe Weinstein

-If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the principal difference between a dog and a man. – Mark Twain

-Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole. -Roger Caras

-If you think dogs can’t count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then give him only two of them. -Phil Pastoret

I got this from Braodview Kennels yesterday when I went to pick up a new foster dog with my sister (that story coming later this week so stay tuned, it’s exciting!)…

1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you is likely to be painful.

2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.

3. Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being.

4. Don’t be angry with me for long and don’t lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainments, but I have only you.

5. Talk to me. Even if I don’t understand your words, I do understand your voice when speaking to me.

6. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it.

7. Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I could hurt you, and yet, I choose not to bite you.

8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I’m not getting the right food, I have been in the sun too long, or my heart might be getting old or weak.

9. Please take care of me when I grow old. You too, will grow old.

10. On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please. Never say you can’t bear to watch. Don’t make me face this alone. Everything is easier for me if you are there, because I love you so.

UPDATE: 1/29/10: I have just found the original author of this work. His name is Stan Rawlinson, and you can see his original version and other brilliant works at his website: http://www.doglistener.co.uk/

Please everyone send your purr-rayers and good thoughts our way. My family (my sister) has lost their 10-year-old beloved Pit Bull mix, Tux. “Tucky” was a sweet, sweet dog who loved to play with sticks bigger than he was, go for fast walks and sit right on your lap. He had to be laid to rest yesterday. It’s been a very rough 24 hours around here.

To Ashly:
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; 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 to them, who had to be 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 quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him 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 the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together….

Author unknown

**We love you Tucky and we will miss you dearly. We can’t wait to see you again one day and we know that last night there was one star up in heaven shining a little bit brighter.**
Love,
Jaime

Author Unknown

Everyone take heed…and please pass this around to everyone thinking of getting a puppy or dog this holiday season…
——————————————————————————————-

Twas the night before Christmas
when all thru the house

Not a creature was stirring
not even a mouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care
In hopes that St. Nick soon would be there.

The children all nestled snug in their beds
With no thought of the dog filling their head.

And mom in her kerchief and I in my cap
Knew the dog was cold, but didn’t care about that.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash
Figuring the dog was free of his chain and into the trash.

The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow
gave the luster of mid-day to objects below.

When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But Santa Clause with his eyes full of tears.

He unchained the dog once so lively and quick
Last year’s Christmas present now painfully sick.

More rapid than eagles he called the dog’s name
and the dog ran to him despite all his pain.

Now Dasher, now Dancer, now Prancer and Vixen
On Comet on Cupid on Donner and Blitzen.

To the top of the porch to the top of the wall
Let’s find this dog a home where he will be loved by all.

I knew in an instant there would be no gifts this year
For Santa had made one thing quite clear.

The gift of a dog is not just for the season
We had gotten the dog for all the wrong reasons.

In our haste to think of the kids a gift
There was one important thing we missed

A dog should be family, and cared for the same
You don’t give a gift, then put it on a chain.

And I heard him explain as he rode out of site,
“You weren’t given a gift, you were given a life.”