In This House

I do not know the author of this piece, as I found it on the Internet, but the sentiment is too lovely not to share.

Here in this house...  I will never know the loneliness that I hear in the cries of the other animals '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 will eat. I will not shiver in the cold, or grow weary from the heat, But rather, I will nap in the sun's warmth, and play in 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 spoken to me in kindness. I will be given a name so that I may know who I am among many. My name will be used in love and joy, and I will relish 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' image 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. I will be praised for my successes, instead of punished too harshly for my mistakes. If I do not learn my lessons well, they will look to my teacher for blame.

Here in this house... I can trust arms that hold, hands that touch... Knowing that, no matter what they do, they do it for the good of me. If I am injured or ill, I will be doctored. If I am scared, I will be calmed. If I am sad, I will be cheered.

Here in this house ... 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. I will not be left behind because my humans moved - I will move with them. If a new human baby joins my family, it will not 'replace' me, but instead will be one more human for me to love, and to love me. I will not be treated as disposable. My life is a responsibility, and not an afterthought. I will learn that humans can almost, sometimes, be as kind and as fair asother animals.

Here in this house...  I was brought because I was wanted! I will belong! I will be home- forever!  I will be loved!