The Breeder

Jay Campion, , Valiant Bouvier , © 2011

I love my little puppy; she makes my house a home.
She is my sweetest little friend; I never feel alone.
She makes me smile; She makes me laugh;
She fills my heart with love.
...Did some person breed her, or did she just fall from above?

I've never been a breeder, never seen life through their eyes;
I hold my little puppy and just sit and criticize.
I've never known their anguish; I've never felt their pain,
The caring of their charges, through the snow or wind or rain.
I've never waited the whole night through for babies to be born,
The stress and trepidation when they're still not there by morn.
The weight of responsibility for this body in my hands,
This darling little baby, who weighs but 60 grams.

Should you do that instead of this . . .
Or maybe that was wrong?
Alone you fight and hope and pray,
He'll grow up proud and strong.
You pray he'll live to bring great joy to someone else's home
You know it's all just up to you; you'll fight this fight alone.
Formula, bottles, heating pads, you've got to get this right,
Two-hour feedings for this tiny guy, throughout the day and night.
Within your heart you dread that you will surely lose this fight,
To save this little baby, but God willing . . . You just MIGHT.

Day one; he's in there fighting; you say a silent prayer.
Day two & three, he's doing well, with lots of love and care.
Day four & five . . . he's still alive; your hopes soar to the heavens.
Day six he slips away again, dies in your hands on day seven.

You take this little angel, and you bury him alone.
With aching heart and burning tears, and an exhausted groan,
You ask yourself, "Why do this? . . . Why suffer through this pain?"
Yet watch the joy your puppies bring, and everything's explained.

So, when you think of breeders and you label them with "Greed",
Think of all the things that they endure to fill another's need.
For when you buy your puppy, with your precious dollars part,
You only pay with money. . .while they pay with all their heart.