The heart of one who loves …

Once you have loved an animal truly with all your heart

it's hard to see another suffer in any part.

 

The love you have for yours is transferred to all others,

and to see one hurt in any way makes you hug your own much tighter.

 

In their sad eyes, you see instead a face you know and love,

imagining what ifs and could have beens you never want to dream of.

 

Except for fate and chance this could have been your own.

And THAT is what will break you, the love this one SHOULD have known.

 

Because I've given MY heart to a pet, it will never again belong to me,

a little piece breaks off to travel with every homeless pet I see.

 

(© Cyndi Lott for mcaspets.org;

Permission to use granted provided author & website remain intact)