There was a large brown dog and a large black cat,

They had fallen from favour and now old hat.

Both had grey whiskers and eyes that were warm,

Now out on their own, to weather the storm.

They had been thrown out by a human's whim,

The prospects for the future looked more than slim.

They know that the young have to be given a start,

But for all the love they have given, it is no way to part.

They would scavenge and starve, be unwanted and ill,

Never again see their families whose love was now nil.

If they are lucky live in an iron cage,

The human's that look in their eyes, see the sadness and rage.

We need commitment for better or worse,

Not to be discarded like a well worn purse.

To every little girl and boy,

We are flesh and blood not just a Christmas toy.

Arnold Harrison

Manchester Road West

Little Hulton

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.