PAYING WITH A PIECE OF OUR HEART

I love my little puppy; she makes my house a home. She is my very best friend; I never feel alone.
 She makes me smile; she makes me laugh;
 She fills my heart with love. Did some breeder
 breed her or did she fall down 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 snow or wind or rain.

I've never sat the whole night through waiting for babies to be
 born.  The stress and trepidation when they're still not there by dawn.

 I've never felt the heartache of a little life in my hands; this
 darling little baby, who weighs but 60 grams.
 
Should you do that instead of this . . . or this instead of that?
 Alone you fight and hope one day he'll grow to be a dog.
 
You pray he'll live to bring joy to another family and make a house a 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.

 In your heart you know you're almost sure to lose this epic 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 day seven.
 
You take this little angel and bury him alone. With aching heart
 and burning tears and an exhausted groan, you ask yourself, 
"Why do this? . . . Why suffer all this pain?"
 But see the joy your puppies bring; it really self-explains.
 
So, when you think of breeders and label them with "Greed,"
 think about what they endure to fill another's need.
 When you buy a puppy and with your precious dollars part,
 You only pay with money . . . we pay with a piece of our heart.

 .... Author Unknown