A 12-year-old named Mollie wrote this poem. She brought it to us at a recent Petland protest.

The Puppy's Plea

Here I lie, alone in my cage
The breed that I am is all the rage.
I came here from a puppy mill,
A place where dogs are bred until killed.
I remember my mother,
Her fur soft and sleek,
She, too, lived in a cage,
She was so small and weak.
I was only a baby,
Just 2 months old,
When I was taken from Mother,
I was hungry and cold.
I was shipped off in a crate,
All scared and alone,
I didn't know where I was,
But I knew I wasn't home.
There were other pups too,
Every one lost and confused.
I was starving and thirsty,
So were the rest.
I wanted my mother;
I know she's the best.
I arrived in the pet store,
Wishing for comfort,
But all that my heart felt
Was sorrow and hurt.
My paws ached from walking on grids,
When people came, I always hid.
Here I still lie, alone in the store,
You want to take me home,
And make me yours?
Please, oh, please,
Don't take me home,
For if you do another pup,
All cold and alone,
Will be sitting here,
Another dog in need of an owner,
Another puppy away from its mother,
I'll stay here, I can do it,
Just leave me here,
There's nothing to it,
If you walk out of the store,
Puppies will come here never more,
And no dog will have to live like this,
Cold and alone, without a home.
Nobody should have to live like this,
That's my one and only wish.

*******************************************************

Let Me Play Before I Die
by Jim Willis, 2002

'Tis lonely here in prison,
I dream of sun, of fields,
I saw them from a window once,
but I don't know how they feel.
I've never known a caress,
a friend, a bone, a toy,
I'd happily companion,
a human girl or boy.

But some men have decided,
with selfishness and greed,
that my fate shall be a cage,
and for my keep, I'll breed.

What should fuel this folly?
My kind may bark in vain.
We care not for your commerce,
and few know of our pain.
We're hidden well from justice,
for our freedom some may cry.
God grant me, please, just one request--
Let me play once before I die.

*********************************************

From www.puppymillrescue.com/poems.htm

Day after day...
each one the same,
another year older
a little more lame
left out in the weather
with little protection
my body is sore
and hot with infection
in the freezing cold
or the searing heat
with nothing but wire
beneath swollen feet
my food bowl is empty
my water dish dry
What did I do??
please tell me, why?
the litters come
and the litters go
where do they take them?
I don't know...
Is this a bad joke?
or a horrible game?
I have no home
not even a name
no one to love me
no one to care
no one to bathe me
and brush my hair
my teeth are rotting
my eyes are encrusted
where are the people
to whom I'm entrusted?
I cry every night...
so afraid, don't you see?
could this be the life
God intended for me?
someone, speak for me
I am losing my will
take me out of this hell
called a puppymill...

Author unknown.

***********************************************

My bones ache, my muscles sore, so tired I have grown,
I sit within the small confines
of this tiny cage I call home.

Many friends surround me, lots of different breeds,
They too share my aches and pains,
with no humans to tend our needs.

I am a bitch or so they call me,
I hear it's not a bad name.
Lots of puppies I have whelped,
to them it's just a game.

I sit and watch day after day,
so many puppies being born.
Where do they go, what happens to them,
when from their Moms they're torn?

I can see the grass growing tall and green,
I long to sniff and feel it.
I've never walked upon that field
nor have they let me near it.

Instead I walk upon this screen so hard,
so rough, so cold.
My feet ache, my toes are sore,
I'm exhausted and feel so old.

My friends have told they lived in places,
long before this one.
Where humans touched them every day
and with children they could run.

I long to have just one human
pet and kiss me,
and maybe play a game.
I know it will never happen,
but I wish it all the same.

Instead they bring another dog
and toss him in with me.
Another litter I must bear,
there's no end that I can see.

The little girl that sits beside me
cried out the other day.
She screamed out loud
then limp she went
and the pups were taken away.

She was gone but just a day, when her sister was beside me.
She too had some more puppies,
so small and weak and tiny.

The other day they came and checked me,
while my puppies were being born.
"This one's too big, there's no use now,
her insides are too torn."

They scooped me up, it hurt so bad,
the blood was everywhere.
They never tried to help me,
they didn't seem to care.

They took me to that big green field and laid me on the ground.
The smell was heaven
and the ground so soft,
I tried to look around.

They covered me with more soft soil, I had nothing to fear.
I closed my eyes and just relaxed,
I knew the end was near.

No longer do I imagine the feel of human touch,
or how it feels to run and play,
here I have so much.

There is a great big colored bridge, and fields that go forever,
I'm happy, I'm home, I'm someone's friend,
it couldn't get much better.

********************************************************
PET STORE PUPPY This story may be published or reprinted in the hopes
that it will stop unethical breeders and those who
breed only for money and not for the betterment of the
breed. Copyright 1999 J. Ellis

I don't remember much from the place I was born. It was cramped and dark, and we were never played with by
the humans. I remember Mom and her soft fur, but she
was often sick, and very thin. She had hardly any milk
for me and my brothers and sisters. I remember many of
them dying, and I missed them so.

I do remember the day I was taken from Mom. I was so
sad and scared, my milk teeth had only just come in,
and I really should have been with Mom still, but she
was so sick, and the humans kept saying that they
wanted money and were sick of the "mess" that me and
my sister made. So we were crated up and taken to a
strange place. Just the two of us. We huddled together
and were scared, still no human hands came to pet or
love us.

So many sights and sounds and smells! We are in a
store where there are many different animals! Some
that squawk! Some that meow! Some that peep! My sister
and I are jammed into a small cage. I hear other
puppies here. I see humans look at me. I like the
'little humans', the kids. They look so sweet, and
fun, like they would play with me!

All day we stay in the small cage. Sometimes mean
people will hit the glass and frighten us. Every once
in a while we are taken out to be held or shown to
humans. Some are gentle, some hurt us. We always hear,
"Aw, they are so cute! I want one!" but we never get
to go with any.

My sister died last night when the store was dark. I
lay my head on her soft fur and felt the life leave
her small, thin body. I had heard them say she was
sick, and that I should be sold at a "discount price"
so that I would quickly leave the store. I think my
soft whine was the only one that mourned for her as
her body was taken out of the cage in the morning and
dumped.

Today, a family came and bought me! Oh happy day! They
are a nice family, they really, really wanted me! They
had bought a dish and food, and the little girl held
me so tenderly in her arms. I love her so much! The
mom and dad say what a sweet and good puppy I am! I am
named Angel. I love to lick my new humans!

The family takes such good care of me. They are loving
and tender and sweet. They gently teach me right and
wrong, give me good food, and lots of love! I want
only to please these wonderful people! I love the
little girl and I enjoy running and playing with her.

Today I went to the veterinarian. It was a strange
place and I was frightened. I got some shots, but my
best friend, the little girl, held me softly and said
it would be okay. So I relaxed. The bet must have said
sad words to my beloved family because they looked
awfully sad. I heard "severe hip dysplasia," and
something about my heart. I heard the vet say
something about back yard breeders and my parents not
being tested.

I know not what any of that means, just that it hurts
me to see my family so sad. But they still love me,
and I still love them very much! I am 6 months old
now. Where most other puppies are robust and rowdy, it
hurts me terribly just to move. The pain never lets
up. It hurts to run and play with my beloved little
girl, and I find it hard to breath. I keep trying my
best to be the strong pup I know I am supposed to be,
but it is so hard. It breaks my heart to see the
little girl so sad, and to hear the Mom and Dad talk
about "it might now be the time."

Several times I have went to that veterinarian's
place, and the news is never good. Always talk about
congenital problems. I just want to feel the warm
sunshine and run, and play and nuzzle with my family.

Last night was the worst. Pain has been my constant
companion now. It hurts even to get up and get a
drink. I try to get up but can only whine in pain.

I am taken in the car one last time. Everyone is so
sad, and I don't know why. Have I been bad? I try to
be good and loving. What have I done wrong? Oh if only
this pain would be gone! If only I could soothe the
tears of the little girl. I reach out my muzzle to
lick her hand, but can only whine in pain.

The veterinarian's table is so cold. I am so
frightened. The humans all hug and love me, they cry
into my soft fur. I can feel their love and sadness. I
manage to lick softly their hands. Even the vet
doesn't seem so scary today. He is gentle and I sense
some kind of relief for my pain. The little girl holds
me softly and I thank her for giving me all her love.
I feel a soft pinch in my foreleg. The pain is
beginning to lift. I am beginning to feel a peace
descend upon me. I can now softly lick her hand.

My vision is becoming dreamlike now, and I see my
Mother and my brothers and sisters, in a far off green
place. They tell me there is no pain there, only peace
and happiness. I tell the family good-bye in the only
way I know how, a soft wag of my tail and a nuzzle of
my nose. I had hoped to spend many, many moons with
them, but it was not meant to be.

"You see," said the veterinarian, "Pet shop puppies do
not come from ethical breeders."

The pain ends now, and I know it will be many years
until I see my beloved family again. If only things
could have been different.

************************************************

Puppy Mill Dog

Hello my name is Stream.The name was given to me by my mother. I was born in a terrible place called a puppy mill. My mother,two other brothers,and me lived in a small room in the corner. I remember it always being cold and damp. My mother always tried to feed us three but it wasn't easy because she never got fed that much. She tried so hard but I always remember being hungry. One day the men that worked there came to our cramped cage and looked at my mother and said, "This ones too weak and can't make anymore good puppies. Take her out to the field and bury her. "So they opened up the door and grabbed my poor mothers weak and fragile body. She took a glance at me and my brothers looking all confused. They dug a hole and put my mother in and I remember her taking one last glance at me then they buried her ALIVE!!!! And that was it. My poor mother was gone. Just when I thought nothing could get any worse they started heading to our cage. "Well their mother is gone I guess we can ship them off to some puppy stores," said the tall thin man. As he went to grab me he stopped and said, "Why look at this one. This one is a keeper. Why with this one we can sell twice as many puppies. "So he grabbed my two brothers and put them in a box that had a sticker on the front that said, "FRAGILE". I thought to myself what a horrible day. My mother was now buried in that big green field that I always dreamed of playing on and my two brother's were shipped off in a crate. I was left all alone. The men left me alone till I was one month old then things got much much worse. One day they came and put a rather large male into my cage with me. That terrible night all I remember is crying that whole night. Nine weeks later I had my very first litter!! I was so proud of myself!!! The only problem was that I didn't get fed that much and was worried that my pups wouldn't have enough to eat. But I managed to get every thing I could get my paws on. About two weeks later the men came to my cage and had another crate with them that said "FRAGILE". I thought, "why would they need another box." They opened the cage door and like any other mom I stated to growl to warn them not to come any closer." So you want to be a fighter huh," said one of the men," I'll just get you out of that right away." He pulled out a box shaped thing and all of the sudden a line popped out and hit me in the side. It started to shock me and in the corner of my eye I could see my puppies being taken away. He pulled out the line and left. I was so upset. Then they put another male with me inside my cage and the same thing happened. I had a new litter,they were taken away too young, the next night another male was put into my cage. I was a year old now and could see how my mother was so weak all the time. I felt like I was an old dog when I was still very young. One day the men came and looked down at me and my new litter. "This ones not producing right. She'll have to be thrown out like the others," said the man. He opened up the cage door and grabbed me. I didn't know what was going to happen. They took me out to that big green field I always hoped of playing on and the other man dug a hole. The spot where they were digging the hole at was right beside my mother's. They put me in and covered me with soft soft soil. I started closing my eyes and seeing white puffy clouds as white as snow and dogs playing on green grass. I started to see how my mothers life ended and how she had all of that pain. But I didn't want to die, I wanted to live and have an owner that would love me and play with me everyday, but I knew that wasn't going to happen. The next day passed and I was still alive. I heard barking and people and thought I must be going to heaven. All of a sudden, I started to see the sun shining and there stood a girl digging up the hole where I was buried. I barked a couple of times to let her know that I was there and she said, "I'm coming! Don't you worry!! "I saw her face and she picked me up. I was dirty, hungry, thirsty, and very weak. "It's going to be all right baby. Don't worry, your're safe now, "the girl said in a calm voice. She put me in a truck and started to ride. I had never rode in a car before so I was nervous. When we came to the place I saw a sign that said "Animal shelter." The girl handed me over to a man and then he put me in a cage all to myself. Three months passed and a lady that worked there said, "I'm sorry girl but if you can't find a home soon then were going to have to put you down." "Put me down?" Now what did that mean. About ten minutes later a girl and her parents came and looked down at me. "I want this one mommy!!!", said the little girl. I got up and started to wag my tail. One of the workers came by, "Umm excuse me mam, my daughter and I would like to buy this dog," said the girls mother. The worker got me out and put a leash around my neck and took me over the the front desk. The girls parents signed the papers then grabbed the leash and put me inside their car. I rode in the back and the little girl decided to name me Daisy. I like it and I liked the people too. We arrived at the house and I had a bed, a water dish, a food bowl and a lot of neat toys. I was finally happy for once in my life. When the little girl grew up I was very old and when she moved out, I went with her. The girl grew up to be a veterinarian which made me proud to say I was hers. One night I was laying by the fire when I started to fill a horrible pain in my chest. I started to whimper to notify my owner and she came over there to see why I was crying. She said I was having a heart attack and tried everything to save my life. I knew it was my time to go now. And I started seeing those fluffy white clouds and those dogs playing on that green field. I also saw my mother and tears rushed through my eyes. I licked my owners hand to thank her for all of the good care and love that she had given me then closed my eyes and died. -Katie Gilmore