Mickey's Musings

Disaster Relief Dogs

A relief worker at Pier 94 wrote the following poem.

"Dedicated to the therapy dogs at Pier 94 in NYC who work so hard responding to the human mess of 9/11, particularly to my special friend, Wusel*. Thank you, dogs and humans for your undying love."

"Paws amidst Pain" by Sarah Sypniewski

The hours upon hours you pad through these paths of pain,
are the hours you help us see the light through the pouring rain.
You never falter, never fail, and always call to mind,
the joy and inspiration that’s sometimes hard to find.
As we muddle through the wreckage that’s half hope and half despair,
You stand by like an anchor, tail wagging in the air.

With every touch you heal us, from fur to human heart,
solace in each stroke, you prevent our falling apart.
You never complain and though you cry, you do not show your tears,
you swallow them back, hold your post and calm so many fears.
Your spirit penetrates our beings right into our souls,
You let us touch and talk to you as we try to fill the holes.

There are times we want to just give up and head back to our homes,
and there you are with pricked up ears and then we’re not alone.
You sign, surrender, knowingly roll onto your back,
"Here’s my tummy - you can have it…just give me a snack.

You do so much for us we just can’t do ourselves,
you specialize in soulspeak that never ceases to delve.
Straight into the place we do not talk about,
You let us cry and let us laugh and get all of it out.

So before I go, I want to say I hope you know the truth,
you saved me every single day, I survived because of you.