MAR 2011 EFA CHALLENGE: Sweet Shelter & Cozy Comforts

EFA's Monthly Challenge theme for March is

- Sweet Shelter & Cozy Comforts -

"depict homes or things for the home, us or 'theirs'"

The Circle by Arlene Pace

Once I was a lonely dog, just looking for a home. I had no place to go, no one to call my own. I wandered up and down the streets, in rain in heat and snow.

I ate what ever I could find, I was always on the go. My skin would itch, my feet were sore, my body ached with pain and no one stopped to give a pat, or gently say my name. I never saw a loving glance, I was always on the run, for people thought that hurting me was really lots of fun.

And then one day I heard a voice so gentle, kind and sweet, and arms so soft reached down to me and took me off my feet. No one again will hurt you" was whispered in my ear.
"You’ll have a home to call your own where you will know no fear”
“You will be dry, you will be warm, you’ll have enough to eat”
“And rest assured that when you sleep, your dreams will all be sweet”.

I was afraid I must admit, I’ve lived so long in fear. I can’t remember when I let a human come so near. And as she tended to my wounds and bathed and brushed my fur,
she told me ‘bout the rescue group and what it meant to her.
She said, ”We are a circle, a line that never ends”.
“And in the centre there is you protected by new friends”.

“And all around you are the ones that check the Pounds,
And those that share their home, after you’ve been found”.
“And all the other folk are searching near and far”.
“To find the perfect home for you, where you can be a star”.
She said, “There is a family, that’s waiting patiently,
and pretty soon we’ll find them, just you wait and see”.
“And then they’ll join our circle they’ll help to make it grow,
so there’ll be room for more like you, who have no place to go”.

I waited very patiently, the days they came and went.
Today’s the day I thought, my family will be sent. Then just when I began to think It wasn’t meant to be, there were people standing there just gazing down at me. I knew them in a heart beat, I could tell they felt it too. They said, “We have been waiting for a special dog like you”.

Now every night I say a prayer to all the Gods that be. “Thank you for the life I live and all you’ve given me”. “But most of all protect the dogs in the Pound and on the street”. “And send a Rescue Person to lift them off their feet”.

This story was found at the Australian Animal Protection Societ

http://www.aaps.org.au/poems/poems.html

I think this story is so sweet and shows what a wonderful thing it is to provide shelter for a stray animal ! So once again, tip your hat to the lovable furries you live with and enter this month’s challenge !

If you are an EFA member & would like to submit an entry, please convo our Challenge Volunteer, Jess of jessicalynneart, with the following information:

1. PROViDE the link to an item in your shop that fits the theme or has been created for the theme.

2. EXPLAiN how you think the item fits the monthly Challenge theme

3. TELL US a bit about your work/donations/volunteer work with animals or animal charities

4. TiTLE your convo with the name of the MONTH and the word CHALLENGE, for example: JANUARY CHALLENGE.

One more important step:

5. TAG your Etsy listing with the monthly Challenge theme tag:

teamefashelter

and be sure to ALSO keep your regular team tag in place, either: team efa' or team efa cotm if it will benefit our cotm program.

Submit your entries asap... remember that the first 16 qualifying entries will be automatically entered into our Monthly Challenge Competition where the winner is awarded a free advertising slot with EFA !