A Christmas Shelter Dog’s Poem

[Wendy M]

I found this poem about shelter dogs at Christmas, and thought I'd share it...the photos are all from my photobucket account, of shelter dogs I have posted over the past few years. Some made it out and others, sadly, did not. Sending up a prayer for all those dogs in need of a home this season and throughout the year.

-Wendy M.
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’Tis the night before Christmas and all through the town,
every shelter is full—we are lost, but not found.

Our numbers are hung on our kennels so bare,
we hope every minute that someone will care.


They’ll come to adopt us and give us the call,
“Come here, Max and Sparkie — come fetch your new ball!”

But now we sit here and think of the days
we were treated so fondly — we had cute, baby ways.

Once we were little, then we grew and we grew.
Now we’re no longer young and we’re no longer new.


So out the back door we were thrown like the trash.
They reacted so quickly — why were they so rash?

We “jump on the children,” “don’t come when they call,”
we “bark when they leave us,” “climb over the wall.”

We should have been neutered, we should have been spayed,
now we suffer the consequence of the errors THEY made.

If only they’d trained us, if only we knew,
we’d have done what they asked us and worshiped them, too.


We were left in the backyard, or worse, let to roam.
Now we’re tired and lonely and out of a home.

They dropped us off here and they kissed us goodbye…
“Maybe someone else will give you a try.”

So now here we are, all confused and alone
in a shelter with others who long for a home.


The kind workers come through with a meal and a pat,
with so many to care for, they can’t stay to chat.

They move to the next kennel, giving each of us cheer…
we know that they wonder how long we’ll be here.

We lay down to sleep and sweet dreams fill our heads
of a home filled with love and our own cozy beds.

Then we wake to see sad eyes, brimming with tears –
our friends filled with emptiness, worry, and fear.


If you can’t adopt us and there’s no room at the inn –
could you help with the bills and fill our food bin?

We count on your kindness each day of the year –
can you give more than hope to everyone here?

Please make a donation to pay for the heat…
and help get us something special to eat.


The shelter that cares for us wants us to live,
and more of us will, if more people will give.

– Author Unknown

[kgunther]

Oh Wendy - thanks for sharing that. Brings tears to my eyes but it is so true.

Kristy

[joe]

[ajones]

Wow, Wendy. The poem itself is so moving, but having your images included throughout it really drove the point home even more, reminding me of these dogs and so many others we have all known.

[Old_Dog]

Wendy. I'm just an old sap and thet turns my heart to mush...

[crazy cat lady]

This choir member had a good cry, it is so heart breaking to me especially around the "holiday" times. Last July I suggested to our local library book club that we read Christmas with Tucker for this month's selection, and at our mtg. we invited the local ACO that has worked very hard to start a Humane group in this area too. It was surprising that few people knew where the shelter is, let alone that there were fostering programs,etc. So even though the group is very small, even if they spread the word to a few of their friends, hoping that will generate some interest in getting involved with volunteering in some capacity.

I will post this poem on CL with some local dogs needing help and encourage people to adopt, foster, volunteer.

[Wendy M]

Feel free to crosspost the poem, and to use my photos as well! You can probably right click on them and do a "save picture as" to save it to your computer to repost.

My prayer for Christmas, and for always, is for the day when there are enough homes for all the dogs who need them.

-Wendy M.