Please...read, and remember them.

[justusnak]

A Rescue Dog's Christmas Poem

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 good-bye...
"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

Even a little given helps alot!

 

[nccountrygirl]

That is so sad but unfortunately so very true.

 

[Katy]

The last time I decided to get another dog I tried to get one through an area shelter. They wouldn't hardly talk to me because I don't have a fenced yard. I live in the boonies on a farm and no my yard isn't fenced, but it would have had a better life here than being euthanized eventually. I understand the need for the rules, but sometimes it gets in the way of what would have been a loving home.

 

[Scrambled Egg]

Petsmart helps out homeless animals and I give the dollar donation to them every single time I am in there, which is at least once a week!! I also have a donation of $5.00 a week coming out of my paycheck for rescue animal care. I do feel like we should help each other out, 4 legged, 2 legged... and what I do is not much but if other people do the same it will add up...Darlene

 

[jjthink]

I'd love to see that poignant poem on every shelter website and also hung on their walls and also in every newspaper across the land... etc..........
Thanks for posting it....
JJ

 

[nccountrygirl]

I agree.

 

[ozark hen]

Quote:
I had the same experience Katy. We live in the middle of 82 acres and our dogs/chickens/whatever have a safe great life. It made me disgusted with them. One local one...in a town nearby who posts on PetFinder asks $250 per dog. Now come on...that is not a shelter in my eyes.

 

[Katy]

Yes, you're right...the fees they charge keep many people from adopting. I realize they think if you can't afford the fees you probably can't afford the upkeep on a pet, but I don't think that's always true....especially with some of the fees they charge. My pets go to the dr for checkups more often than I do!!!!

I've wondered if the dog I wanted to get ever found a home.

 

[ozark hen]

I just went there again and double-checked

ADOPTION FEES




Large Dogs of any age $150


Small Breed Adult dogs $200


Small Breed puppies $250

Now that is for profit in my eyes. They also specify only fenced in areas, refuse to place small dogs in homes with small children, etc. I agree with a placement fee and guarantee that shots/neutering happens...that should be in the fee but this shelter goes to far.

And yes, my vet knows my dogs by their names and problems and it is a busy clinic. There are poor people out there who wouldn't be able to meet their criteria but would give the animals good homes and the dogs would be very well taken care of.

 

[Pinenot]

That made me sad. I would adopt everything I could it my husband would let me!