A year has passed and it is December again, nearly Christmas – many mistakenly believe that the main point of Christmas is giving each other presents, time for parents to spoil their precious kids again, by indulging them over the top getting them everything that their little hearts desire.
Many were probably moaning for months that they want a pet, a cute little fluffy puppy……. so what better time to get one for them than Christmas right? Seeing their kids’ faces light up when they open that box and a small fur-ball with big inquisitive eyes pokes out its little wet nose.... would melt your heart.......
WRONG!!
For most people the novelty will soon wear off.
Puppies grow, they don’t stay tiny and cute forever, they are mischievous, they play, they chew, they pee, they poo...... they need to be potty trained, they need walking every day no matter what the weather is like, they need training so they know what to do and how to behave.... they are hard work!!
The reality starts setting in, children get bored with the responsibility and soon after that the parents too. So what do they do? They are off to the nearest animal shelter to get rid.... to discard it as if it was just another toy.....
This is a major headache for all the animal shelters, every year they brace themselves for the new arrivals that fill their kennels..... poor unwanted, abandoned souls in need of an adoption, in need of finding someone to love them and care for them.
Most shelters do not get state funding, they rely on donations from the public. So please, if you are reading this article, consider giving a few pounds/dollars, or whatever your currency is, to your nearest animal shelter... just google for it, most even allow an online donation.
At this stage I got to borrow the slogan of one of the biggest dog rescue organisation in UK the Dogs Trust:
A Dog is for Life, not just for Christmas!
Dogs are not meant to be given as presents, they are breathing, living things! You got to really want them, you need to properly research the breed you’re know what you’re getting yourself into, so you know how much care they will require and how much they will cost. They are hard work and they can be expensive but they are worth it!
Dogs are the most amazing creatures, they will love you no matter what, they will be faithful and loyal to you, they will defend you with their lives, they will stand by you when no one else does ....
They deserve so much more than to be abandoned when they are no longer tiny and cute!!!
Let me just finish my rant with a couple of poems I found on the internet, when I read them, they brought tears into my eyes because they are so sad and so fitting of this time of year.
Christmas Puppy
It was the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
With no thought of the dog filling their head.
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
With no thought of the dog filling their head.
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Knew he was cold, but didn't care about that.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Knew he was cold, but didn't care about that.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Figuring the dog was free and into the trash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the luster of midday to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But Santa Claus - his eyes full of tears.
Figuring the dog was free and into the trash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the luster of midday to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But Santa Claus - his eyes full of tears.
He unchained the dog, once so lively and quick,
Last years Christmas present, now thin and sick.
More rapid than eagles he called the dog's name.
And the dog ran to him, despite all his pain;
" Now, DASHER! Now, DANCER! Now, PRANCER and VIXEN!
On, COMET! On CUPID! On, DONNER and BLITZEN!
To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall!
Let's find this dog a home where he'll be loved by all"
Last years Christmas present, now thin and sick.
More rapid than eagles he called the dog's name.
And the dog ran to him, despite all his pain;
" Now, DASHER! Now, DANCER! Now, PRANCER and VIXEN!
On, COMET! On CUPID! On, DONNER and BLITZEN!
To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall!
Let's find this dog a home where he'll be loved by all"
I knew in an instant there would be no gifts this year,
For Santa Claus had made one thing quite clear,
The gift of a dog is not just for the season,
We had gotten the pup for all the wrong reasons.
For Santa Claus had made one thing quite clear,
The gift of a dog is not just for the season,
We had gotten the pup for all the wrong reasons.
In our haste to think of giving the kids a gift
There was one important thing that we missed.
A dog should be family, and cared for the same!
You don't give a gift, then put it on a chain.
And I heard him exclaim as he rode out of sight," You weren't given a gift -- You were given a life!"
There was one important thing that we missed.
A dog should be family, and cared for the same!
You don't give a gift, then put it on a chain.
And I heard him exclaim as he rode out of sight," You weren't given a gift -- You were given a life!"
~Author Unknown~
A Shelter 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.
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~
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