Christmas puppies

This time of year breeders (both reputable and not so reputable)/pet stores/puppymills are cranking up "production" and selling lots of adorable little puppies for Christmas. Also this time of year, the shelters are full of last year's adorable little puppies that are no longer little and cute, eat too much, shed too much, stink, take up too much time, yada yada yada bs bs bs. I will try not to get on my soap box too much about it but it is a huge problem, especially this year with so many people giving up their animals because of losing jobs and the economy (I would eat spam and ramen everyday before I would give up an animal, but some people don't feel that way, and some people do have legitimate reasons why they can't keep their dog/cat/whatever...but those are far and few between. Just take a peek at all these dogs, mostly purebred, that for whatever reason were abandonded by their families. There are 3 boxer rescues in the Carolinas, yet full blooded boxers die every week in shelters here because there are literally that many of them. People don't always realize that purebred rescues exist, or that shelters are full of purebred dogs, so they go out and buy them from breeders, myself included...before my eyes were opened to the rescue world I bought Dickson from a breeder. Anyway, just thought I'd share this...

A Shelter Dog's Christmas Poem

Twas 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 when 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" or "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 consequences of errors they made.

If only they'd trained us, if only we knew...

We'd have done what they asked us and worshipped 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 your 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 give.

--Author Unknown--

So get out there and donate! The next time you're out shopping, or buying food for your animals, grab an extra bag (it doesn't have to be the good stuff) and drop it by your local shelter, or contact a rescue group in your area and ask what specific needs they have. And the next time you're in the market for a new furry family members...remember to check shelters and rescues!