A Rescue Dog's Christmas Poem

[Goya]

I've just seen this on Facebook and just had to share.


A Rescue Dog's Christmas Poem

Based on the epithet that: "A dog is not just for Christmas".

'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

 

[Meandtheboys]

.................things like this make me look on rehoming websites - but I have 3 already!! ( very sad but all so true )

 

[Goya]

.................things like this make me look on rehoming websites - but I have 3 already!! ( very sad but all so true )

Me also. I keep wanting another i have 3, all rescue/ rehomes

 

[Dizzydancer]

Aw thats sad. Its true though never the dog fault always the owners.
I drive past a local rescue everyday and see them walking them it makes me so sad seeing them

 

[Luci07]

Sometimes there are dogs who are in rescue for geniune reasons, way beyond the owners control but the vast majority are dumped because

1. Relationship break up. When I was with my ex, one bright thing we did was to decide whom the dog actually belonged to, if anything happened.
2. Pregnant so can't cope with a dog. So.. you took a cute puppy on when you were single. Why didn't you think how things would change when you did have a child? And people seem to use pregnancy as a great excuse for getting rid off a boisterous young dog. Funny how my realistic friends managed just fine.
3. Landlord won't accept the dog. So didn't you CHECK first? or when looking, did you actively look for accomodation that would allow a dog? they do exist.
4. Dog too much when no longer a puppy. Oh, so you really did your research then on the breed.

Yes I do sound bitter and cross but I do see which dogs wind up in rescues and it is pretty much always for the reasons cited above. Thats if the dogs are even bought in, a lot are simply dumped. Also hate the mythology that rescues have limitless funds, space and should be incredibly grateful when Jo public takes a dog on. They are grateful, but people should realise they are charities and the smaller ones (ie the better ones) are manned by unpaid volunteers with no financial back up.

 

[MurphysMinder]

I agree Luci, so many people have pathetic reasons for giving up dogs. I had 5 GSDs when I became pregnant, never crossed my mind to give up my dogs (despite suggestions I should from my MiL). Similarly when my marriage broke up , I had 2 young children, one just a toddler, but my dogs were the thing that kept me sane.

 

[Goya]

Sometimes there are dogs who are in rescue for geniune reasons, way beyond the owners control but the vast majority are dumped because

1. Relationship break up. When I was with my ex, one bright thing we did was to decide whom the dog actually belonged to, if anything happened.
3. Landlord won't accept the dog. So didn't you CHECK first? or when looking, did you actively look for accomodation that would allow a dog? they do exist.
4. Dog too much when no longer a puppy. Oh, so you really did your research then on the breed.

I have 2 dogs who fit these criteria.
One was rehomed because of a relationship break up and the person who took the dog on went into rented accomodation and found they couldn't take the dog!
The other is a Border Collie who was bought as a pup. They worked 8 hours a day, walked him on a lead around town streets, did no training or socialising,then wondered why he was full of boundless energy and uncontrollable (to them).
It has taken me 2 years but this dog is now settled, trained, socialised and a very happy dog who loves his walks where he can run and run. I love him to bits but my oh my he has been hard work due to idiots who didn't research the breed.

 

[jodie3]

My very first Dalmatian came from a rescue - she had been taken there as the couple had split up. She was a beautiful, well bred, calm and loving girl with none of the usual spotty dog hang-ups and I was always amazed why they had given up on her so quickly, especially as she must have been quite expensive to buy.


Their loss was my gain though.

When my marriage ended I made it very clear I was keeping the dogs, and I've lived mainly in rented houses since and always had dogs.

 

[Dizzydancer]

Strange you say that- the other day driving past with OH i said i think if we couldn't keep our dog for whatever reason and my parents couldn't take him on, i would prefer to pts as i don't think if would cope in a kennel and would feel so guilty and wonder if he was stuck there for years wondering why not in a loving home.
Even if he was healthy at least i would no what happened to him and he would no nothin.