Forgotten Dogs poem

[mysweetkaos]

Borrowed from a friends facebook status......


THE FORGOTTON DOG'S CHRISTMAS POEM
Twas the night before Christmas
when all thru the house

Not a creature was stirring
not even a mouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care
In hopes that St. Nick soon would be there.

The children all nestled snug in their beds
With no thought of the dog filling their head.

And mom in her kerchief and I in my cap
Knew the dog 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 of his chain and into the trash.

The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow
gave the luster of mid-day to objects below.

When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But Santa Clause with his eyes full of tears.

He unchained the dog once so lively and quick
Last year’s Christmas present now painfully 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 will be loved by all.

I knew in an instant there would be no gifts this year
For Santa had made one thing quite clear.

The gift of a dog is not just for the season
We had gotten the dog for all the wrong reasons.

In our haste to think of the kids a gift
There was one important thing 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 explain as he rode out of site,
“You weren’t given a gift, you were given a life.”

[APBTLove]

I love the thought behind this and totally agree. It's rather touching.

But I hate that it is just one more thing stereotyping the use of tethering as confinement.

[GSDolch]

Originally Posted by APBTLove

I love the thought behind this and totally agree. It's rather touching.

But I hate that it is just one more thing stereotyping the use of tethering as confinement.

I felt the same when I read it. It IS a sweet poem and the message behind it I also agree with. Having a dog tied out in and of itself is not the problem. Its usually the people.

[mysweetkaos]

I truly didn't post it with any agenda about having a dog tied out. While that doesn't work for me, done reasonably I don't have a problem. I thought the overall message of getting a dog hastily and without forethought of what a "lifelong" commitment it is was a good one to share. Seems like especially this time of year people are so into the "gift" they overlook most of the important aspects.

[APBTLove]

Yep, it drives me crazy. I got my own dog as an Xmas present 10 years ago, and like her there are exceptions, like a family who PLAN on the dog but wait until Christmas just because they want to, or to surprise the kids, SO, etc. As long as it's a planned out thing, I don't care when you get the dog... but the spur of the moment "Oh! Let's get So-and-so a puppy!" and three months later it's on craigslist.

[mysweetkaos]

Originally Posted by APBTLove

Yep, it drives me crazy. I got my own dog as an Xmas present 10 years ago, and like her there are exceptions, like a family who PLAN on the dog but wait until Christmas just because they want to, or to surprise the kids, SO, etc. As long as it's a planned out thing, I don't care when you get the dog... but the spur of the moment "Oh! Let's get So-and-so a puppy!" and three months later it's on craigslist.

Couldn't agree more....my Kaos was an Anniversary gift from my husband 9+ years ago....but a gift that took 8 months of planning, preperation and forethought. So it obviously wasn't a surprise

[GSDolch]

Originally Posted by mysweetkaos

I truly didn't post it with any agenda about having a dog tied out. While that doesn't work for me, done reasonably I don't have a problem. I thought the overall message of getting a dog hastily and without forethought of what a "lifelong" commitment it is was a good one to share. Seems like especially this time of year people are so into the "gift" they overlook most of the important aspects.

ugh, I have cousins like that. They have had a few dogs that were "gifts" for Christmas and they were not prepared. Needless to say the dog didn't last long..and guess what. It was the dogs fault, he wouldn't stop jumping, he pee'd in the house, he counter surfed..../facepalm

[mysweetkaos]

Originally Posted by GSDolch

ugh, I have cousins like that. They have had a few dogs that were "gifts" for Christmas and they were not prepared. Needless to say the dog didn't last long..and guess what. It was the dogs fault, he wouldn't stop jumping, he pee'd in the house, he counter surfed..../facepalm

I know the feeling....I can't think of a pet I had while growing up that we "picked" All of them were gotten by extended family who then wasn't prepared and wanted to get rid of the "problem" so my parents would take them in. They were all great, it was the people who were the "problem"