Friday, December 18, 2009

Twas the Night Before Christmas

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 were nestled, all snug in their beds

With no thought of the dog outside filling their heads.


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

Did the dog break his chain and get 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 Claus, 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'll be loved by all.


I knew in an instant there would be no gifts this year

For Santa had made one thing painfully 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 fill the kids' Christmas list,
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.”

11 comments:

  1. awww, sniffle sniffle
    so vewy true
    mommish eyes are leaking

    woof woof
    the houston pittie pack

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  2. Hi Princess,

    Thanks for posting this. When mom read it for the first time a few years ago, she shared it with all the visitors to the Humane Society website she maintains to reinforce the belief that pets should not purchased on a whim or given as gifts.

    Waggles,
    Bijou

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  3. We have never heard this poem...but wow it was really good. I think I need to pass this around to a few people we know.


    Wags and Licks,
    Mollie Jo & Bobo

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  4. Bijou, a friend passed it along who got it from her HS as well. I think it's really important for people to understand this, especially around this time of year.

    Feel free to pass along or post on your blogs too!!

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  5. That was awesome! Everyone who wants a pet should read this and truly think about it. They should be members of your family. I write this as our youngest pittie is sleeping on the couch next to me.

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  6. I wish Santa really could come and unchain the dogs, maybe chain the owners for a couple of days...

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  7. Sigh, it's so true, isn't it? I remember how they always used to talk at the shelter about the wave of "Christmas Puppies" that would come in of June the next year. Once the pups hit 6 months old, they weren't small and fuzzy anymore.. they were big and needed training.. and no one wanted to put the time in :/

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  8. Sooooo true and so beautiful!! If you don't mind we would publish it on our blog as well... So many dogs will be given for presents this year again and hopefully most of them will find good homes!!
    Merry Christmas slobbers, Teal'c!

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