A New Years Resolution

I found the most gorgeous poem dedicated to shelter dogs and their carers over the Christmas period. Not only did it make me cry, it inspired me to make this year the year I do more for homeless dogs and those that care for them. May 2011 be known as the ‘Year of the Shelter Dog’ from this day forth!

{Image courtesy of Sveta Koshka}

A Rescue 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, but then 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 all they asked us and worshiped them, too.
We were left in the backyard, or worse — let to roam.
Now we’re tired and we’re 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 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

What are your new year resolutions?
How could you help shelter dogs in 2011?