Andrea Rosebrock 
As you gather this holiday season to spend time with friends and family and your own beloved furry family members, take just a moment to think of those dogs and cats who sit alone and unwanted, with just the barest of necessities.
Gather up some old blankets and towels, maybe grab an extra bag of treats or food or a few toys when you’re out shopping and take that few extra minutes to drop them at your local shelter. You can do this anytime of the year, but at this special time of love and caring and sharing, please, take just those few extra minutes and make this holiday a little more special for a few lonely shelter animals.
A dear friend recently sent me an email. She’s unemployed and struggling like so many of us right now but dearly loves animals. Her family includes not only a beautiful chocolate lab but also a cat and horse and one of the things she’s dome to make things easier and more special for shelter animals near her is to ask for donations at a local pet store who graciously donated. So for those of you who cannot afford money or gifts, take the time to visit a local pet store or two and ask if they would be willing to donate, you might be surprised. Thanks so much my dear friend and special thanks to the kind store owner who opened their heart!
A Christmas Shelter Dog’s 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, 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 goodbye…
“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 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
And take a minute or two to share this with friends and family, spread the word, spread the message. Every little bit of help counts! Share the love every day but most especially now!
D., I know who you are talking about when you speak of your friend, and I too honor and respect her for what she does.
This poem brought tears to my eyes, as I know so well that all our shelters and rescues could use the help with the current economic conditions.
My only wish is that all the babies at the shelters could be brought home to a loving family who will cherish them for the rest of their lives, and make their Christmas the best they ever had.
I posted this on facebook (of course). I try and always remind people that the holidays aren’t about gifts, but about helping others and going out of your way to be kind to those in need.
I hope this post reminds people of that. We need to all care about all living creatures. It brings tears to my eyes to think of all the animals that won’t get a merry christmas this year. Animals need Christmas too! Thank you D for a wonderful message once again.
Mel
I have 3 shelter dogs including 2 pits , my elderly mom has 2.If I could I would have 10 , give them a chance as they sure do appreciate it.
I’M SO GLAD YOU POSTED THE INFO ABOUT SHELTER DONATIONS.
THIS IS THE THIRD YEAR MY CO-WORKERS AND FRIENDS COLLECT ITEMS FOR OUR LOCAL SHELTER – WE HAVE EVERYTHING FOR CATS AND DOGS, FROM FOOD TO TREATS – TO COLLARS AND LEASHES – AND TOYS. WE HAVE A GREAT TIME JUST WATCHING THE BOX FILL UP WITH GOODIES FOR THE LONELY ONES WHO WON’T BE ABLE TO BE IN A NEW HOME AND ENJOY THE HOLIDAY. IT’S AMAZING THE PEOPLE WHO DO NOT EVEN HAVE A PET ARE SO GRACIOUSLY GIVING TO THE SHELTER. WE EVEN GIVE THE STAFF A BOX OF CANDY TOO – THEY SHOULD BE THANKED FOR THE FIND JOB THEY DO FOR OUR FURRY FRIENDS. I AM GOING TO MAKE A COPY OF THE POEM FOR THEM ALSO – HOPEFULLY THEY WILL POST IT IN THE LOBBY FOR THE PUBLIC TO READ.
WHAT TO WISH ALL OF THE READERS AND THEIR PETS A HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON. MAYBE YOU COULD COLLECT A FEW THINGS FOR YOUR LOCAL SHELTER – IT’S NOT TOO LATE – AND REMEMBER NEXT YEAR FOR THE HOLIDAYS TOO!
Oh, but it is not just at the holiday season that we need to think about all the shelter dogs. These little ones need help year round.
Maybe if everyone could do something – even an 8lb bag of dog food/cat food a month, it certainly will fill the tummys of some of the shelter dogs.
I am glad to see that Deanna posted something about donating anything to your local animal shelter, even your time is crucial for socialization of shelter animals. this holiday season many are homeless, less loved by a caring, good family and sane too. I volunteer at a shelter and love all the aniamals as they are my own. Please give what you can your time, old blankets, sheets, see what their wish list is. I have formed a small group of people helping me with my area. I wont say where. I have posted on this site before to help with what you can, PLEASE DO IT FOR SO MANY ARE EUTHANIZED TOO. push for no euthanization in your state please, so there may never be another legally killed animal in this country. another option is to be a foster parent to a shelter animal till they are adtoped. foster homes are desperately needed as well. thank you. Ann.
Ann, rescues need help with fostering. Usually shelters do not foster out, but once an animal goes into rescue, that is where we need the help with foster parents. Fostering makes the adoption process much easier, as when the dog is with the fosters, it is taught manners, help with potty training, simple commands, and hopefully working with walking on a lead.
I don’t know what I would do without all my wonderful foster parents. I thank them every day of my life!
Thanks so much for this lovely poem and reminder that no matter what your position is you can always help our babies.
Tweeted and posted to FB,so maybe more will help this year.
Cuanta verdad, en el poema…:(
Your welcome D. Thank you for posting this. And Susie, thank you for your kind words as well. Yes, folks…..it’s very special at this time of year, but all year is just as important. The shelter I took those things to, the worker there, was doing a terrific job of decorating all the kennels with big red ribbons and Christmas collars on all the pups (I think they were donated as well), and ribbons on the kittie kennels too. It was looking very festive around there for all those precious fur baby’s. She was doing a wonderful, loving thing for all those sweet baby’s in there….Bless Her!
AND FOLKS….don’t forget to post that “Thank You” letter in your local news paper’s to let everyone know how the local pet stores helped out and how much you appreciate the Shelter Caretakers too. I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and I won’t stop praying for all the shelter baby’s to get a wonderful furever home for Christmas! What a beautiful blessing that would be!!!
Thanks to each and every one of you that help these wonderful sweeties every chance you get. ANGELS…..every one of you!
Thanks D…for keeping these baby’s in the forefront too!
God Bless all of you…….
I am crying. I wished I had a lot of money. Then I could make all these babies lives more sunny. I pray to God every day, in every way to help me to find the answer, to helping these little ones I Love.To save their lives.