Christmas In The Shelter - Author Unknown

'Tis the week after Christmas and all through the town,
every shelter is full.. we're 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, or Sparky, come fetch your new ball!"

But we sit here and think of those 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 consequences of the errors THEY made.

If only they'd trained us, if only we knew..
we'd of done what they asked us and worshipped them too.

We were left in the backyard, or worse, left 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 here we are, all confused and alone..
in a shelter for 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 or 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 YOUR Inn..
Could you help with the bills and fill our food bins?

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 give.

--author unknown