The Night Before Christmas

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 filling their head

And mamma in her 'kerchief', and I in my cap,

Knew he was cold but didn't care about that.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from my 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, that to my wondering eyes should appear,

But Santa Clause with eyes full of tears.

He unchained the dog, once so lively and quick,

Last years  Christmas present, now painfully thin and sick.

More rapid than eagles he called the dogs name.

And the dog ran to him, despite all the pain;

"Now, DASHER!  Now DANCER!  Now, PRANCER
and VIXEN!

On, COMET!  On CUPID!  On DONOR 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 a 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 pup for all the wrong reasons,

In our haste to think of the kids a gift

There was one important thing that 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 exclain as he rode out of sight,

"You weren't giving a gift!  You were giving a life!"

Author Unknown
 

    This candle burns for all the homeless pets on the streets and in
           animal shelters, may they find warmth, food and a caring hand in the winter months.
 

Christmas At The Shelter

'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 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 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 error they made.

If only they'd trained us, if only we knew... we'd have done what they asked us and worshipped them too.  We were left in the back yard, 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 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 see sad eyes, brimming with tears - our friends filled with emptiness, worry and fear.

If they can't adopt us and there's no room at your 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 us get something special to eat.  The shelter that cares for us wants us to live, and more of us will, if more people give.

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