I guess I will never understand how inhumane humans can be...how thoughtless, how unfeeling. Look into the eyes of a wonderful, loving dog and then ask how can these things happen to them?
A Month In The Life Of A Christmas Dog
January, 2007
by Mendy Thompson
What did I do wrong? I thought I was being a good boy. But I was left by my previous owners at the dog shelter because they said I was getting too big. They had purposely let their female dog have puppies and there were 10 of us. One by one, they all disappeared and I was the runt of the litter. Then when I started to grow a little, they put me in the car and drove me to this place.
I waited a month and then I hit the jackpot…a nice lady came in to see me and said I would make the perfect Christmas gift for her little boy. I don’t know what a Christmas gift is, but I sure was glad that I was gonna make a good one! The ladies at the shelter told her she had come just in the knick of time (whatever that means).
A few days later, I was loaded into her van and away we went! I hated to leave all my friends behind because I wasn’t sure what would happen to all of them. It seemed like one day there would be a lot of us and the next day, some would be taken off to a room and we would never see them again. The workers said the doctor was coming to put them down. Now I am not sure what “put them down” means but I do know that they never came back to our pen.
So off I went with the lady and when I got to her house, her husband was not happy to see me. He said they were not ready for a dog and that I would just be a lot of work. I wagged my tail and tried to smile at him. I tried to show him how good I was and how smart I was, but he ignored me. Then the lady put a big red bow around my neck and I had to wait in the garage for the little boy to find me. It was exciting!! I had never been so happy or excited in my life.
The little boy screamed and giggled and we played for a couple hours that day. The next day we played a little while and then he went out to play with his new toys that were also “Christmas gifts”. Every day that goes by, he has played with me less and less, and today he didn’t even pet me or talk to me. Now the lady has put me out on a chain in the back yard and she feeds me once a day. I have been here for two weeks now and it is getting colder.
I wonder what I did that was wrong? I wonder why the little boy doesn’t take care of me or feed me or walk me or play with me? I guess he is too busy with his toys and friends. Maybe when summer comes, he will play with me again!
The lady came out to get me today. She said I had to go back to the dog shelter because the little boy didn’t really want a dog after all. She said he wasn’t responsible enough. She said he might be able to get a dog once he’s grown up and knows responsibility.
What is responsibility? What is “grown up”?
Why are the ladies at the shelter whispering about me? Why are they coming to get me and 5 of my friends to take us to the other room? They look so sad.
What did I do wrong?
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Please, please…have your pets spayed or neutered. Have you looked at all the unwanted dogs and cats at your local shelters? Go to www.petfinder.com and look at all the sad faces that will never have a home. Some of them will get lucky…some of them will die young. Some of them had homes and then the people just decided they did not want them anymore. Look at the pain in their eyes. Look at the confusion on their faces. They are living beings with feelings just like us. The only difference is, they love unconditionally.
Adopt a friend today. Don’t buy while others die! Shelters are over-run with beautiful faces waiting for you to rescue them!
A Month In The Life Of A Christmas Dog
