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 dayswe 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 alonein 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 headsof 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! This is from Merry. I received this from one of my graphic groups and I think it's something I need to pass on. It's so true. It's sad, but if we don't want to adopt we can help donate, time, food, money, etc. to our area shelters! Merry


jessisue14@aol.com
merry1621@aol.com,
Merrytagalong@aol.com,

merry1621@gmail.com

"Get your facts right. Then you can distort them as you please."Mark Twain (Valerie)Serenity is not freedom from the storm, but freedom amid the storm. ~Anonymous~

DIDDLY'S CHRISTMAS ANGEL by Mark Cridor

Snider had passed away a few months ago after fifteen years ofgiving and receiving love within this family. Little Jack, the family's fourth grader, was still having troublecoping with the loss of the dog that had been his companion and partnerall of his life. He had never spent a night that he could remember thathe couldn't touch or feel Snider's warmth under the covers every night.This was not going to be a merry Christmas at all and Jack's parentsknew it. Being in the fourth grade was hard but Jack seemed to not hearanything even if the teacher spoke directly to him. She kind of knewwhat Jack was going through so she didn't press him too hard. Like hisparents though, she never believed that the sadness would have so muchcontrol over him for so long. Jack's parents had been to several shelters as well as animalcontrol trying to get him another dog but they did not have the cash topay all the up front costs for all the veterinarian procedures required,especially heart worm costs of three or four hundred dollars. They hada very hard time wondering why people did not give their pets preventivemeds since it was only pocket change every month to do it. It was late and getting dark. The animal control director calledfor Amy to bring the last dog to the back to be put down before theyclosed for the holidays. Amy could hardly breathe thinking about thisyoung dog being killed. She had to do something to buy her more time,but what? Anxiety was overwhelming her. So young, so sweet, such ashort life. Amy had named her Snoop Diddly when she first came in because allshe did was snoop everything and everyone that came in as she rompedaround the greeting area. She had even started to respond to the nameand learned sit, lay down and stay. She was going to pick Diddly up to remove her name collar whenthis big old guy came in. She had seen him before, as he was a regularvisitor to the shelter. Diddly was out the door in a flash as thoughshe knew what was in store for her. Was he her rescue angel? The lights of town were starting to brighten as darkness loweredover the city, as Diddly ran and ran. Christmas was not going to be a fun holiday at Jack's house. Hisparents were in a dither, what with family coming in the morning andall the celebration for the day. As Jack's mom cleared the breakfast table she heard Jack, whowas outside, scream. She and dad rushed to the door just as Jack camethrough holding this young pup. "MOM! DAD! LOOK! She's got a collar on her name must be Diddly.If we can't find her owners can we keep her?" as Diddly licked his faceand hands. "Well of course we can," they said in unison but, we have to tryand find her owners first. Diddly was in the middle of the family all morning but hangingwith Jack mostly. They all were quietly talking how Jack had snappedout of his severe depression so fast since the dog showed up. He evenate a big meal with Diddly in his lap sharing a few bites. Something hehad not done since Snider passed away. An old friend of theirs stopped by. Jack saw him get out of hisbig truck. He came walking up just as the door opened, with Jack andDiddly rushing out to greet him. He was an old fishing buddy of thefamily's and had taken them fishing ever since Jack could remember. "Well, well, well, where did you get this pup?" the friend asked. "She just showed up this morning when I was outside," Jack answered. "She looks just like Diddly who escaped from the animal controlshelter last night when I stopped by there. She ran out the door whenI went in and the worker there seemed so relieved she started crying-- telling me I must have been sent by someone at The Rainbow Bridge,as they were minutes from putting her down. She told me about her.How she had named her and how sweet she was. Guess I was an angel anddidn't even know it. And here she showed up where I know she'll havea loving forever home."

-- Mark Crider
A 2009 Update to the Story: Having known the family for years and being into rescue here Ijust had to write about what a coincidence it was for that to happen. The real part of the story I couldn't divulge then (just in casesomeone from animal control read it) was Amy was crying so hard about it I couldn't handle it so I just grabbed the dog and put her out the door to let her escape, and took the blame. After all, who is going to confront a tough old grouchy pet lover like me? I went looking for Diddly but it was dark. The next day I ran anad in the paper but had no luck. I was really shocked when I stoppedby and there she was. And she is still there happy and healthy as can be.
_______________________________________________Mark says, "I am a pet lover to the core and find myself embedded in thefight for their well being daily. To me, someone who would mistreata pet is a mentally sick individual. Sharing my food, kindness andresources with pets give me inspiration."

The Best Childhood Ever!

When I was a little kid my Dad built me a swing set. (acrobatic equipment)--but made from plumber pipes, heavy duty stuff. (Stores didn't sell them then), this was like a school ground playground equipment. It had swings, a teeter-totter (sp?), bars to hang on from your knees, and parallel bars in three heights. No one else in out little town had such equipment at home. But Daddy, could see I was good at this, (I did take gymnastics soon as I was old enough to get into it) and he made me this.) It was quality. I took it for granted at the time, but when I remember it now, it really is a wonderful memory to know how loved we were. Every kid should be that lucky, but they aren't. I don't think it was built yet when my sister was my age. Bev was always off somewhere with mostly boys, fighting and paying roughly. I was a "sissy" she said. Also that I didn't have fun, but that's not true. I had everything a girl (or kid) could dream of. But she was a true tomboy, and she wanted to go play with boys, and eat worms on a dare, and forever coming home dirty and with her dresses torn, (girls wore dresses when she was little!) No sissy stuff for her. As for me, I loved my yard, and next to being at the lake cabin, it was my favorite place to be. Every year my friends & I put on a "carnival" (acrobatic) show. We'd charge money, and half that little town came to watch us. The proceeds were for other kids and adults and other kids came to watch us...We had a club, The Helpful Club." We also had games for kids to pay to play and prizes we gave them. (LITTLE THINGS) The money made from our "shows" we'd buy something for someone who didn't have much. For instance, that wasn't good farm country so my farm friends were poor. I remember going and picking out the outfit one year we gave to my lower income friend, Sally! It was a really big deal to me, but I was the one who got the "gift." I had the gift of giving to less fortunates." Some years it would go to an organized charity, too.

Anyway, every one played in my yard, partly because they liked me, but also because of the equipment, I am sure. (I also had a gunny sack swing, do you know what they are like?) And a hammock, and a tire swing! It was magnificent. Almost as many boys played in my yard as girls, even. The fact that my Mom made the best cookies in town for everyone and anyone didn't hurt, either! Mom never minded the noise or hassle of all of us kids playing. Kids were in and out of the house using the rest room, Mom never seemed to care, she said at least she knew we were home and we were playing safely!) My Mom was great with kids. I don't think I ever encouraged my son Tim to have "half the town over, LO." I would have felt responsible and maybe Mom did, but she never acted like it did anything but please her to see me having fun. Every kid should have a childhood like mine. Both of my parents, gave so much of themselves for me. Summers were at the Lake House, and I did know even then how very lucky I was, and although I didn't fully appreciate it, I did know I was fortunate. So, when we went back a few years ago and the playground equipment was gone, it broke my heart. Also, some of the GIANT trees were gone-probably died. Broke my heart. How many children have those kind of wonderful memories?

Feel free to share your childhood memories with me; I'd love to hear about them!

Hugs to all!
Merry

I Got Hit by a Car!!

Hi my friends!

I am so far behind on my email.. This is not like me. But I've been Christmas shopping and Christmas wrapping (also, Merry shopping, LOL) and really busy, with my housework, too. You know, I am rigid. Every day has a job and that does not change unless I am too sick to move. Also, I am dead tired.

Yesterday, I went to the pharmacy, this one is in a grocery store. It's an RX my insurance doesn't pay for & cheaper than my regular pharmacy (Walgreen's). So, I got to this other pharmacy because since it's a cash pay, their price is a lot cheaper on this medication.

Well, it was about 10 AM. I was walking from my car to the store. And yes, I do look for tail lights and people backing up! But some drivers don't look for people!

I was in back of a lady in a big SUV The car came at me, slowly (thank God or I"d be in really bad shape) and I hollered, "HEY!! WATCH OUT!" You ARE RUNNING OVER ME!" It threw me off balance and just luckily I went to the side of it. But if she had been backing out faster, she's have run right over me! It was scary!

The lady says, "Are you okay? I am so sorry." I wasn't too nice, and I am almost always nice. I was MAD. (At first, later I got scared!) I went in to get my prescription. Well, these other nice people came up to me and said they saw it all and they were ready to knock hard on her hood or windshield. They were very nice to me. They said, she said there was a "blind spot". Believe it or not I thought, I don't care if it's my car, well, I care but it wouldn't have KILLED me. But these witnesses told me that if I hadn't shouted, she WOULD have kept coming! And I WOULD have been run over.

Oh yeah, The woman who hit me said to me, Well, you're so little I couldn't even see you. And I had a "blind spot." CRAP. But then I wasn't mad, I was SCARED. That's all it would've taken. All I have to say it's a good thing I have a big mouth and shouted when I did, because I think I'd at least be in the hospital if not DEAD.

Okay, this letter is going to all of my friends and family. I love you all. I am sorry I am behind on Email. You know that is NOT like me. Know that I will be catching up on my Emails to all of you I owe mail to ASAP!

Love,
Merry