Dogs A-Z: A Dog's Christmas Prayers ~ Don't forget our canine friends this Christmas

 Here are a couple of dog's prayers for you to consider this Christmas. Our canine friends need our help all year, but Christmas is special, and times are hard for unwanted dogs...

A Stray Dog's Prayer 

Dear God, please send me somebody who'll care!

I'm tired of running, I'm sick with despair.

My body is aching, it's so racked with pain,

and dear God I pray, as I run in the rain.

That someone will love me and give me a home,

a warm cozy bed and a big juicy bone.

My last owner tied me all day in the yard

Sometimes with no water, and god that was hard.

So I chewed my leash, and God I ran away.

To rummage in garbage and live as a stray.

But now God, I'm tired and hungry and cold,

and I'm so afraid that I'll never grow old.

They've chased me with sticks and hit me with stones,

while I run the streets just looking for bones! 

I'm not really bad, God, please help if you can, 

or I have become just a "Victim of Man!" 

I'm wormy dear God and I'm ridden with fleas, 

and all that I want is an Owner to please!

If you find one for me God, I'll try to be good,

and I won't chew their shoes, and I'll do as I should. 

I'll love them, protect them and try to obey....

when they tell me to sit, to lie down or to stay! 

I don't think I'll make it too long on my own,

cause I'm getting so weak and I'm so all alone.

Each night as I sleep in the bushes I cry,

cause I'm so afraid God, that I'm gonna die.

And I've got so much love and devotion to give,

that I should be given a new chance to Live!

So dear God, please answer my prayer,

and send me someone who will REALLY care..

That is, dear God, if YOU'RE REALLY there!

author unknown

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Thanks to http://fortheloveofthedogblog.com for this: 

 A Christmas Shelter Dog’s Poem 

 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,…

The poem is reproduced below: 

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

Answer a dog's prayer and do something good for dogs this Christmas!

It doesn't matter what as long as it is positive and life-enhancing.

Give your time
Give some money
Donate some goods for resale
Donate clean blankets or quilts
Donate some decent dog food, beds, toys
Volunteer at your local rescue
Start a campaign
Contact the media (local radio or paper - or why not go national) about your concerns or to make an appeal
Write to your MP
Make some dog coats
Make some healthy dog treats (click on the banner below to get a free download of dog treat recipes)