WeLoveOurAnimals/PeopleEatingTastyAnimals

[NovoMira]

The Forgotten Pets Of Christmas Past

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

With no thought of the dog filling their heads. 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 the 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, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But Santa Claus - with eyes full of tears. He unchained
the dog, once so lively and quick,

Last year's Christmas present, now painfully thin and sick. More
rapid than eagles he called the dog's name. And the
dog ran to him, despite all his pain; "Now, Dasher!
Dancer! Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! on Qupid! on
Donder and Blitzen! To the top of the porch! To the
top of the wall! Let's find this dog, a home where
he'll be loved by all."

I knew in an instant there'd be no gifts this year,

For Santa Claus had made one thing 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
exclaim as he rode out of sight, "You weren't given a
gift! Your were given a life!"