The Dog Shelter

Pixabay photo-
By Jabo
@jaboUK (64360)
United Kingdom
May 15, 2016 5:46pm CST
I dearly loved my mistress, She felt the same for me, We had fun, and when we'd done I'd curl up on her knee. We were content and carefree,, But then one day she died, I lay beside her body, I would not leave her side. And then strange hands picked me up They took me far away, And though they are kind to me I'm much too sad to play. They say that they'll re-home me, But folks don't even glance, Younger pups are what they want, They don't give me a chance. So I sit here all alone, Once again rejected, Wistful, I look through the bars, Feeling so dejected. Oh, there's someone coming now Young girl with her mother, So shyly I wag my tail, She says ''I want no other''. Now I'm going home with them, I am so excited, Someone else to love again, The world has just been righted. I was just reading a post from @Chellezhere about getting her dog from a shelter, and it reminded me of this poem I wrote a while ago. Have you ever got a dog this way? Photo from Pixabay.
66 people like this
55 responses
@JudyEv (329038)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 May 16
Lovely poem and beautifully suits the little dog. My friend went to a shelter for a small dog and came home with a largish one because she said they just looked at each other and that was that.
5 people like this
@jaboUK (64360)
• United Kingdom
16 May 16
@JudyEv It's no good going with a pre-conceived idea - it's the same with husbands! I never thought I'd choose one that was shorter than me, but that's the way the cards fell
4 people like this
@JudyEv (329038)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 May 16
@jaboUK Haha. There are some things you can't fight aren't there? :)
5 people like this
@rebelann (111741)
• El Paso, Texas
15 May 16
This is beautiful ..... yes, it did make me cry but at least for once there's a happy ending I pray each day that I outlive my furbabies by at least one day.
4 people like this
@rebelann (111741)
• El Paso, Texas
16 May 16
I agree @jaboUK I don't think mom's kitties have a clue that mom has passed and now that I've said I'd take them in I've a feeling that could well backfire, the smaller of her two cats is dog aggressive and I'm so afraid she might hurt Ally. I'm not altogether sure if they'll get along with my kitty. I wish I knew someone who would take them but alas that's not to be.
3 people like this
@jaboUK (64360)
• United Kingdom
16 May 16
@rebelann I can see your dilemma, I hope things work out better than you expect.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (111741)
• El Paso, Texas
16 May 16
Thank you so much @jaboUK maybe things will go better than I expected, I guess only time will tell.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (463157)
• Switzerland
16 May 16
Oh Janet, you made me so sad and so happy for the happy ending. Poor old dogs, I know that they stay for years in the shelter, this is to sad.
3 people like this
@LadyDuck (463157)
• Switzerland
17 May 16
@jaboUK I agree, it must be so hard for those poor sweet animals when they have no more their owners, they are like orphans.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64360)
• United Kingdom
16 May 16
@LadyDuck It's heartbreaking if an older dog can't find a new home, especially if his former owner treated him like a king. The contrast must be so harsh.
1 person likes this
@amadeo (111942)
• United States
15 May 16
great.Ms.Ruby came from the shelter.Mike rescued her.Buffy also came from the shelter.He is gone now.13 yrs
4 people like this
@jaboUK (64360)
• United Kingdom
15 May 16
@amadeo I'm glad that you've been able to give two dogs such a loving home.
1 person likes this
• United States
15 May 16
what a lovely poem, ms. jabo. so true, many don't e'en give those pups'r e'en cats a second glance once they're past the "wee" stage. i'm glad this'd a happy endin' :) big hugs 'n love!
4 people like this
@jaboUK (64360)
• United Kingdom
15 May 16
@crazyhorseladycx I like to give a happy ending if I can. I'm afraid it's true that a lot of people don't want an older dog.
2 people like this
• United States
16 May 16
@jaboUK i prefer 'em myself. unfortunately many believe that older pups aint trainable. which to me says they ought not e'en get a puppy :)
3 people like this
@DianneN (247204)
• United States
16 May 16
What a sweet photo and poem. I'd most likely adopt that dog if I could. We did adopt an Afgan Hound that way, when his owner had a job that kept him from home far too long. What a beauty he was.
3 people like this
@jaboUK (64360)
• United Kingdom
16 May 16
@DianneN You have such a kind heart Dianne, that Afghan Hound was very lucky.
2 people like this
• Preston, England
16 May 16
I have owned three dogs over the years plus my grandparents had three - two at the same time - i have a cat now though
2 people like this
• Preston, England
17 May 16
@jaboUK yes very much so - I just open a tin for mine of a morning, otherwise she takes care of herself all day
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64360)
• United Kingdom
16 May 16
@arthurchappell Cats are easier to look after, aren't they? They pretty much do their own thing.
1 person likes this
@marlina (154163)
• Canada
16 May 16
Love the way you expressed the feelings of the older dog.
3 people like this
@jaboUK (64360)
• United Kingdom
16 May 16
@marlina Thank you Marlina, I was trying to get 'under the dog's skin'.
• United States
16 May 16
Many years ago I adopted a senior - the previous owners had kept her in the basement for two years then dumped her at the shelter. She had no idea what treats or toys were, but she caught on fast. I had her a few years and one morning she work up paralyzed so at her age it was time for her to cross the Rainbow Bridge. She had a good life with me. The poem is great, brought tears to my eyes!
2 people like this
• United States
16 May 16
@jaboUK She had a mangled leg from being hurt and not taken care of - she became good pals with my parents 125 pound black lab and he went in the river to swim she went in up to her belly and pretended to swim - it was a riot.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64360)
• United Kingdom
16 May 16
@AbbyGreenhill Good for you Abby to make that dog's last years so happy. The previous owner needs shooting. Glad you liked the poem, thank you.
@Inlemay (17713)
• South Africa
16 May 16
ai ai ai - Monday sadness is not good for my soul - Dog Shelters here (in Klerkenshire0 are having court cases because one of the administrators had all the animals put down two weeks ago - the Country is in upheaval about it.
3 people like this
@jaboUK (64360)
• United Kingdom
16 May 16
@Inlemay Hey, I did give this a happy ending. That's a terrible thing that administrator did, I'm not surprised that people are up in arms.
2 people like this
@Ceerios (4698)
• Goodfellow, Texas
16 May 16
@jaboUK - Ms Janet - I am happy for that little dog, but really happy for this fine poem written by my good friend, Ms. Janet. Gus Kilthau
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64360)
• United Kingdom
16 May 16
@Ceerios Thank you Gus, you say the sweetest things
2 people like this
@Ceerios (4698)
• Goodfellow, Texas
16 May 16
@jaboUK - Ms Janet - That is the way things work when people get older, and older, and older, and ... Well, you know what I mean. Take care, Gus Kilthau
2 people like this
@AnneEJ (4917)
• Dollard-Des-Ormeaux, Quebec
16 May 16
I have never taken a dog from a shelter, but my son and his wife just did last week. I haven't talked to them as to how it is working out. My grandson is Autistic, so I am sure the dog will be great for him You did a great job on that poem.
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64360)
• United Kingdom
16 May 16
@AnneEJ I believe dogs are a great help with autistic children, so I hope your grandson benefits from having one. Thank you for liking the poem.
2 people like this
@AnneEJ (4917)
• Dollard-Des-Ormeaux, Quebec
16 May 16
@jaboUK My grandson has always liked dogs, but they have such a busy life as my son pastors a large church and his wife works in the church office. But I guess they decided it would be good therapy for him.
2 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
16 May 16
My son just got a dog from the shelter, He was scared and thin. After a few weeks he is a happy health dog.
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64360)
• United Kingdom
16 May 16
@fishtiger58 That dog looks lovely - happy and contented. I'm so glad that there are people like your son about that are prepared to re-home dogs.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
17 May 16
@jaboUK Yea he is a cutie, I really like him and have fun when my son brings him over.
1 person likes this
@sgbrown (1638)
• United States
16 May 16
Your poem almost brought tears to my eyes! I wish I could bring all the animals from the shelter home. I can't even visit there, it just breaks my heart! My kids have always brought our dogs home from where ever. We have kept 2 dogs that someone dumped out and they found their way to our house. That is something else that I can't stand to see happen!
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64360)
• United Kingdom
16 May 16
@sgbrown You are like me Sheila - I daren't go to a shelter because we just can't have a dog at the moment. It would be too heart-wrenching to see their imploring faces and not being able to do anything about it.
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64360)
• United Kingdom
17 May 16
@sgbrown I feel exactly the same.
1 person likes this
@sgbrown (1638)
• United States
17 May 16
@jaboUK One of my friends and her daughter used to go to the shelter and donate dog food. The would play with the dogs, just to give them some attention. They never came home with one, I couldn't do it! I don't have the will power! Those sweet eyes looking up at me, would dissolve any will power I thought I had!
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
16 May 16
Such a sad then happy poem and the pic is just beautiful. All my pets have been rescued but only the most recent one from a shelter.
2 people like this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
17 May 16
@jaboUK I can;t bear the thought of unhappy confused animals.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64360)
• United Kingdom
16 May 16
@MsTickle Thanks. Your heart is obviously in the right place.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (217270)
• Chile
15 May 16
I donĀ“t even know if there are dog shelters where I live.
2 people like this
@marguicha (217270)
• Chile
16 May 16
@jaboUK There are stray dogs in other parts of the city. Not where I live.
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64360)
• United Kingdom
16 May 16
@marguicha Are there many stray dogs around? If there aren't, perhaps there are shelters that you are unaware of.
2 people like this
@DWDavis (25806)
• United States
16 May 16
It is a beautiful poem. I've not gotten a dog from a shelter, but in January of 2015 we adopted Ace, a mini-Schnauzer, from the NC Schnauzer Rescue, and they'd rescued him from a kill shelter.
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64360)
• United Kingdom
16 May 16
@DWDavis That's pretty much the same as getting a dog from a shelter, especially since he's been rescued from one previously. Thank you for your kind words regarding the poem.
1 person likes this
• Midland, Michigan
16 May 16
No, although I did go to one once a long time ago. But I don't even remember when that was, whether I had my kids or not. I think we were just looking or something, or maybe I went with a friend.
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64360)
• United Kingdom
16 May 16
@MarshaMusselman I daren't go to a shelter nowadays because we just can't have a dog at the moment - we are away from home too much.
@KristenH (33362)
• Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
15 May 16
This is so sad. When I had my first pet Buddy, a mutt, when I was little, he came from one of those animal shelters in a cart that came by in the neighborhood. We got him, when I was five and my brother was seven. He lived until he was 13, when I was around 16 and my brother was 18. I miss him.
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64360)
• United Kingdom
15 May 16
@KristenH I haven't seen animal shelters in a cart. Did they just bring them round and hope people would adopt them? I still miss my dog and she's been gone for 16 years
2 people like this
@KristenH (33362)
• Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
16 May 16
@jaboUK I'm not sure. That's what my mother told me. This is back in the 1980s in New Jersey. I don't know about now. Mine's been gone for 20+ years.
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (26289)
• Singapore
16 May 16
Nice thoughts and poem. They are our fellow travelers and so enriching enjoying their company; they give more than take - siva
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64360)
• United Kingdom
16 May 16
@Shiva49 You've said that right - they do give more than they take, and you are never alone if you have a dog.
1 person likes this