My sister bought my mother an extraordinary Christmas present many years ago. Diane had a small dog, and my mother seemed to like it, and Diane thought she would share the joy and love with Mom. Diane would have topped everyone's present by giving the "best" Christmas present ever. I remember the day as if it was yesterday. The celebration was in full swing when my sister arrived with the bundle of "Joy."
To say my mother was surprised was an understatement. The look on her face would stop a freight train, and a forced smile came upon her face; not wanting to hurt my sister's feeling, she took the dog. After everything wound down that evening, there was poop and pee in various areas to clean up, and Mom was exhausted from chasing her new family member around the house.
While Diane thought it was a great idea and would give Mom some company, it wasn't. Later, Mom told me, "if I wanted a dog, I would buy one." the day after Christmas, Mom called my sister and told her to pick the dog up and return it to the pet store. The incident was never spoken of by anyone in my family again. I guess my Christmas present was the show-stopper. Mom loved her new kitchen rugs. I got her, and I often saw them, sorry Diane.
When we bred Border Collie puppies, it was a magical time to be with them as they grew, and I loved to see them go to their new home full of love and energy. One year, we had Christmas pups, it was not planned, but you can't control those girls. They were born in the middle of September, which meant they could go home around Christmas. As a past detective, I got that gut feeling that something was not right, and I had it with one of the future pup owners. We always screen our prospective owners, but that feeling was there. The day before he was to pick up his pup for the kids, I called him and told him my thought and that it would not be a good idea to get the pup. After much begging, he wanted to talk in person, and he came over. After much talk, and as we were walking, he put his arm around me and said: "I promise you I will do everything I can do to give your pup a good home, besides, what will I tell the boys?" One year later, I got that call, the pup was coming home. He did, and he was a train wreck and even bit me when I tried to work with him.
I have beat myself up a thousand times, and I promised myself it would never happen again, and it didn't I worked for months trying to fix all the wrongs in the dog. He would not approach me, much less let me touch him for weeks. Once, while sitting on the floor in the same room, he approached me; I turned my head away and bowed. He licked my face, and I knew there was hope. Years later, and with much work, he succeeded in life.
With the Christmas season coming up, from experience, don't surprise anyone with a dog. Everyone needs to know what is going on and is on board with the entire process, even children. Dogs are expendable to some, and that's where we come in. Some dogs Clancy's Dream brings in have issues of some sort, it lacks love, attention, and exercise. It's never the dog but the past owner. They are given all of it here, and they live happy lives. The other strong suggestion I can give is never to purchase a dog from a Pet Store. While they look beautiful and healthy, their parents are sitting in a cage and will live their entire life there. As of 2020, in Indiana alone, there are over 250 puppy mills and over 6,700 adult dogs trapped, which they know about, and over 10,000 in the United States. They only exist because people purchase the dogs... Ken
FORGOTTEN DOG'S CHRISTMAS
~Author unknown
T'was the night before Christmas, when all thru the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care
In hopes that St. Nick soon would be there.
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care
In hopes that St. Nick soon would be there.
The children all nestled snug in their beds
With no thought of dogs filling their head.
And mom in her kerchief and I in my cap
Knew the dog was cold but didn't care about that.
With no thought of dogs filling their head.
And mom in her kerchief and I in my cap
Knew the dog 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.
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 Clause, with his eyes full of tears.
gave the luster of mid-day to objects below.
When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But Santa Clause, with his eyes full of tears.
He unchained the dog once so lively and quick.
Last year's Christmas present, now painfully sick.
More rapid than eagles, he called the dog's name
and the dog ran to him despite all his pain.
Last year's Christmas present, now painfully sick.
More rapid than eagles, he called the dog's name
and the dog ran to him despite all his pain.
Now Dasher, now Dancer, now Prancer and Vixen
On Comet on Cupid on Donner and Blitzen.
To the top of the porch to the top of the wall
Let's send this dog a home where he's loved by all.
On Comet on Cupid on Donner and Blitzen.
To the top of the porch to the top of the wall
Let's send this dog a home where he's loved by all.
I knew in an instant there would be no gifts this year
For Santa had made one thing quite clear.
The gift of a dog is not just for the season
We had gotten the dog for all the wrong reasons.
For Santa had made one thing quite clear.
The gift of a dog is not just for the season
We had gotten the dog for all the wrong reasons.
In our haste to think of the kids a gift
There was one important thing we missed
A dog should be family and cared for the same
You don't give a gift, then put it on a chain.
There was one important thing 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 explain as he rode out of sight,
"You" wasn't given a gift; you were given a life.
"You" wasn't given a gift; you were given a life.
