Do I Go Home Today?

Today the Hardeman County Shelter is empty. No dogs will die today. By next week it will be full once again with the unwanted, and the throwaways of Hardeman County. These dogs and puppies have five days to live unless claimed or adopted. Some are fostered out in hopes of adoption, the rest……..!!! Many of these dogs and puppies are the product of uncontrolled reproduction because the owners do not, or will not, accept the responsibility of having their dogs altered, and knowingly let their animals breed indiscriminately. There is no excuse for letting this continue to happen! Low cost spay/neuter programs are available to the public, and one only needs to look at all the roaming dogs in this County to realize what a serious situation has been created. This is only one of the reasons why the County Shelter fills up so quickly. The other is the number of surrenders. There are legitimate reasons for some of these surrenders, and Animal Control Volunteers are sensitive to these situations and do their best to find homes for these poor animals. Others are brought to the Shelter because they are just no longer wanted! The reasons given ranging from “allergies to moving out of town”, but if the truth be known, they just no longer wanted their dog. The responsibility of having a dog was just more than they could handle. That cute cuddly puppy grew up and “suddenly” became “uncontrollable”. You would be uncontrollable too if you were never given any training, if you were beaten each time you made a mistake, or if you were chained to a tree all day and all night. What if you stayed in a pen 24 hours a day, only seeing people when they came to bring you food or water? Having a pet is a long-term responsibility…it is so much more than food, water and the once a year vaccinations. Think about this before you bring an animal into your home… and make a commitment to yourself and to your pet. They have feelings too!

My family brought me home, cradled in their arms.
They cuddled me and smiled at me, and said I was full of charms.
They played with me, and laughed with me. They showered me with toys.
I sure do love my family, especially the girls and boys.
The children loved to feed me, and they gave me special treats.
They even let me sleep with them, all snuggled in the sheets.
I used to go for walks, often several times a day.
They fought to hold the leash, I'm very proud to say.
These things I can't forget, a cherished memory.
I now live in the Shelter, without my family.
They used to laugh and praise me, when I played with that old shoe.
But I didn't know the difference between the old one and the new.
The kids and I would grab a rag, and for hours we would tug.
So I thought I did the right thing, when I chewed the bathroom rug.
They said I was out of control, and would have to live outside.
I didn't understand, although I tried and tried.
The walks stopped one by one. They said they hadn't time.
I wish that I could change things; I wish I knew my crime.
My life became so lonely, in the backyard on a chain.
I barked and barked all day long, to keep from going insane.
So they brought me to the Shelter, but were embarrassed to say why.
They said I caused an allergy, and then they kissed me goodbye.
If I'd only had some classes, when I was a little pup,
I wouldn't have been so hard to handle, when I was all grown up.
"You have only one day left," I heard the worker say.

Does this mean a second chance? Do I go home today?
-Author Unknown

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