12/22/2024
The Christmas Orphans
by Patricia MacCabe, D.V.M.
As Santa slipped down the first chimney he froze,
For probing his boot was a shiny wet nose
He wasn’t quite sure of the next thing he saw,
but on closer inspection it was clearly a paw.
Not sure if the beast was a friend or a foe,
He quickly decided it best that he go
But thinking of children who’d miss Christmas Day,
He summoned his courage and made himself stay.
He climbed on the hearth; hit his head on the mantle
Spun around from the bump and knocked over a candle.
He fell to the ground while trying to right it
And the beast ran for cover, he guessed it was frightened.
He went to console it and found himself staring
At more than a dozen wet noses preparing
To sniff at his boots and decide if the stranger
Was someone who posed them an imminent danger?
He looked to his right and saw more solemn eyes
He looked to his left, yet another surprise
For he was surrounded by all sorts of creatures
In feathers and fur, with all sorts of features.
He started to think that he’d made a mistake
For slithering ‘round his right boot was a snake.
He ran to the chimney and tried to climb up
but stopped in mid stride when he thought of the pup.
And taken aback by the poor lot of orphans
His mood quickly changed with a rush of endorphins
He opened his sack and began to search quickly
For something to leave them but then he felt sickly
He looked in his bag and had nothing to give
That would be quite as good as a nice place to live.
A bowl of fresh food and a family to love them
A warm bed below and a strong roof above them.
He started about on his Christmas Eve rounds
In search of the homes in which true love abounds
Determined to give them the best he could give
A home full of love in which each one could live.
This holiday season, please never forget
All the pets needing homes at the shelters and vets.
For all of these orphans lived by the decree,
“It’s better to give than it is to receive
And if you’ll adopt us we’ll second the motion
And pay you back tenfold in love and devotion!”