Yesterday I came across this very sad poem on the Starting Over Dog Resuce Facebook page, and I thought I would share it as a timely reminder now that summer is on its way out, and we have been getting the rain and the thunder and lightening.
If there is one thing that absolutely terrifies dogs that is thunder. Fortunately not all dogs are scared of thunder, but most are. This fear has caused many dogs to dig out of their back yards and venture out into the sometimes dangerous, sometimes cruel world.
If your dog is not microchipped and he does not have a nametag your chances of being reunited with him are quite slim.
Why would anyone want to take such a risk?
Dexter is an inside dog but even an inside dog can occasionally get out. It doesn’t take much, a gate that was not closed properly, a hole that had not been refilled.
Fortunately my Dexter is microchipped, is your dog?
NOBODY’S DOG
Today is the death day of nobody’s dog
Nothing will mark it but a note in the log
I’m faceless and nameless and no tears will fall
For I know in your world I have no worth at all
To you, my sweet someone, I’m a friend and a dear
We ran the wind daily and you held me so near
But the gate was left open – I chanced a walk on my own
I’d have cowered in fear if only I’d known
I know how you cried on the night that I strayed
I know how you searched, I know how you prayed
But I went to a pound far far from our home
Where I crouched in despair in my kennel alone
I know that you phoned for I heard your dear voice
And I hoped you would hear me so I barked myself hoarse
Although I’m a Lab cross with stockings all white
On their form I’m a Staff cross – the description’s not right
So they said I’m not here and I sank to my bed
My kennel cough’s worse and I can’t raise my head
The rescue came yesterday but they hadn’t a place
For an un-neutered cross breed with his mucus-streaked face
If only you’d come to search for me here
You would have known me at once, you would have sensed I was near
You would have sorted my ills, you would have carried me home
And I promise our God no more would I roam
Now my eyes plead for mercy for my seven days are done
And I am waiting with dread for the final vet run
No arms will caress me as they inject me to death
No words will comfort me as I take my last breath
When the body man comes, it is fitting I’m found
In a bin bag in the freezer in the depths of the pound
Thrown away like the rubbish – no respect and no shame
Denied even the time to find you again
My loyalty and devotion they did cruelly betray
Without microchip or nametag, I am just a dispensable stray
Once waggy-tailed, once proud, beloved and free
Oh Dad look with pain at what mankind’s done to me!
Author Unknown
5 minutes more please 
When we moved to Warrandyte, my little dog had a nametag with the old phone number on it. Two days after we moved in, he got out. I searched until midnight. The next morning I rang all the vets in the area. One said that someone had rung about a little brown dog. They gave me the phone number but the good samaritan was at work. By the time I finally got in contact with him he had taken my little boy to the pound. I found him the next day, shivering and wet because ‘they’ hose out the enclosures..with the dogs still in them. What saved my little boy? A microchip.
Oh I’m so glad you found your dog. I am so scared of dogs ending up at the pound I have had too many bad experiences with them. Anytime I find a dog wandering the streets on its own I take it to my vet to be scanned for a microchip. One time I found this gorgeous Rottweiler but he wasn’t microchipped and because it was a public holiday and the vet was closing for the long weekend they sent the poor thing to the pound. When I rang up to see how it was on Tuesday they told me they had put it down because it lunged at someone. I don’t believe them, she was a gentle, beautiful girl, I should never have left her at the vet. Lucky your dog is microchipped.
What a heartbreaking poem 😦 my dogs have all been microchipped thankfully x
Hi Elaine, hope you are having a great day. It was a very sad poem I know, very hard to read without choking up. Like you my dogs have always been microchipped but so many peoples are not or they have forgotten to update their address details when they have moved. If this sad poem saves even one life than that is good right? xxx
Definitely xx there’s so many posts of Facebook nowadays about lost dogs, and stolen dogs 😦 makes me very nervous about getting another one!! X
I don’t know what I would do if I ever lost my Mollie. And when reading this poem from her or any dog’s perspective for that matter, it saddens me that even one animal should perish for lack of a simple microchip. Thank you for sharing this. If you don’t mind I want to share it on my network of dog lovers.
I totally agree with you Stephane even one death is too many. I would love you to share this with york network of dog lovers, thank you so much.
You are most welcome Diana.
My daughter is very afraid of the big bad boom booms. Yes, this is that we call it and she understands the words. They really do need extra care and attention when storms roll along. And yes, my girl is microchipped.
Have you tried those thunder jackets I have many friends who swear by them, the weight of the jacket is said to have the same calming effect as swaddling a baby, could be worth a try. Xx