A Shelter Dog's Letter to Santa

My name is Sam although the people here call me Sport. I have tried to be a good dog this year, but things just haven't been working out.

I had a family. They bought me as a puppy and they played with me all the time. They bought me toys and my own bed and dish. We played ball in the yard and sometimes I slept in the people bed.

As I grew some they complained that I ate too much. I couldn't help it. I ate every bite they gave me and my tummy was still hungry. I was awful excited to see them come home but sometimes I bothered them instead of being cute.

I got bigger and bigger and I guess I wasn't as good as before. I got in trouble for chewing on a shoe that smelled like daddy. I just missed him and my new teeth were hurting as they came in but that was really the wrong thing to do. Then they left me in the house all day and I went potty on the floor. I just couldn't help it Santa, I had to GO! I went potty in the yard like a good dog every time they let me out, but sometimes they forgot.

One day we took a ride in the car! It was so much fun! We stopped in the country and I got out and I ran and I ran! When I got tired I turned around to look for mommy and daddy but they were gone. The car was gone and I was all alone.

I walked and walked but I couldn't find them. It got dark and it got cold and I got very hungry. I slept under the bushes and woke up still hungry and cold. After a few days, I didn't look for them anymore. I was so hungry and scared, but no one was looking for me.

Finally I saw a man. He stopped by the side of the road and tried to get me to come to him. I was scared, but I was so hungry. He offered me a treat and I took it. He put me in the car and we went for another ride.

Now I am at what they call the "Shelter". It's very loud here, lots of dogs are barking all the time. The lights are bright and it smells really funny. But the good thing is there is plenty of food and water. I got a blanket to sleep on. For the first few days I just slept and ate. It felt so good to be warm and have food in my tummy! I don't get to get out of the cage very much though.

The people here are very kind. They speak to me and call me "Sport". They said I won't be here much longer. They said I am a really good dog but so is every other dog in the shelter and there are just too many. They said I'm going to be "put to sleep" if I don't get a home before Christmas. When I wake up, will it be Christmas? Will I have a family?

All I want for Christmas is a forever home.

Love,

Sam