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Gordon Bakalar, Pennsylvania

Chained in Chicago, 24 Hours, June 27-28

 

TOUGH   LOVE /   Chained 
 
I am a dog with a story to tell
A dog on a chain, my life a living hell.
 
I was unlucky enough to be born in a “mill”
Though they passed new laws, it’s probably there still.
  
I was born in a small wire pen
Along with my brothers, six of us kin.
  
We were not kept together for very long
Before taken to auction and sold for a song.

Sold to a pet store, my home a glass cage
I was one of those designer dogs, “all of the rage.”
 
So again I was sold in about a week
Little did I know it was “up the creek.”
 
I was bought for a Christmas present for the kids
But that didn’t last long before I hit the skids.
 
At first it was a happy and playful time
I lived in a big house, everything was fine.

Played with two children, my master and his wife
This was the greatest, this was the life.
 
 But then all of a sudden things got real hard
I was thrown outside to live in the yard.
 
Maybe it’s because I do shed a little
Or once on the rug I did a little piddle.
 
No explanation and no reason why
All night alone I would whimper and cry.
 
When the sun came up I barked all day
But no one, not even the kids, came out to play.
 
I’ve grown a little older now living on a chain
They say I’m too big for the house, too much trouble to train.
 
This is my story, and my lament
I'm nothing more than a lawn ornament.
 
I’ve been waiting for my master for close to 15 years
Tied in the back yard, choking back my tears.

I hope you think of me when you see a dog on a chain
And know that dog is lonely, hurting, and in pain.

Maybe you’ll even stop a while and pat him on his head
Or just sit beside him and talk to him instead.

If you stay long enough to say a friendly word
It’s sure to be a kindness that for years he’s never heard.
 
\When you see a chained dog and know of his plight
You'll know in your heart and mind, it just ain’t right.
 
By Gordon Bakalar, erikabak@msn.com

(This is the Full Version of the Poem)

TOUGH   LOVE /   Chained 
 
I am a dog with a story to tell
A dog on a chain, my life a living hell
 
The story is about  “Mans Best Friend
It’s not a happy story as I die in the end
 
I was unlucky enough to be born in a “mill”
Though they passed new laws, it’s probably there still
 
I was born in a small wire pen
Along with my brothers, six of us kin
 
We were not kept together for very long
Before taken to an auction and sold for a song
Sold to pet store, my home a glass cage
I was one of those designer dogs, “all of the rage”
 
So again I was sold in about a week
Little did I know it was “up the creek.”
 
I was bought for a Christmas present for the kids
But that didn’t last too long before I hit the skids
 
At first it was a happy and playful time
I lived in a big house, everything was fine
Played with two children, my master and his wife
This was the greatest, this was the life
 
But then all of a sudden things really got hard
I was thrown out of the house to live in the back yard
 
Maybe it’s because I may shed a little
Or once on the rug I did a little piddle
 
No explanation and no reason as to why
All night alone I would whimper and cry
 
When the sun came up I barked all day
But no one not even the kids came out to play
 
I’ve grown a little older now living on a chain
They say I’m too big for the house and too much trouble to train
 
This is my story and my lament
Chained like a garden ornament
 
Perhaps a plastic flamingo standing guard
Would have been a better choice than a chained dog in the yard
 
I know my master loves me, how could he not
He paid so much for me then he just forgot
Chained me in the back yard living in misery
Tied me with a heavy chain to a big old oak tree
 
So I am banished to the back yard for all eternity
Oh God, if there is one, won’t you set me free
But it’s all just a nightmare, no one comes for me
 
I know now I’m just another throw away pet
Something for someone soon to forget
 
My chain isn’t long enough to reach my water bowl
And seems to get a lot shorter as round the tree I go
This may look funny, but to me it ain’t no joke
Seems the rounder I go the more I do choke
Pretty soon the food bowl is out of reach as well
No matter how much or loud I bark there’s no one near to tell
 
My paws are sore from pulling, my tongue is hanging out
It’s no use I can see, there’s just no one about
Bloody neck and dirt in my fur, both are pitiful sights
Makes no difference, don’t you see, chained dogs have no rights
 
There is no one close no one to care
I’m only a piece of property like an overstuffed chair
 
I know my master loves me; I’m one of his favorite pets
He’s sure to feed me every day, except when he forgets
 
Because I love my master and all the human race
Sometimes I wait for days just to see his face
 
Winter storms approaching, weather getting cold
My aching bones are telling me I’m really getting old
A winter storms approaching, I feel it in my skin
Hope I can survive it considering the shape I’m in
 
It rains, then pours, then freezes
Making me sick and get the sneezes
 
I know my master loves me. I’m his favorite pet
But I also know I’ll never ever get to see a vet
 
It rains and pours then turns to ice
And in the morning I really don’t look so nice
 
Standing in the cold shivering and wet
No one to help me that’s good bet
Master would, but he’s not up yet
 
My feet are frozen to the ground
It hurts to move as I look around
The neighborhood is quiet, not a sound
And to this log chain still I am bound
 
I’d be better off living and dying in the pound
And when the day comes in my cage dead I am found
A head stone will read to a “No Name Hound”
At the grave site on top of the mound
“This dog’s gone to heaven a cloud as his bed
As you can see this chained dog is better off dead”
 
They have long forgotten that I’m even here
All those long frigid nights I’ve lived outside in fear
 
How many years has it been since he chained me to this tree
How many years has it been since he paid any attention to me
 
Chained to this tree till the end of time
Apparently because being a dog is my only crime
No one cares or looks my way
I’m lucky if I get fed every OTHER day
And water is a major luxury
If my bowl overturns, too bad for me
 
Embedded in my neck is the chain I always wore
Making it bloody, an ugly open sore
The chain so tight around me it makes it hard to swallow
I believe before too long death is sure to follow
 
I have no dog house, no shelter, no shade
Only the tree I’m tied to in this open glade
 
Spring’s around the corner, flowers all a-bloom
I know I’ll see my master, I’m sure I’ll see him soon
 
Spring is here at last and I yearn to romp and play
But my master has other things to do, so here is where I stay
 
In the spring with all the rain
Muddy ground is the only place to lie in
I used to be a proud dog but proud I am no more
My coat is muddy and matted, my skin all full of sores
 
Well another summer’s coming, the heat I’ll try to endure
But I know my master loves me, this I know for sure
 
From the summers heat there is no relief
For the tree I am chained to hasn’t begun to leaf
And this summer is a real scorcher
Adding so much more to my agony and torture
 
This 8 foot chain is way to short for any exercise
Nor can I get relief from all the summer flies
They cloud my eyes, chew my ears and cause my cheeks to run with tears
 
Fall is fast approaching. The leaves are falling down
I haven’t seen my master. He hasn’t been around
 
Another winter’s here and I’m lying in the snow
As I have no house or shelter, no place else to go
 In the winter my shelter is just a tree bough
Does that do any good? Then please tell me how
 
I know that all winter long my master’s had no time for me
My sole and only companion has been this old oak tree
 
After each spring and after every winter
Year after year my coats more matted and I grow much thinner
 
My master loves me. I know it’s not his fault
Eventually he’ll save me and bring my agony to a halt
I know one year my master will come for me
I know one day he will come and set me free
Break my chains and give me just a little taste of liberty
But till that day comes I will wait very patiently
Smile and wag my tail at every opportunity
 
Just kill me! Shoot me! Anything’s more humane
Than the abuse I’ve taken from being on this chain
 
I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I can’t get up no more
Guess it’s too much cold and wet that makes my bones so sore
 
I’ve been waiting for my master for close to 15 years
Tied up in the back yard barking and choking back my tears
Waiting for my master just to touch and pat my head
But I’ve waited one too many years as now I’m almost dead
 
I’m getting older now starting to go blind
But of all the suffering I’ve been through I really wouldn’t mind
If only master had spoken to me a few words that were kind
 
In the months and years gone so slowly bye
I’m too far gone, too old to bark with no more tears to cry
 
 Being blind now I can’t see to the end of the street
But I know my master be the sound of his feet
He’s coming my way & I puff up with pride
But before he gets to me he turns to the house and goes right inside
I know he wanted to talk to me and wish me well
That’s my master. He loves me I can just tell
 
Chained for over 15 years. That’s a very long time
Locked up and chained but charged with  no crime
 
I’m an old dog now, my muzzle is all gray         
For some time now I’ve been ready to up and die just any old day
 
There is no fat or flesh on my body, just skin and bone
Still chained out to die as I lived…all alone
 
I am an animal just like my master I have a heart and mind
I am a different species, just an animal of a different kind
 
I know you’ll find on closer introspection
All dogs want is love and affection
Not chained up getting abuse and rejection
 
Visions of freedom flash through my head
But before liberty comes I know that I’ll be dead
 
I see my master coming; coming to set me free
But now it’s just too late; just too late for me
 
So many seasons have come and gone, so many years have passed
I just couldn’t make it another year. I just died at last
 
As I heave my last breath and sigh my last sigh
Drop my head between my paws, close my eyes and die
 
I know my master loved me. It’s really much too bad
You see he just lost the best friend he could’ve ever had
 
Every day that I lived I was suffering and in pain
You won’t know what hell is like till you die at the end of a chain
 
If there is a lesson to be learned, it is your dog do not fetter
Because we now know all DOGS DESERVE BETTER
 
Home of the Brave and Land of the Free
Never seemed to apply to me
Never seemed to be my destiny
 
Guess you wonder what happened to that hateful 8 foot length of chain
It’s rusting on the same cold ground where so many years I had lain
Cutting into that old oak tree and choking it to death
Pretty soon that old tree too, will be breathing its last breath
 
I hope you will think of me when you see a dog on a chain
And know that that dog is lonely, hurting, and in pain
Maybe you’ll even stop a while and pat him on his head
Or just sit beside him and talk to him instead
If you stay long enough to say a friendly word
It’s sure to be a kindness that for years he’s never heard
 
If the owner’s home you might talk to him trying not to be rude
Perhaps get him to change his mind and change his attitude
Bring his dog into his heart and into his house as well
And let his dog have a better life and with his family dwell
 
When you see a chained dog and know of his plight
You know in your heart and mind it just ain’t right
 
Next time you see “me” tied up to a chain
Don’t look the other way and start to complain
Go to the owner’s house. Tell him why you’re there
Speak up for the dog. Tell him how he’s being so unfair
Explain…as you see it that the dog needs more care
Maybe of the dogs needs he wasn’t fully aware
Use words that soothe and try to be polite
You want to be calm, not to start a fight
If all of you persuasion still doesn’t work
And the guy seems indifferent and still being a jerk
You might start to use words like torture, pain, and abuse
And if for all of your best efforts it’s still no use
You may need to get a little harder and put him to shame
For all his dogs’ suffering, he’s the one to blame
Talk of the dog warden and of the law make mention
See if words like these might not get his attention
But if he goes off the deep end; starts to rant and rave
Tell him it is his (Mans) Best Friend you are trying to save