The Council of Dogs

"The Council of Dogs" by Anonymous is a witty poem set around 1808, where dogs of different breeds hold a meeting to air their grievances about how people and poets overlook them. Led by a wise Sheep Dog, each canine brags about their special skills, like the Greyhound's speed and the Cur's help to the blind. Though filled with pride and rivalry, their meeting takes a turn when a hungry Cur shares the hard truth about how tough life is for many dogs, calling out the others' boastfulness. The story ends with the dogs realizing they're all important and that working together is the only way they'll ever get the humans and poets to appreciate them, using humor and talking animals to poke fun at what society values and the trouble with being too proud.