The unseen agony

Lost and wandering all alone,

At last brought here to find a home

A human leaves and says 'so long'

I'd no idea something was wrong.

 

No food or water comes my way,

Although I wait here day by day.

My stomach hurts, my tongue is dry,

Still no one comes - I don't know why.

 

A kindly word, a pat or stroke,

Just anything would give me hope.

My lovely eyes were once so bright,

They're clouding now as pain I fight.

 

My legs give way as all strength goes,

The agony just grows and grows.

I lie here now weak and alone,

I guess I'll never find a home.

 

My eyes are now dimming and finally close,

And no one either cares or knows.

I'm just a poor Greyhound alone and in pain,

This must not be allowed to happen again.

 

(Jean Bowler, Reading, England)

 

***** 

This poem is based on a true story about Major, a lovely Greyhound who died aged just 3 years, and happened in 2007. I found this following newspaper article (his picture is at the bottom of the page; may he rest in peace now): 

COPS LEFT LOST DOG TO DIE ... AT A POLICE STATION

Stray alone for 10 days 

A GREYHOUND died of thirst after police dumped it in a tiny kennel at their station, then forgot about it for TEN days.

The stray's remains were only found when officers complained about the smell.

The dog died in agony. As greyhounds rarely bark, no one was alerted to the animal's suffering. 

Yesterday, police and animal welfare inspectors announced inquiries into the animal's needless death.

Police dog handlers were furious about the animal's appalling treatment. Police said it was a "tragic situation".

They confirmed that officers may be disciplined over the dog's death.

The brindle greyhound had been picked up as a stray and taken to Dalkeith police station in Midlothian on January 2.

The Record understands the dog's arrival was logged at the front desk.

The animal was then placed in a holding kennel at the back.

The officer who accepted the dog is not normally based at the station and it received no further attention.

A source said: "Normally, the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals would have been contacted immediately and the dog would have gone to them within 24 hours.

"For some reason this did not happen and everyone just forgot about it, with horrific consequences."

 

The dog endured its lonely ordeal just yards from the station's busy car park.

It is not known how long it took to die.

Its fate was only discovered when other officers became aware of a horrible smell around the kennel, beside petrol pumps in a courtyard, on January 12.

The dog is likely to have died from dehydration. Although under-nourished when it was brought in, there is no evidence it was ill.

Inquiries have been hampered as the officers who found the decomposing body immediately got rid of it.

Our source said: "It simply appears that they did not think through the implications."

Officers at the station say the incident has caused huge anger in the force. One said: "The kennel it was left in is little more than a cupboard. As you would expect, our dog handlers are particularly furious." 

Greyhound lovers were also outraged. They said there was little doubt the animal would have been an ex-racing dog.

David Melville, of the Greyhound Awareness League, said: "This is quite horrific. We can only hope that lessons are learned.

Melville said the lack of noise from the kennel was "absolutely typical", adding: "A greyhound is no use as a watchdog as they very seldom bark. They are trusting dogs."

Source