05/04/2025
We were deeply moved by the incredible West Midlands Police dog demo at Crufts 2025. 🐾💙
The strength, trust, and loyalty between the handlers and their dogs was unforgettable. It inspired this powerful poem, written by my husband, Jonathan Woodburne. It's a tribute to those who serve on the thin blue line—human and canine alike.
We're sharing it here with gratitude and respect.
Thank you, , for all you do.
He wasn't much of a dog to look at,
Small as Police dogs go,
And midnight black as an alley cat,
And all sinew from tail to toe.
His eyes were quick and yellow,
He wore always a stupid grin,
And at bite work he was reluctant and mellow,
And the Instructor complained he was too thin.
Yet they put us both together,
Our profession our inenviable tether,
Perhaps a natural choice as I too was green,
And too young to have seen,
That which makes good men hard,
And together we worked the prison yard.
I called him Dog,
It seemed a natural choice,
And all through the daily slog,
You never heard his voice.
He seemed a happy boy,
All wags and looks and coy,
And sometimes I forgot of him,
That he too held the Blue Line thin.
And all was well with us,
No angry word no wary look no fuss.
Until that blackest day,
For the Devil will always have his way,
And the Prison Yard erupted,
Every dark heart corrupted,
And they all came for me.
And they beat me to my knees.
I tried to stand but fell,
Feeling boots and blows and hell,
And the light began to fade,
In this maelstrom those Prisoners made...
And I began to die...
I couldn't even fathom why...
And even Dog was hit,
The brick against his back,
But that dog turned and bit,
And eyes blazed yellow on black,
And the red from gaping maw,
This dog transformed I saw,
He wouldn't give a single yelp,
Even when they swung him by his tail,
And could but cry for help,
And that dog made hard men wail,
Whilst he barked and frothed and fought...
And drove them back from where I lay,
Dog always in their way...
I've never seen a bigger dog,
Never been more proud!
Of the dog that I called Dog,
For now his bark was loud!
All black fur bristled up,
And a lions eyes blazed,
No more a goofy pup!
He held the Line unfazed...
He prowled about and leapt,
The boundary line he kept,
And at last the Riot Team came,
And the frenzy began to wane...
The Prisoners returned to their cell,
Though two lay where the fell,
For my Dog had driven them away,
Away from where I lay,
And been ready to trade his life for mine,
No greater love no holier shrine,
Than this dog whose simple drive,
Was to keep this Master alive.
We still walk the Yard together,
But now we both have a limp,
And all comment about the weather,
And none dare call us gimp.
I still can't bear to completely change his name,
Despite his newfound infamy and fame,
And shower him with praise when we're alone,
And he rests with his meaty bone,
I'll call out loud and say,
My Good-Dog saved the day...
And that's enough for him.
A live replay of The West Midlands Police Dog Display from Day 1 of Crufts 2025. Subscribe to Crufts: http://bit.ly/CruftsSub ----------------------------...
