Tarragona, Spain, November 2nd 2001
By Anthony Walker
An Animal Rights Poem from All-Creatures.org

On November 2nd 2001 near Tarragona in Spain, a dogs` home was raided by thugs. They took twenty or so dogs and chopped off their paws, leaving them to bleed to death. One of the victims was a mother of newborn pups. She managed to crawl back to her pups to feed them before she died. This poem is dedicated to her and the other dogs.

All was quiet till they broke in,
The dogs` home was at peace.
She licked her pups, desiring
They take some milk before sleep.

The night exploded into mayhem
As the drunken rabble stormed in,
Breaking through the gates, and then
Seizing their canine victims.

The dogs` terrified barks raised none
To help them in their plight;
The men had planned what was to be done,
`twas useless for the dogs to fight.

She was tied like the rest, by the legs,
Her jaws held so she couldn't bite;
With an axe they chopped off her paws
And, laughing, left her in the night.

Bleeding she crawled to her young
To feed them one last time.
They took the milk that was life-giving
Before she died, kissing them.

To the end she had only love
For her pups confused and afraid,
Yet greedy for the milk she gave,
As she asked herself why this deed

Was done to her and her kind
On that night in sultry Spain.
Who can fathom a man's mind
Who would inflict such terrible pain?