Imagine a kennel on a bleak winter’s night invaded by winds that ravage and bite pools of thick ice gleam on cold concrete floor and elements rage through barred window and door.

Yearning for warmth, forced to huddle and shake desperate for water through ice that won’t break predatory diseases drain their courage and fight grave coughs and sad whimpers fill the cold hostile night.

Death may come calling for the young ill and old as their frail broken bodies lose their fight to the cold hearts grow weaker and their breathing shuts down released body fluids coat the iced ground.

Isolated and hidden within walls without shame imprisoned frail dogs, some without names forgotten and frightened and left slowly to freeze because no caring hearts hear their cries or their pleas.

As streaks of light paint the blackened sky my 8th day dawns – my day to die the smell of fear pervades this place I feel the chill of death’s embrace

A grasper hangs on padlocked door. They don’t know me – they must be sure that I won’t fight when my time comes That I won’t bite – that I won’t run

But I’m gentle Jack who lived to please. Who’s due to die this Christmas Eve I’m gentle Jack who tho’ in strife would never bite to save my life

I’m gentle Jack whose owner died and they had to drag me from their side I will always be their faithful friend My love for them will never end

I’m gentle Jack who cried their tears and knew their inner hopes and fears who enriched their lives and shared their fun. Our loving hearts that beat as one

I’m gentle Jack who loved soft toys and frolicked with the girls and boys who hid their socks and shared their toast my daily walk - I loved the most

I’m gentle Jack with eyes so bright they shone like emeralds in the night who ran the wind and swam the sea and fetched a ball with wanton glee

But now I’m just another stray That has no worth who’s had his day. There’s been no time to learn my ways The pound is full so I can’t stay.

Of your caring heart I do implore stop death coming through this door. Please don’t let my last day be held by a stranger injecting me

With death’s needle in my leg I have no chance to plead or beg. Put to sleep without a name because no-one cared and no-one came.

What a tragic shameful waste my healthy life destroyed in haste I have no say, I have no voice Only you can make that choice

Help me now – it’s not too late stop this wrong and change my fate I‘m gentle Jack with much to give for pity’s sake please help me live

This is the chant you’ll NEVER hear whilst our nation’s dogs are paying dear. This is the news that’s kept suppressed and rescues left to stand its test. They are covid’s unspoken prey - wanted, used and thrown away. Rescues now must pay the price for this disregard for life.

Relentless eyes that beg and plead for the mercy that they need. Bloodied, starved and abused they come – wondering what they could have done To deserve such a heinous end from one whom once they thought their friend Who brought them home with great delight now casts them cruelly to the night.

So at the battlefront we stand – fighting now is hand-to-hand. Government aid has never come and one by one the brave succumb. Nothing left with which to fight, against a foe that has such might. As each warrior rescue dies, there’s one soul less to hear their cries.

The future rescue world looks bleak, stripped of those who fought to seek A desperate way to try to alter the cold acceptance of this slaughter. Pray for the miracle that we need until these awful times recede To protect the brave who stood the test and salvage rescue at its best.