Finn’s Rubaiyat

 

close up portrait of a blue and white whippet with a pink collar in a sun puddle

 

With yellow, gold and crimson leaves
police dog Finn was chasing thieves
his trusted handler by his side
the wind whipped up around the eaves.

For seven years he’s shared the ride
his handler smiles and brims with pride
a home with kids, a loving wife
taking risks all in their stride.

The fugitive produced a knife
swinging ’round, making a dive
this night will be remembered here
for Finn who nearly lost his life.

His handler fought his worst felt fears
his words spilled out in unshed tears
Finn’s suffering was hard to bear
when reaching out, support appears.

We share and tweet and click and share
hoping that someone, somewhere
will join us here and do the same
make a difference, show we care.

Make new laws in brave Finn’s name
protect the dogs, that’s our aim
we all can help, roll up our sleeves
support Finn’s Law and change the game.

© Xenia Tran

 

close up portrait of a blue and white whippet with a copy of Fabulous Finn by Dave Wardell

 

Frank at dVerse Poets invites us to create a ruba’i (a classical Persian quatrain or double couplet with 13-syllable lines with a rhyme scheme of aaaa or aaba) or a Rubaiyat (a collection of more than one quatrain, frequently made up of 10-syllable or 8-syllable lines). The prompt stays open until 28th February.

Finn’s Rubaiyat is an interlocking Rubaiyat and tells the story of police dog Finn, who was seriously injured when apprehending an offender while on duty with his handler Dave Wardell. Finn’s life was thankfully saved by Dave’s quick-thinking colleagues, an expert team of vets, four hours of surgery and the devoted care of his handler. Dave’s book ‘Fabulous Finn’ tells the story of what happened and Finn’s long road to recovery. Dave believes that Finn’s actions saved his life that night. He was disappointed to learn, in the aftermath, that police dogs are not protected by law. He wanted to use his experience to change that and ensure that police dogs, police horses and other service animals were receiving the protection they deserve.

The campaign for Finn’s Law quickly gathered enough momentum to pass through three Parliamentary readings. It passed its second reading at the House of Lords on Friday 1st March and is scheduled to go before the House of Lords Committee on 19th March 2019.

If you want to show your support you can do so via the hashtags #FinnsLaw #FinnForChange and #FabulousFinn and via Finn’s own Twitter Handle @K9Finn. Dave is on Twitter during #FinnHour (8-9 pm GMT).

I posted a review of Dave Wardell’s (and Lynn Barrett-Lee’s) book ‘Fabulous Finn’ on Goodreads. The book is beautifully written and gives a great insight into the valuable work our police dogs and their human handlers do.

We wish you all a beautiful new week!

With love from Eivor, Pearl and Xenia xxx

 

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

 

dVerse Poets: Poetry Forms – The Rubaiyat

Lens-Artists Weekly Photo Challenge #34: Close Up

 

We are delighted to report that, after passing all its parliamentary stages, Finn’s Law was given Royal Assent late on Monday, 8th April 2019. It has now become an official part of the Animal Welfare Law in England and Wales.

Author: whippetwisdom

The stories, poems and photographs on this blog are the original creative work of Xenia Tran. Inspired by life in the Scottish Highlands and in awe of nature she gives voice to the wisdom of her adopted and fostered whippets.

41 thoughts on “Finn’s Rubaiyat”

  4. Pingback: Fishertown Rubaiyat – Tranature

  14. Thanks for helping to illuminate these important topics for us.
    Here in the U.S., the Federal Law Enforcement Animal Protection Act passed last year now makes it a federal crime to assault a police dog or horse, punishable by fines and imprisonment.
    It’s the very least we can do in return for these animals’ service to humankind.
    Long overdue, I say.

    Seek peace,

    Paz

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much for your kind words dear Paz and I agree, it’s long overdue. I’m glad to hear the Federal Law Enforcement Animal Protection Act was passed in the US last year and hope we can have its local equivalent passed soon too 🙂💜🐕

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

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