One Ugly Dog

Copyright; Wally Finch
From his book 'Been There - Done That'

"Davo" Davidson had a dog that was the meanest thing around.
No one knew what breed he was. We just called him "that mongrel hound"
People throughout our Shire always gave him the widest berth
Because he stood over a metre tall and was huge around the girth.

Mid afternoon on Saturdays Davo always came to town
And settled down in the Public Bar till closing time came round,
Calling Davo an arrogant man was to understate the case.
But still he had an aura that gave character to the place.

Now we know it isn't legal and we know it isn't right
Davo could con any stranger to put his dog up to fight.
Watching Davo reel his victims in was incredible to see.
They paid up on a chancy set up applied convincingly.

How they bolted without caution, like thirsty horses to water.
Little knowing little caring, they were led like lambs to slaughter.
Their first sign of trouble came when they saw "that mongrel hound".
The second came as they learned defeat has a distinctive sound.

One stranger seemed familiar. Davo thought he'd seen him before.
But the stranger said, "I've not been here for twenty years or more.
"But perhaps you might've heard about my African Fighting Dog -
Ugliest thing you ever saw - brainless as a hollow log,"

Everyone stood silent while Davo moved in for the kill.
He dared the stranger to fight his dog. All was quiet and still.
The stranger agreed to get his dog with, "I'll meet you in the street,"
The battle would be waged as usual in the dust and the heat.

When Davo saw the stranger's dog he couldn't believe his eyes.
The ugliest thing he ever saw and what an enormous size!
The beast had strange tufts of hair around the back of head and throat
And an evil look in his yellow eye, Davo cleared his throat.

The fight ended in an instant with a growl sounding like a roar.
The ugly dog clobbered that mongrel hound with a mighty paw,
Well Davo's dog was sent rolling fairly half way up the street
He ran for his life as Davo muttered, "First time he's been beat."

As he paid the stranger his winnings Davo scratched his head,
"Never heard of that breed before. African Fighting Dog you said?"
"That's right, Davo," the stranger said. "He's an ugly critter hey?
But you should've seen him before I shaved that mane away."

Copyright; Wally Finch