Charles Woodrow and I were out for one of our walks almost two weeks ago, I was too tired for the mountains that night so we just headed out in the neighborhood, doing our usual route. He was on leash, and we just trotted along on the sidewalk, peeing on almost any surface that stands still (he gets very particular about which mailbox and bush are in need).
We walked in front of one house and noticed a big black dog was outside, just roaming around. A little voice to me said cross the street but how good am I listening to that voice?? I"LL BE BETTER, I PROMISE! The owner was out and we walked on. I asked her the dog's name and she replied, 'Daisy.' Oh that's a cute name, I thought - must be a sweet dog. I asked if I could pet her and she said yes. I reached out to pet her with Charlie on his leash in my other hand and I noticed the hair on her back was sticking straight up like a mowhawk. I had heard that this was a sign of attack and so I reached out to grab her collar and off she went - except it wasn't on me, it was on my little man.
She was relentless, at one point had both his back legs in her mouth. I tried so hard to get in there and break it up, but I actually think I froze...why on earth did I freeze? I at least could have let go of his leash so he could have run but I gripped hard on that and he was stuck. He was screaming and screaming and I finally got my hands on Daisy and she slipped right through them and went at him again. Everyone says I'm so lucky that I didn't get bit but I would have gladly taken those bites for my Woodrow. I am much bigger and much beefier!
When she realized Charlie wasn't going to fight back she stopped, honestly this all couldn't have lasted more than 5 seconds, and then Charlie took off, right into 30 mph traffic which he luckily missed, limping, blood trailing behind him. I managed to chase him down, but he wouldn't stop. So I just sat in the grass and he limped over to me.
I carried back over to Daisy's house (she had been put up) and the owner was actually the owner's girlfriend and she swore that Daisy had never attacked another dog before. She called owner, he drove up, was really nice but again stated that the dog had never done anything like this. I tried to be really nice, and really calm and after they offered to pay for any vet bills needed, I said I had best get him home. I carried him home about a mile with him screaming at every place I tried to get a hold of him and the sidewalk dripping blood.
I immediately lost it - had no idea I would do that. I made it home, handed him over to my mom the nurse and literally lost it on the floor. I just kept thinking that there had to be a way I could have gotten in there and broken this up earlier, or gotten control of Daisy, etc. At that point I only that he had been bitten a couple of times but as we got a better look at him, we started counting - and counting. 14. 14 huge punctures. We found an er after hours vet and off we went. All he wanted to do was sit in my lap - he was so quiet and so still...AND SAD! How could something do this to such a sweet creature.
The vet had to measure how deep each puncture was by sticking a metal rod in - he was screaming - I couldn't handle it. How on earth am I ever going to take a child to get their shots!! The vet gave him a huge morphine shot and within 20 minutes and after throwing up over and over again), he was loose as a goose and on quite a high. They took him back to shave and wash all of his wounds and luckily didn't feel a thing.
Being a gentlemen with his paws crossed waiting for the vet.
head bite - the deepest one
head and back
his poor swollen legs
We were sent home with massive pain pills and antibiotics and were told to let him rest and bring him back in a few days. The vet said he was one lucky dog to be alive and that was probably due to the fact that he didn't fight back. I always say Charlie just doesn't bite. And he doesn't. Not even during this. With seven bites on his back legs, he was also really lucky he didn't even snap a back leg.
We went home for a long night. He was out of it for most of it but he just kept drooling and drooling and drooling through towel after towel. He laid on my chest and I counted his breaths through most of the night. Hey, like I could sleep.
The next day his ears perked up quite a bit and as long as I was on top of his meds, he really was doing pretty well. I took him back after a few days and the vet was amazed at his progress. We went straight up to the mountain for him to sniff around in and I knew we were over our most traumatic event yet (and hopefully ever!) On our way home we got his favorite, an Arby's sandwich. He has had quite a few of those lately.
getting loved on from grandma, he's been very timid lately.
Now comes the issue of Daisy. Miss Daisy is a pittbull and I know, they have a bad rep. With all of my photo work at the shelters, I have met some really great pitts and didn't want to become one of those people that ordered them all to die. I knew if I did report her, well - it definitely wouldn't be a good thing and I tried to put myself in the owner's shoes. So we went and had a chat. Daisy was acting all sweet and licking my toes and looking pathetic. The owner was really surprised becasue she had tried to go after another dog the next day and so she was being shipped off to training with a group of other dogs for a month to see if she can even handle being around dogs anymore. Or, you know, you could keep her on a leash or in the backyard - there's an idea. So we left it at that.
Days go by and as I am out walking Charlie (not on that street, though), neighbors who had seen the fight were coming up to me and telling me their Daisy stories. Apparentely, the owner had lied about her having attacked other dogs before and she had put a dog in the animal hospital just two months earlier. and then more before that. So, now I need to call animal patrol. If they already have a file on her, well, then - that's a big problem. But there are kids always out playing and so many little furry friends that I would hate myself if this happened again because I didn't do anything about it.
Looking for squirrels, a favorite pastime.
So that is that - he is almost back to his old self, just really scared around other dogs and even people. I've learned quite a bit through this - one, just how attached I am to my little medicine man, as I call him. I realize he is 'just a dog' but then again, he is all that good buddy should be, and his loyalty is unlike anything I've ever seen. I also learned that yes, prayers are answered even for our furry friends and how many more are out there needing our prayers tonight. And for heaven sakes when the voice speaks people, listen!
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