I Love Dogs, but Really!!! This is Getting OLD! (Warning: Some difficult (dog) content here.)

Week Two - Half Training

I Love Dogs, but Really!!! This is Getting OLD! (Warning: Some difficult  (dog) content here.)
Week Two - Half Training

I thought the entire week’s walking training was going to be a wash after what happened on Monday.  But I managed to salvage one day of walking, Saturday, 9/1, which was only supposed to be 6 miles.  I did about 9.  Guess I made up for the week away.  I am a no excuses kinda girl, but this episode was over the top emotionally draining.

Lulu and I set out on Monday (8/27) for the first walk of the week.  It was to be a short, easy walk around 35 minutes. Lulu and I still seemed a bit “gun(dog)-shy” and sadly, were still  definitely on high alert.   We decided to turn around early and just call it a super easy walk.  We were walking at a good pace, with our house just a half a block away as we passed a property where 3 small yapper dogs live.  The property owners attempt to contain the dogs in the yard by using only a worn out, inexpensive volleyball net. This spells trouble right there, don’t ya think?

Usually the net is strung across the driveway and sides of property line to the woods.  It is enough to keep the dogs at bay….generally.  Tom has actually been chased by them while bike riding before, so you know the entire “fence” system is not fail safe.  During the past several weeks, it’s obvious that the property owners have been attempting to build an actual wood fence and gate at their property entrance.   However, the net remains trampled on the ground and the fence is incomplete.  As Lulu and I are passing the property, the three dogs and their owner are coming out of the house.  The dogs lay eyes on us and haul off as fast as possible toward us.  I began to jog with Lulu, encouraging her to just go, go, go.   Now, I am no longer able to run due to the disrepair and chronic injury of my knee, but I figured if we could gain some ground the dog would lose interest and give up.

As we are jaunting down the road, in what feels like super, slow motion (it probably was) I turn my head to check on the status of the chasers.  I see the bulldog-type dog leading the pack and the other two yapping and running quickly behind. The lady of the house comes treading around the corner of their driveway, cig hanging out of her mouth, attempting to call them off.  Like that has worked well in the past 9 days! :( (.   I felt that the lead dog was gaining on me and really felt as if I was about to get bit in the leg.  I quickly stopped to shout at the dog and wave my stick at it which did not phase it at all. It did not back up an inch and in fact continued to come toward me.   Without one more second for anything to happen, Lulu pounced on the dog and proceeded to take down the aggressor.

This is the most horrifying dog event I have ever experienced. I know the power and strength my dog has, and I was instantaneously terrified she was going to kill the smaller animal. Thankful to still be standing upright, I pulled on her leash (attached to a harness) with all of my strength but was unable to get her away from the dog.  I tried to use my stick to break her free from the other dog, but it was as if I was using a toothpick on her.  Everything happened so fast, things were so blurry, but what was clear, was that my dog was defending me and about to take things too far.   The owner of the other dog approached the scene as I was screaming at Lulu, attempting to break them free without getting in the middle of teeth, and pulling with all my might.  At this point, the dogs were in the muddy ditch, and Lulu still had the upper hand.  Together, the lady and I were able to pull Lulu off of the dog, and I immediately and forcefully held her in place as I bent over her.  Me and dog were both in a state of shock, and all I could think was, now I have to go in that ditch and pick up this dead dog.

In that second, the little dog leapt out of the ditch and hightailed it toward its house.  The lady took off after it scolding it all the way.  The other two dogs, which were merely spectators to this mess, followed too.  I was still standing in the road bent over Lulu, and we were both excessively panting and trying to comprehend what just happened.  The lady turned around and shouted twice to ask if I was okay and to tell me it was not my fault.  I waved her off, and Lulu and I headed for the house.

We made it home and I sat at the table trying to get my breathing and heart rate to return to normal.  After about 30 minutes, I drove down to the house to check on the little dog’s state, but no one was home or did not acknowledge my presence.  I went back two more times throughout the day and even left my phone number asking them to call and let me know about their fur baby’s condition. To this day, they have not responded.

Throughout the day on Monday and Tuesday, I had severe stress pains in my chest and other body areas which was concerning enough, and each time I replayed the scenario in my head, the symptoms resurfaced.  The hardest thing was not knowing how the little dog fared, but knowing it ran off on its own gave me hope.  Finally on Thursday, I went to see a doctor to be sure I was not suffering from any serious cardiac issues and was told things seemed all well and good.  However, retelling the story in person and again here, brings my nerves to high alert and leads me to labored breathing.

I love dogs and never want any animal hurt, but I am also fed up to the sky with people who do not keep their animals contained.  This is the third time inside of 9 days, I have had to fend off unrestrained dogs. I am furious and heart-broken.  As a result of this incident, my and Lulu’s life have been forever changed.  Something we love dearly, walking together, can never happen again as long as there are unrestrained animals that act aggressively toward passers-by because my dog will protect me!