Thursday 13 September 2018

Trauma

Yesterday, when Tess and I were out for our evening walk, we were wandering along the road on the estate - me miles away with my own thoughts, Tess as usual sniffing every blade of grass.   Suddenly a large dog -  off the lead by the way - pounced on Tess, flattened her on the pathway and started to attack her.   There was pandemonium.

The dog's owner charged up, gave his dog a mighty kick, swore loudly, apologised to me, flung his dog in the back of his van and drove off.   Tess
was totally traumatised.   I managed to get her home and into her basket.    She wouldn't eat her tea, she just sat looking at me all evening as though it was my fault.   We both went to bed early, me feeling all over her to make sure there was no broken skin or anything.

This morning things were no better.   I wondered if perhaps she had bitten the other dog in the fight and had loosened a tooth or something.   I rang the vet and explained what had happened and she suggested I take her in later this afternoon.   I put down some mashed up tinned dog food and a bowl of warm milk and also left last night's tea down.   Then I went off to the hairdresser's. 

When I returned an hour later last night's tea, the mashed up dog food and the warm milk had all disappeared.  The bowls were licked clean and she was back in her bed asleep!   She ain't daft!

PS   I cancelled the vet by the way.

31 comments:

Bovey Belle said...

How awful for both of you Pat. You certainly don't expect that to happen when you are just going about your business, and walking Tess where you usually do. I hope it's a one-off and am glad to hear that Tess has gotten over the shock of it all now. I bet you will be on red alert every time you walk her now for a while . . .

Derek Faulkner said...

I had a similar thing happen in the summer when my partner and I were out with my Jack Russell.A guy coming towards us had two Alsatians off the lead and they began running towards us. I quickly lifted my dog up above my head but the two Alsatians were leaping up against me trying to get at my dog and in the end ripped my arm open. My partner was screaming at the owner to come and get his dogs back and he ignored her and walked off, luckily quickly followed by his dogs. Result was me at the local A&E having my wounds dressed but if the dogs had got at my dog it would of been ripped to shreds.

Jules said...

What a horrible experience. I'm relieved to read both you and Tess are OK now, and I hope you don't come across the other dog or it's owner again. X

Bonnie said...

How frightening for you both! Poor Tess. I'm so glad she wasn't bitten. No, she's not daft but then she deserved an extra treat!

Bea said...

The other dog owner's response was rightly swift, but a bit brutal. I wonder if he knows his dog is a brawler and is ready to kick and run, so to speak?

Glad your pooch is faring well.

Barbara said...

Oh my goodness!
What a horrifying experience. I was SO relieved to see that Tess had eaten all her food. That is always a good sign.
I hope you have both made a complete recovery.

Virginia said...

Oh HEAVENS! That was traumatic - for both of you! I'm so relieved Tess has recovered, but it will play on your minds for a while. I don't think the dog owner's response was brutal, it shouldn't have been off its lead, but a really solid assault was the only thing that was going to get the dog off fast.

jinxxxygirl said...

Perhaps Tess just needed a bit of quiet to recover Pat and you going to the hairdresser provided that.. So glad to hear all is well... Hopefully you'll be back on speaking terms soon.. :) Hugs! deb

Heather said...

Poor Tess and poor you. That must have been a horrid shock for you both. So pleased she is none the worse for it and just needed time to recover.

angryparsnip said...

Oh My Goodness... I am so tired of people with dogs off leash who do not know how to train their dogs. It seems it usually is large dog.
So happy Tess is OK.

cheers, parsnip and badger

donna baker said...

Poor girls. When things like that happen I think I'm going to have a heart attack. Maybe you can get a walking staff to carry. I get right in the middle of it all - just lose it.

Terra said...

Thank goodness Tess is okay, it sounds like a good long sleep and quiet time helped her heal from the shock. An author I like wrote about how her dog on leash was attacked by two large off leash dogs (her dog needed lots of surgery after) and I decided to hang a canister of pepper spray on my Bounce's leash just in case, so it is always there.

Librarian said...

Irresponsible dog owners! I am glad Tess has recovered from this shock without needing the vet.

John Going Gently said...

Phew xxxx

Amy said...

Not good, I'm glad your dog is ok. I kinda feel for the other dog though, with an owner like that who thinks it's ok to kick an animal no wonder it is the way it is.

Hilary said...

I carry a thing called “ Halt” it’s a spray that does not hurt the animal but incapacitates them for a few minutes because their eyes burn and they
Are busy rubbing them
I use it if a loose dog comes running at my dog.....she’s not a fighter
And there is a leash law.

Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe said...

She was probably in shock and just like a human, would have no appetite. What a relief for you when you saw that she had eaten.

Tom Stephenson said...

Ah good. Food gone and all is well. Trauma over I hope.

Alphie Soup said...

All's well that ends well.
Alphie

marlane said...

When I had my dogs I always carried pepper spray when I took them out. I only had to use it once. But I certainly felt better having it with me. I did practice with it first to make sure I did not spray my self in the face.

Joanne Noragon said...

She's a real, real dog. Love her.

coffeeontheporchwithme said...

I'm so glad to hear Tess is o.k. That must have been traumatic for you as well, to see that happen. -Jenn

Cro Magnon said...

A similar thing happened to our Bok not so long ago. A strange dog turned-up here, and ended-up attacking him; totally unexpectedly. I had to beat the dog with a stick to get it to stop. Nasty!

Sue said...

A horrid shock for both of you.

Sue in Suffolk said...

That's a nasty thing to happen out on a quiet walk. I'm sure some people should take dog-keeping lessons. Thank goodness you and Tess are both OK

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

Some people should not be allowed to have dogs. There are a couple of irresponsible owners around here too. You'll find them exercising their dogs on the recreation ground or the nature reserve. I hope Tess soon gets over the experience and enjoys her walks once again.

thelma said...

As someone said, it looks like the aggressive dog has an aggressive owner, not good. Glad Tess is on the mend poor little thing.

Jennyff said...

I hope this morning finds you both fully recovered and that those horrible dogs find somewhere else to exercise.

Gwil W said...

Poor Tess. Hope no after effects from the shock. On the front page here a Rottweiler in the charge of a drunken woman attacked a small boy. He is now in intensive care. In your your case I hope somebody got the vehicle number and gave it to the police. It could be a small child next time.

liparifam said...

So sorry this happened! It's really a miracle poor little Tess wasn't harmed worse than she was. Hopefully she has managed to put it behind her...

Granny Sue said...

Poor Tess! What a thing to have happened. I am glad your little girl is all right.