Sunday, September 30, 2007

The dog.

Last night I heard a lot of commotion on our street.

This? Is not unusual. My neighbors tend to be a bunch of banshees/fishwives and they yell and shriek and do things like, you know, call the police on each other. A lot.

Jason was outside, watering our flowers. He burst through the door and began rummaging through his tool-box. In a quick, determined way, which worried me.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

He said nothing.

"Jason, what are you doing?" I asked again.

He was silent for a moment and then said, "Something is going on up the street."

I said, immediately, because this is the way my mind works, "Well don't go up there!"

He never looked at me. "No. Someone needs help."

And he was gone again.

I turned on the television to occupy the children's minds and we waited. I know it was more than thirty minutes.

I wasn't necessarily worried, mind you. Jason is a big man and I never worry if he can take care of himself. He just always can. I knew he would be fine.

But I didn't like him being out there. Something just felt weird.

Finally he came back in the house. He looked defeated and distraught.

"What is it?" I said.

He came and wrapped his arms around me and said, quietly, so the children would not hear,

"The woman up the street came screaming down the road, asking me if I had a gun."

My eyes widened, "Oh my God! Why?"

His heart was pounding. I could feel it beating against mine. "Her dog was caught on a fence. The dog was trying to run under the fence and it got caught. It was a chain-link fence and it was broken at the bottom. It looked like the point had went through it's eye. She wanted me to shoot the dog."

He began to cry and continued, "I got it to lay down and I saw that it was only caught on the eyelid. I was able to cut through the wire and get it free from the fence."

"Will they take it to the vet?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

"She said she didn't have the money," he said. "The animal control came and picked it up. She called them before she saw me. They said they'll take it to get care and then take it to the animal shelter."

I wanted to go get it from the animal shelter so I could take care of it and give it a home and it wouldn't, you know, be running around the neighborhood unlicensed without a collar or anything on. I know people sometimes have dogs that live in their yards, but in our city it's not legal to tie a dog to a tree or a post and leave it outdoors all the time, so people just let their dogs run loose. It causes a lot of problems. And the dogs are the ones who suffer.

I know that people have financial problems sometimes too, but really I wish people would consider what a big financial responsibility a pet is before taking it on. I won't even get into the fact that it was a purebred dog, because I might lose my testimony. (Okay, maybe I will a little. I don't understand why people pay hundreds of dollars for a dog and then don't have money to take it to the vet. I just don't)

I mean, her?



I love her so much it hurts. Even though she had gas this morning and farted really near my face.

I just wish everybody loved their dogs the same way.

23 comments:

Blue Tissue Box said...

I know what you mean. It's so frustrating to see people not taking care of their animals.

My yellow lab has had two litters of puppies that I've sold over the years. I always question the people that are interested in buying one. I want the pups to have a vet, and a good home, not just a doghouse.

I just wish all breeders cared more about the pups, and less about the moolah.

Anonymous said...

That makes me really sad. I'm glad your dog is loved!

Anonymous said...

oh my god, that is so disturbing. Jason is my new hero for saving the little guy.

Unknown said...

Thank goodness for normalcy. Geez. I can't imagine shooting your dog! It'd do just about anything to keep the princess happy. She was our first child. She may hate her little brother enough to need therapy, but I have never regretted paying for the dog psychologist. She's part of the family, too. Your puppy looks mighty sweet.

Denise said...

Oh man! I have been suffering this week because my sisters dog got ran over by a bicyle and he is so old. Instead of putting him to sleep they are just waiting for him to die. I am not an animal person, but I have repeatedly asked her to do the right thing all week.

Anonymous said...

The poor dog :( I have to admit, my first thought was something happened to YOUR dog and I was REALLY sad.

I see tons of dogs that aren't cared for the way they should be. My Lab is 11 1/2. I may not give him the attention I use to, I may get annoyed with him now and then, but he's fed, warm, happy and loved.

Everyone should be that way.

frannie said...

thank God she didn't find someone with a gun before Jason got to her.

Anonymous said...

I hear ya! My dogs are my family.

Real Life in South Carolina said...

It was nice of your husband to try to help. I don't think I could have handled seeing that.

I love my dogs too, even though one of them farted on my hand and left a brown mark. I was just trying to give him one of those "Good boy" pats on the butt, but it turns out dogs don't like that.

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

What a good, good man you have there.

Anonymous said...

Ok coming out of lurk mode here to say.....a gun?! Would it have been ok if Jason used it on her? Because....frick stuff like this bothers me!

Amy W said...

That was great of your husband to help...I hate hearing about mistreated or hurt animals, and I don't even really like dogs...

Anonymous said...

So your congratulating him and wanting everyone to think he's great because he didn't shoot a dog. Your as stupid as he is.

You need to be honest with yourself about who your husband really is.

Mrs. Booms said...

Thank goodness Jason went down there and helped before anyone else did. Poor doggy... :(

Sleeping Mommy said...

I'm right there with you about my pets. They mean a lot to me. I have the hardest time not taking in every poor lost soul I come across and making sure they are taken care of and happy--I spent some time over the last three weeks visiting our local shelter regularly because one of our dogs had gone missing and I refused to give up looking for him. Seeing all those homeless animals was torture.

Patiently waiting said...

Poor dog, I hope it finds a good home where the people actually care for it. I agree, if you can't afford to take care of you pets then don't have any.

Rachel (Crazy-Is) said...

That's awful!! I truly hope that the dog gets adopted although I know the statistics on that happening.

I am glad that Jason did not have to take matters into his own hands.

Also, if you really loved her, you would take off that hideous bandana and collar and replace it with one from, say, The University of Memphis. Blue is much prettier.

Jhianna said...

Oh that hurts. I'm going to go home and hug my dog until she makes me leave her alone.

SJINCO said...

Whoa, what's up with anon up there? My goodness.

I love my doggies with all my heart just like you love yours. And well ALL people should. It's only fair right?

Anonymous said...

I completely know what you're saying about people and their pets. It makes me so mad that people go out and adopt pets, and then neglect them or mistreat them. My dogs and my cat are part of my family - I can't imagine not taking care of them.

I'm glad Jason was able to free the dog. And I'm touched that he was so moved by the dog and its injury.

CPA Mom said...

The ONLY stupid person around here is you ANONYMOUS. Get a life.

Emma in Canada said...

One day who should post about my neighbour who couldn't afford to get her dog out of the pound for the thrid time so went and got a new dog from the SPCA. Yeah. Crazy.

my4kids said...

I agree with you Chick. Why do people buy pets that they can't take care of? Especially when it gets hurt like that.

It is touching that Jason reacted that way to it though.