October 02, 2006
Montego's Bad Day
I'm sparing you the gory photos, but if you click on the one above, it will take you into the set, where you can see them for yourself.
On Saturday, during our routine morning walk, a neighbor's off-leash German Shepherd attacked Montego and tore a gash in her neck that required sedated surgery to close. The bite also created a "pocket" in her neck, between the skin and muscle, that now has a drainage tube sticking out of it.
It was traumatic, for all parties, and it was the first time in our eight years together that Tego required an emergency trip to the vet. She was severely doped up on Saturday, but by yesterday my only major concern was keeping Scout off her. (On Saturday, Scout gave her a wide berth. Probably because Montego smelled like a hospital.)
I gave the neighbor a copy of the vet bill (almost $400) and he is going to pay it, but I can't be reimbursed for my spent emotion and they can't repay me my feeling of safety. It was always in the back of my mind that one of the many stray dogs who roam East Point could come out of nowhere and jump us, but I never thought it would be a resident animal.
I'm going to have to fence in the backyard now - something that's always been in my house plans - but a fenced-in backyard isn't the same thing as long walks around the neighborhood. And allegedly, this aggresive Shepherd has jumped fences before. The owners' father, who lives next door to them, told me that they'll have to "make a decision" about Boo, but I don't know if that means they'll just get rid of him or put him down.
I'm a dog lover - no doubt - but some dogs are, sadly, beyond rehabilitation. What if Montego had been my literal child? It's scary enough to imagine losing my pet....
Counties and cities have leash laws for a reason. What is so hard about corralling your animal? Be a responsible pet owner or don't be a pet owner at all.
Posted by hannah at 02:05 PM
This story is horrible, and I'm so glad Montego is okay. When we lived in a neighborhood full of wandering dogs and had one too many close calls, I started carrying pepper spray made especially for dogs, something like this: http://www.tbotech.com/dogrepellent.htm
I never had to use it, but I felt safer walking my own dog. I wasn't about to deprive her of her favorite activity because of thoughtless owners.
Posted by Jen Z. on October 2, 2006 07:20 PMI am so sorry to read about poor Montego's scare. My in-laws' dog bit my standard poodle when we were visiting last Thanksgiving and even though it wasn't nearly as bad as Montego's bite, it was terrifying. We also have a toy poodle who is so small (and in such poor health) that if something like that happened to him, he would die. It makes me sick to even think about it.
I'm glad she is okay.
Posted by Emilie on October 2, 2006 07:48 PMJen, I saw that at PetSmart and I am going to get it. I don't want to give up our walks, for my own health and fitness either!
Posted by Hannah on October 3, 2006 09:08 AMMake sure you report the incident to Animal Control. If (GOD FORBID) this happens to someone else in your neighborhood, you want Animal Control to have a record of a vicious dog.
I'm so sorry, you must be terrified. I hope Montego is feeling better soon. And I'm so glad it wasn't YOU who was attacked as well. It easily could have been. *shudders*
Posted by Emily on October 3, 2006 10:16 AMHannah, I am so glad he's okay. I would have been so terrified I probably would have fainted or thrown up. Sweet Montego!
Posted by Eliza on October 3, 2006 11:08 AMI never, EVER let Glinny off of the leash unless we are at dog beach, where it's legal, and even then she is not out of my sight. I'm lucky that she never strays from me - she's always close by where if another dog got fiesty with her, I can pull them apart.
I'm sorry that your neighbor isn't doing more, to tell you the truth. I've trained and socialized Glinny so she wouldn't do such things, but if she ever did, I would be so incredibly heartbroken for everyone involved.
Posted by erin on October 5, 2006 12:13 PM
