posted 12-08-98 12:48 AM ET        

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I'd just like to tell this story. If one person doesn't get near a dog who might have normally, I will consider the purpose of this done.

I was returning from Mock Trial Practice a little different than usual, having dropped off a friend at her house. I then returned to come home. My mother (who was driving... yes, I'm old enough to get my driver's license. Just a bit apprehensive.) was driving down an unlit street when a dark form of a dog appeared in the headlights. My mom did not have this "register" in her mind, and despite being notable for going out of her way to avoid squirrels before, she did not brake this time. After a bump, well, you can figure out what happened. My mom was sort of still in shock, and saying "it was already dead." I was saying "No, it was alive, and you just killed it." Both wildly implausible and reflecting each our hopes: She hoping against hope that it was dead, and myself knowing that it was alive at first hoping that it had been killed and was not still alive. But the anguished howl we had heard dispelled both hopes. I approached, trying to see the damage done. From a cursory inspection I came to the conclusion that the dog's back had been broken and was within minutes of dying. I moved forward for a better look, and that's when the bad realization came. Only its hind legs and tail had been run over, it's fore legs and head were fine. And it was oblivious to more pain apperantly, as it came forward and bit at me. If my reflexes had been any slower I would have had a huge bite on my leg, but fortunately I was wearing long strong pants and his teeth did not get through. But it still drew blood, and now I have to get a teatnus booster and worry about rabies. Worse (or better), the dog survived the whole thing and will probably stay alive, with useless back legs and will never run or walk again, and no rabies test can be conducted unless the dog is dead. The police also said that it was very likely that the dog had been run over earlier, and that was why it was not moving. I got the wound cleaned up, and some strong hydrogen peroxide a neighbor had hopefully reduced the chance of infection. This is one where both many people and no people are at fault. The dog's owner, if any, should not have let the dog get away. Remember that, pet owners. My mom should have applied the brakes and swerved. If yuo are driving, concentrate on the road. If something the least bit suspicious comes up, you should have 101% of your attention on fixing it. And finally, the dumbest mistake of all, was me not remembering the stuff they taught us in 2nd grade. No matter what, do not get near an unfamiliar dog. You may regret it.

posted 12-08-98 01:42 AM ET            

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My condolances. I think the dog's actions are pretty understandable, though - you can only get run over so many times before it starts getting downright annoying.

DCA,
All generalizations are dangerous, especially this one.

posted 12-08-98 05:08 AM ET            

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Did you see the fake ad in National Lampoon, oh, 15 years ago, depicting a shoe with crampons on (I'm talking _serious_, glacier mountaineering equipment, here!) descending on one of those ridiculous little lapdogs?

The caption was "Shush puppy!"!!! Maybe that's sth. to bring along in case of contact with badly trained dogs...

Great ad, anyway. I not only agree with SnowFire, but think that owners of dogs who let them run free outside restricted areas shouldn't be allowed to have dogs. There are way too many who let their dogs run loose, saying things like "Don't worry, he just likes you/He _adores_ children/I have _full_ control over my dog - it won't chase any animals, since I won't allow it!" Ha-bloody-ha. If anyone let their dog come close to my little daughter, he/she'd soon know what I think of lines like that...

Not to mention what I think of dog **** on sidewalks. When visiting Paris, you can't look at the architecture, unless you don't mind smearing your shoes with the stuff... (And since the owners of the dogs can't be bothered with the problem, they have motorized municipal doggie-doo vacuum cleaners driving around the city... Ridiculous!)

I'll stop ranting now.

posted 12-08-98 08:24 PM ET            

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If you've been run over tons of times, then why aren't you dead?? People only have so much luck DJ

This reminds me of a debate we had in school today. What should be done with the millions of dogs put in dog pounds each year. The perfectly healthy dogs are killed by the millions, 8 million last year IIRC. Should they keep doing this?? Should pet stores stop selling dogs & cats, so dog pounds will get more adoptions?? Should there be a law that people are required to get their pet dogs neutered/spayed?? Or should new facilities be built to care for them all?? Oh yeah, one sicko wanted us to kill them, package them, & send them to China for food!!

Anyway, I'll let you debate this for a bit, if you want. I have to go out right now.

I agree with Snowfire's advice. Maybe I shouldn't have killed that Racoon, with rabies, with a newspaper last year...

Your faithful & hell-bent NIMadier general,
YYYH

posted 12-09-98 11:39 AM ET            

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I never have a problem approaching strage dogs. Mainly because I avoid them at all costs. It seems that dogs can sense the fact that I was a cat in a former life and so even the nicest dogs (whose owners swear "I've never heard him bark at anyone before!") start barking at me the moment they see me.

Despite knowing this, my brother bought a puppy last week. It didn't bark at me when I visited, but it did try to eat me.

Luckily, Toronto has some pretty good leash and pooper-scooper laws so for the most part I don't have to worry about it.

posted 12-09-98 01:09 PM ET            

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YYYH why not the pounds would not only get rid of the pet problem but the sale of so much meat would proabably help lower the cost of operating them.

CClark, do not be alarmed that the puppy seemed to think you were edible wheras young humans explore their world by grabbing things and eating them young dogs (lacking thumbs) simply go to the eating part.

DJ how many times have you been run over? Its only happened to me once and I got very annoyed at the person who did it.

Heckler

posted 12-09-98 11:45 PM ET            

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Well, Heckler, the problem with processing dog meat is, it needs FDA approval. I doubt they'd approve the selling of dogs taken off the streets, & just thrown in by owners too lazy to take care of them! Also, public opinion here is lacking against the eating of dog, likewise, the selling of it in foreign countries.

Well, this has to be better than what one of my friends said. 'Tie it to a tree & shoot it'. Sure I laughed, but it's still dumb.

Your faithful & hell-bent NIMadier general,
YYYH