Saturday, December 17, 2016

Rescued

The Funny Farmers don't post on weekends any more and they aren't posting today.  I'm stealing their blog and this is strictly my post.  I hope they won't mind, but I have the thumbs to open their canned food, so they better not complain.

While walking the dogs before sundown tonight (Friday), we were rescued by two white knights in a black pickup truck.

It started as a normal walk.  Marcus was so wiggly and excited, I didn't get his harness hooked to the leash, just to his collar, and he was almost out of the harness by the time we got down the front steps.  Otherwise, there was nothing memorable about the walk.  Until we got about a block from where we would turn around.

Two dogs on the other side of the street popped out from behind some furniture and came racing up the street barking.  Marcus is a good-sized dog and he annoys the daylights out of  Merci (and Sam, in his day), but he is not mean.  He will, however, defend himself, especially since he was physically attacked by one dog and threatened by so many other loose dogs on our walks.

When the two got close enough, I squirted them both in the face with my psychedelic water pistol.  That had always sent them running home.  This time they kept retreating a few steps and charging again, within a couple of steps of Marcus, who was leaping about and yanking on the leash.  Buddy and Merci should have been right behind Marcus trying to scare off the intruders; however, they were one on each side trying to hide behind me.  It was all I could do to stay on my feet.

When we first saw the dogs, I caught a glimpse of a black pickup coming toward us and stopping to turn left, the direction the dogs came from.  Then I was too busy screaming and trying not to be dragged face down on the cement into a 3 dog battle.  I was about to lose when I heard the truck whip around and come charging toward us.  It came to a stop between us and the other dogs.  They ran home.

I think they were the young man and woman who have stopped to admire Marcus on a few occasions but I was so terrified I couldn't even tell you what they looked like.  They got out of the truck to be sure we were okay and offered to keep an eye on us in case the dogs came back.  We turned around and started home.  Partway down the hill, I stopped to look back and the truck was still sitting there. Marcus was so hyped up he ground holes into Buddy's new leash.  We finished our walk closer to home.

I wish I had thought to ask that nice couple for their names, at least.  They sure rescued us from a bad situation!

But that isn't the end of the story. I took the dogs home, grabbed pen and paper, and with flames coming out my ears, I marched on shaky legs all the way back.  As I got near the house, a man greeted me. I asked him if those were his dogs that had been loose.  He said yes, they kept finding new ways to get out of their fence, and he didn't know what they had against my dogs. He explained what he would do to reinforce the fence so it shouldn't happen again.  

The couple in the black pickup had made sure we were safe and then had gone to the dogs' home and told the owner what had happened.  Whoever you are, thank you so much for all your help!

This is not the first time someone has intervened for us.  I remember a man "herding" a dog down the road on the far side of his car so the dog wouldn't notice us.  Or perhaps it was so my dogs (Merci, Buddy and Sam) wouldn't notice the other dog.  I don't remember the details.  But this was certainly the most dramatic intervention.

There are two reasons I am posting this.  One is to acknowledge the anonymous couple who rescued us.  And two, to say that if you ever see someone in trouble like we were today, please do something to help.  Even if it's just to stop and blow your horn.  A loose barking dog or two running at a dog on a leash can start a bloody battle, even if it/they are all the "friendliest" dogs in town.

25 comments:

  1. How fortunate the couple stopped to help! It's important for everyone to keep an eye out for others.

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  2. Hari OM
    Oh Jan I'm glad the farmers didn't stop you from posting this... what a scary time. Hoorah for the kindness of strangers!!! Maybe that couple live in the same street as the dogs and know they are escape artists. Could you walk it to see if you can see the vehicle parked and leave a note on their windscreen? Just thinking out loud (as am prone to doing &*>). Glad the dog owner was at least apologetic and was showing attempts to try and prevent further trouble; it can't be too much fun having animals who can't be contained, but it still his responsibility. Sending hugs, YAM xx

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  3. last week this same thing happened to my husband. he was walking Jake on leash and a dog came flying out and attacked Jake, Bob was kicking at the dog trying to keep him away from Jake, Jake lunged, pulling bob on all fours, he got back up and kicked at the dog until it left. I will tell him about the water pistol. great idea. since we have many careless owners who let their dogs out a lone I refuse to walk with bob and jake., my nerves can't take it. bob had road rash on knees, ankles, palms and elbows. he is 80 years old and very healthy and is a quick healer.

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  4. I sure am glad those heros were around when you needed them. That was sure a scary situation and we're so glad all is okay.

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  5. We are so very thankful you are all okay. It is heartwarming to know there are people willing to intervene when it would have been so easy for them to keep on driving. It's even better that they took the time to notify the other dogs' owner to prevent future issues, and that the other dogs' owner seems to understand it is his responsibility.

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  6. Those must have been your guardian angels. We are so thankful for them and that you are OK.

    Woos - Lightning and MIsty

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  7. We are very glad you are all OK. And hope that the man with the mean doggies DOES do something about the fence!

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  8. I needed to hear this story. I read so much about how we don't care about each other any more.

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  9. I'm glad everyone was OK. We're so lucky to have a big fenced yard for Chester to run around in!

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  10. What a scary situation ! We're glad you got some help, and could go back home safe. We hope the dogs' owner repairs his fence ! Purrs

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  11. Oh my, what a frightening experience for you especially, and for the dogs too. I think I would still report the loose dogs to the authorities. The fact the owner says they "keep findings ways" to get out of his yard would suggest perhaps he's not the most conscientious dog owner.

    How wonderful of that young couple. I hope you get a chance to meet them someday in far better circumstances.

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  12. hello funny farmers its dennis the vizsla dog oh hay wow that is like my wurst nitemare seenaryo!!! it is so gud those peepul in the blak truk wer their to help yoo they must hav ben like the avendjers or sumthing!!! only dada sez they ar better becuz they ar reel silly dada thinks the avendjers arnt reel!!! ennyway i am glad that evrywun got thru that skarry sitchooayshun unskaythd and reelly if that man has that mutch trouble keeping his dogs kontrolld and kontaynd maybe he shud not hav them!!! ok bye

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  13. Boy, what great neighbors. Maybe you'll see their truck around town one day and talk to them. But I can tell you that if I had been there, those two dog would have been HAMBURGER!!!! Even if I am a kitty, NOBODY, but NOBODY MESSES WITH MARCUS (or Jan).
    Love, Loulou

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  14. Oh, sweet Jan I am so glad that you are okay and you were protected by that nice couple. And how nice of them to go tell the man what his dogs had done. It would have been terrible had the dogs gotten into a fight. We sure hope that man fixes all the issues and his dogs don't get out again. Hugs, love and nose kisses for you and all the funny farmers. Pooh, Chancy and Maggie

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  15. I am glad the people in the pickup were there to help you. Things could have been so much worse.

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  16. Thank goodness for that couple!!! I don't know what I would have done in such a situation, but I'd like to think that I, too, would come to the rescue.
    BTW, I carry wasp spray, which is better than mace & accurate for up to 25 feet.... IMHO, it is also more effective than water, but I don't know how easy it would be to aim while holding a leash.
    It will not kill a dog.

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  17. That couple sounds so nice, I am glad they helped you.

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  18. Those are some great neighbors!
    Glad everything worked out okay...

    Noodle and crew

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  19. I'm so glad you and the dogs are OK.
    You're sharing a good message about looking out for others!
    xxoo
    Maggie, Mickey Mouser, and Rufus the Red

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  20. Wow! What a scary situation! Glad you had some guardian angels near by!!

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  21. I'm so thankful you're okay. Bless those people for helping.

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  22. How scary! we are glad you and your pups are OK. Thank goodness for your Shining knights

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  23. That is a terrible and frightening AND dangerous situation. Thank heavens there were rescuers! And I am grateful that they told the owner. I agree with another person who doubts as do I, that the owner will do anything to secure those dogs. I take it they were large and leapt over the fence.

    I hope you call the police if there is ever another time. Maybe if you have some type of cell phone you can get that irresponsible owners number so YOU can call him to get out there when his dogs start heading your a\way.

    So grateful you and the dogs with you that time are alright.

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  24. #1: Glad you and the dogs got out of that safely! #2: Kudos to the pick-up truck couple! #3: The owner of the attack dogs at least owned up to the chaos he'd caused; that doesn't happen often enough! #4: Just a suggestion; a new, improved way to ward off attacking dogs, like an air horn or strobe light...I dunno, but you've got to amp up your game, methinks. Glad you are safe!

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  25. Yikes, indeed! Glad it had a safe and happy ending.
    When I walk MJF, he can get defensive if other dogs try to 'investigate' him even if they are not threatening. I guess because he feels that way on his end of a leash. And its way worse when a dog charges. Once that happened and it was a man's service dog...OMD:( I sure hope he teaches/trains that big dog better.

    We got charged by a goat once, Now that was not good either, because said goat was way bigger than even my husband. And he would not stay in his pen/yard. He wanted company but he had no manners to deserve it, much less walk the 2 mile hike we were on, BOL!

    Dogs out of control are such a menace. Yes I will/do stop to try and help...and I will redirect my steps if I think that mine would cause another to be naughty. 2 doors down from us is a German shepherd dog who goes ballistic even if I am by myself...and one of these days I fear what might happen if she gets out of her fenced yard...she tries hard to jump...wait till she figures out how to climb over it. or dig under it.

    Take care...and you have an awesome set of neighbors who helped you out of a dire situation.

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