Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Down for the Count


Marcus:  Jan says I have been a good boy this past week.

Jan:

This past week has been very hard on all of us and I am proud of Marcus.  He has so wanted me to play with him for weeks and I just didn't have the energy, but I did try to walk him and Buddy every day possible.  (I walk Merci by herself if she wants to go.)

I wasn't going to do this post but Loulou's sweet mama is concerned that we haven't been posting.  It's easier to type this once so we told her we would try to do a post.  This has been a hard summer.  I have been sweating buckets, cutting the lawn with a grass whip, and tottering around in exhaustion.

Last Monday I tried out my new electric lawn mower with a 100' cord that should make my life easier.  Six hours later about 3/4 of the lawn was done.  (There were a lot of breaks in there where I collapsed in a chair on the porch or over the trash can near the side yard.)  Then I wobbled up the street with the two dogs. 

Tuesday evening I set out with Marcus and Buddy for a walk.  We made it as far as the public sidewalk next door. Without any warning I was yanked sideways and back with such force the chest pain was excruciating and I was  screaming.  My feet were flying and I almost fell over Marcus and one of the dogs from next door when they both stopped.  Some distance away the neighbor kids were playing basketball in the alley.  I screamed for them to get their dog on a leash and they just stared.. 

There was another hard yank in another direction and I was face down on the lawn, still screaming in pain.  Bless the woman driving by who saw it happening and stopped to help..  She was there right away, wrapped the leashes in one hand (I had a death grip on them) and told me the dogs were okay. (I wasn't thinking straight and neglected to get the name of the kind woman.)  I couldn't see anything but I could hear those kids approaching.  From beginning to end, there was no sound from any of the dogs except one low growl from Marcus - his "I'm in trouble" growl.  One second he was walking, then he was playing, then I was on the ground screaming and there were all those kids coming at him.  He is timid and I knew he was scared. 

I spent a long time face down on the lawn listening to the mouthy teenager who doesn't believe the leash law applies to her.  And when I was finally able to get up. things got worse.  She told me to GO HOME (complete with arm gestures) or WALK THE DOGS ACROSS THE STREET but to GET OFF HER PROPERTY (meaning the entire side of the road).  No remorse, no concern that her off leash dog caused the violent take down (not a fall) of someone. 

Injured or not, I still had to take care of the Funny Farmers.  By Saturday, I HAD to get out of the house so I set out with Buddy and Marcus on a slow walk.  Buddy stopped to poop.  I cleaned up after him. turned around and there was that dog racing onto the sidewalk at us.   She will not put it on a leash!  The fact the dog is friendly and wants to play isn't the point. I don't know if Animal Control has been in contact with the family yet.

So, things are not going well around here.  The Mousebreath interviews are postponed.  I don't know for how long.  We won't be posting to the blog either.  I am taking a break from everything to recuperate.

I wasn't joking about Marcus being a good boy.  I don't blame him for what happened, nor the other dog.  I blame the defiant teenager and her parents.  He was going stir crazy without his walks, so he was so happy they resumed.  Tonight - Monday- Marcus stopped on our walk to make friends with a man in a wheelchair who has had a stroke and was frustrated because he couldn't convey to me what he wanted to say, but he and Marcus communicated just fine.


35 comments:

  1. Hari OM
    OMD... Jan that it AWFUL... why are there peeps who just don't get that they are included in laws made??? So sorry you had to experience this and you take all the time you need. Blogville will still be here when you're ready to return! Hope Animal Control have acted by now. Sending love and healing vibes x 87!!! YAM xx

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  2. Oh my goodness, you're not having an easy time at all, are you? Sending hugs and love and prayers!

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  3. That's terrible! Oh, Jan, we are so sorry to hear about this. What an ill-mannered teen to say those horrid things, and without any concern for your well being, while you were face down in the ground and obviously in distress. Please rest and recover, dear friend. We will all be here when you're ready and able to come back. ❤️

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  4. Dang, that's awful and we are so sorry you are having such a rough time.

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  5. Oh, I am so sorry to hear about this!! Praying you feel better soon--and that that family starts taking proper care of their dog, including leashing it!

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  6. Oh no! Sending purrs to you. Hope you feel better soon. Maybe you should carry a squirt bottle of water to deter the loose doggy. XOXO

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  7. Oh Jan we are so sorry to read about this. My heart hurts for you and the obstacles you are trying to overcome, the heat, mowing the darn grass and now a teenager with no rules. I know how it feels to just feel like you are at the end of your rope, so take all the time you need, get some rest, get some love from the animals that care for you and love you so very much. Breathe. These are things I have to tell myself also. Hugs from the pugs and mommma.

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  8. Yes, we were wondering where you'd gone off to, so thanks for filling us in. We understand. You take care of yourself and the family; we'll be here when you come back. Sending you all hugs and purrs.

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  9. How awful! And what terrible people, letting their dog run around like that - it's bad for the dog and anybody he might encounter in the way he did you. Just take care of yourself, and come back when you are better.

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  10. Oh Jan, I am so very sorry. That teenager needs a good lesson in respect, empathy, and how to be a responsible pet person. Shame on her and her parents! Take care of yourself.

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  11. OMC - that is awful and we hope Animal Control has a very long chat with those people. please take care and we are sending healing purrs

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  12. People are so rude these days! Once my Florida associate Miss Charlie went to a dog park, and was behaving herself. All of a sudden, a great big dog ran up to her and started a fight. Miss Charlie got her dew claw ripped off, and the dog's owner didn't say a word or offer to help at all!

    PS, ghostwriter says mowing the lawn is the ONE chore she will NOT do. In fact once, a few years ago, she got tired of Dad and the siblings arguing about whose turn it was, and hired a landscaping company to do it.

    Hope you Mom is feeling better real soon!

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  13. Around here the leash law is enforced. You should sue those people for causing you pain and suffering, that might make them decide to keep their dog on a leash. I hope you feel better soon.XO

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  14. Oh, Jan, I just read this after having written you a long email. DAMN that idiotic teen whose parents should be teaching her manners and if a do is running free, I call the catchers and let the owners work it out on their own!!! CALL the authorities.
    Can you walk the other direction! Do you have a squirt gun with water, that might help. I'm so sorry for your troubles as are we all. Irresponsible animal owners do a huge disservice to their animals, much less the kind neighbors who live next door!!!

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  15. Oh, Jan!!! A fall can cause serious injury, so you were lucky if you didn't need to go to the ER. Doesn't that teenager realize how dangerous her inaction is?!? I hope you reported her attitude/conduct to the police. (And I suspect they will get to know her well in the coming years.)
    People laugh at us for walking Purrseidon on a leash, but it's a county law that all pets must either be secured in a fenced yard or on a leash, and despite what Purrseidon will tell you, she is a pet.

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  16. so if the dog takes out after say... a toddler whose walking along same sidewalk ~~~~~~~~~~

    hope you get to feeling better Jan, sorry this has happened
    and look forward to when you get back to blogger; your self
    and family FIRST and foremost, interviews and blogging can and
    will wait; hope your injuries are nothing serious and high paws
    to maracus ♥♥♥

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  17. Sending strong healing purrs to Jan - we hope you will soon feel better; also that the ghastly teenager will get her come-uppance.
    Well done, Marcus!
    Purrs ... Rainbow

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  18. Oh awnty Jan, we're sorry to hear things are goin' poorly. We usggest you call animal control each and every time da doggy is loose. It's only after numerous repurrts will they actually take action. And those kind of peeps shouldn't be havin' a doggy anyways. Mommy would purrobably waylay dat teenager, but she doesn't have much patience fur unruly children or peeps. Other than dat, we're sendin' hugs and purrayers. We hope you get to feelin' better real soon. Big hugs

    Luv ya'

    Dezi and Raena

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  19. Jan I am truly very very sorry for this horrid thing. Another very sad and very BAD example of uncaring people. They seem to out number the caring ones. I hope to goodness whatever is making you tired will cease.

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  20. Poor Jan, I'm so sorry for what happened. The teenager are a kind of human my dad always says if you can't responsibly your kids, dogs, you shouldn't have them. Anyway we are glad you and the crews are okay.
    Hug to you

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  21. Purrayers, hugs, and POTP for you, Jan, and all of your Funny Farmers !

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  22. Poor Jan, I'm so sorry for what happened. The teenager are a kind of human my dad always says if you can't responsibly your kids, dogs, you shouldn't have them. Anyway we are glad you and the crews are okay.
    Hug to you

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  23. Sweet Jan this news made our hearts ache for you. We sure hope that something happens to cause that family to make sure their dog is on leash when it is out and about. We are sending lots of hugs, nose kisses, purrs and prayers that you heal quickly and all things get better at your place.

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  24. Oh no, Jan! We are so sorry this happened to you. We're glad you are going to be okay and nothing happened with the dogs. Sometimes, teenagers can be so mean and clueless! Take care of yourself!

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  25. Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry that happened. Irresponsible dog owners are the worst. It always makes me nervous when I see a dog off leash when we're walking ours. But our dog is small enough that we can pick him up if we have to. Not that we should have to, though. I hope you're healing up and getting some rest!

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  26. OMD, Jan, we can't believe what did happen. So sorry to hear abut this ridiculous dog owner. We hope you'll feel better soon. Paws crossed.

    Momo & Pinot xo

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  27. OMD!! Yikes:(
    So sorry you were the victim of irresponsibility, disrespect and uncaring peeps. Those peeps should not have any kind of dog, they have no clue how to handle it, nor how to deal with adverse situations. Ignoring them doesn't mean they didn't happen.

    If you take pictures of yourself, and combine it with MD reports if you went to see one for all the aches and bruises, then maybe the police or animal control will back you up.

    Marcus, You are such a good boy, I am proud of you.

    Sending a ton of prayers, POTP and hgs too.
    If I lived closer I would come by and mow your yard for you, and even walk your pups...though one at a time:)

    Take care, we miss you, but take as much time as you need to heal up and be rested and unstressed. ((((( ♥ )))))

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  28. hello funny farmers its dennis the vizsla dog hay peepul hoo think leesh laws dont apply to there dogs mayk me so mad!!! i hav had so menny dogs come up to me in owr nayborhud and maybe they ar frendly dogs but i am stil afrayd of them!!! i hope that dogs owners reealize wot problems they hav kawzd for yoo and start akting like responsibul peepul insted of spoyld children!!! meenwile i am sending yoo all lots of tail wags and the hipster kitties send purrs!!! ok bye

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  29. OH NO Jan, we're so sorry to read what happened, we are so relieved that you're doing better and send oodles of purrayers and hugs. You know some peeps today just have no clue about anything, especially with animals - thanks goodness mew're all ok!

    Big hugs

    Basil & Co xox

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  30. This is so wrong! What a brat to be so insensitive and disrespectful to you. It's understandable that you need a long break to recuperate. Maybe you should carry pepper spray on your walks. Not for the friendly dog, but for its bratty teenage owner.

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  31. There are times to ask neighbors for little help.

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  32. Oh Miss Jan, I give you hugs. Sorry the week was not so good. I can't believe that teenager treated you in that way! Please take it easy and get plenty of naps so you can heal. -Valentine (& Mom) of Noir Kitty Mews

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  33. Oh Jan!
    We are so sorry to hear that such an upsetting event has happened!
    Would you like us to come by and give some harsh hisses to that girl?
    We hope you are getting rest and that nothing was broken.
    You take care and know we are always here for you...

    Noodle and crew

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  34. Jan, we are so sorry to hear about your troubles with the unleashed dogs. Luckily Fenris and Tuiren do OK with unleashed dogs as we encounter many of them when we walk, luckily for the most part they have all been friendly and even the unfriendly ones usually back off when Fenris snarls at them. My downfall (literally) are all the squirrels.~Alasandra

    We stopped by to wish Micah a Happy Birthday.

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