2/16/11

In the heat of the moment...

People do stupid things in the heat of the moment. We don't think. We act. And, our judgment is all clouded with adrenalin. And, we do stupid things.

I have a hard and fast rule about big dogs. Stay away.

I have a hard and fast rule about animals fighting. Stay away. Okay, if the animals are really small, and if I have shoes on, I might insert a swift kick. But, that's about it.

But, when there's a person involved, the rules get all muddy.

This morning, I was in the back yard with our dog Bella and I heard a dog fight. Hey, it happens, although personally, I've never needed more than a strong word or a smack to break up anything between any of my pets. Next, I heard a woman in the dog fight. I assumed that she was walking her dog and one of the neighbors dogs got out and that she was in distress. When I got to the gate, I saw a woman, two pit bulls and a small dog. One pit bull and the small dog had leashes. The woman was trying to pull the pit bulls off one another and I assumed that she'd been jumped as she walked by.

But, as I tried to sort out which dog was hers so I could help with the rescue, I found out that all three dogs were hers. I held the small dog back while these two pits tried to kill one another. Seriously. But quietly. Not the growling and barking and violence that I'd expect from a dog fight. Just grabbing one another by whatever they could, usually the throat, and hanging on until they drew blood.

And, then she said, "let that one go (the small one) and grab this one by the back legs." My response should have been "What the &*#$? You're nuts!" I can remember two thoughts going through my head; "these are both her dogs and she knows whether they'll bite me". And, "this is the stupidest thing you ever did."

So, I grabbed and the dog was not at all interested in me and I dragged and the dog pulled and jerked and I dragged. And, just as we got the dogs apart, the dog I had hold of turned and snapped at me, not even a serious or threatening snap, but I let go. And, then, we started all over again. Me dragging and the dog pulling and us getting them several feet apart and my dog snapping and me letting go. And, we did this for about 10 mintutes. During which, both dogs ended up covered in blood from some serious bites. The woman ended up covered in blood, presumably, dog's blood, but I don't really know. And, she ended up covered in mud and dirt from being tackled and dragged and knocked down. And, she wasn't a young woman. She was at least mid 50's.

It didn't take long to figure out that the mistake was getting the dogs where they couldn't see one another, so she pulled hers into a fenced area in her back yard while we watched and she closed a gate.

And, I dropped my dog's legs and put my hands on my hips and in my most sharp and furious and high pitched, adrenalin filled voice, announced "This is insane and I will NOT be coming back to help you again." I heard her talking behind me as I stomped away home. I neither know nor care what she said. I think there were some apologies and some attempts to explain. Doesn't matter. Having pets you can't control is not right. What if this had all happened to some pedestrian and their pet. What if all the dogs hadn't belonged to the same...idiot.

I wasn't hurt, but it's a wonder. I changed my clothes, even though I didn't seem to get anything on me. I washed my arms up to the elbows several times, but can't get my hands to feel clean. The adrenaline is burning off now and my breathing is more normal.

When I told Rob about it, I apologized to him for putting myself in such a dangerous position. That was all I could think to do. It wasn't herioc. It was idiotic. All I did was put the lives of these two dogs, that had obviously been trained to fight, above my own and above my responsibilities to my family.

After he finished telling me how much my family needed me and BOTH my arms and legs, we agreed that we would be more careful about the situations we got into, in the heat of the moment.

Life is never dull.

Lane

15 comments:

vivian said...

That's awful! She needs to get it under control before they DO hurt an innocent person. Glad you weren't hurt.

Impera Magna said...

Your helping instinct was front and center and your "good deed" for the day has been accomplished. You now know about the situation with the uncontrolled dogs and can make a better decision next time...

Debbie Cook said...

I can only hope that she has rescued these pits from a previous bad situation and is still working it out. But if she didn't and SHE was the one who trained them to fight, then maybe the authorities should be notified?

I'm so glad you didn't get injured!

Hazel said...

Why do people like this own dogs when they can't control them .To even think about walking two pits at once plus a small dog is crazy .So glad you are ok ,next time you see this lady out walking her dogs ,run the other way .

lw said...

I would report the dogs to animal control. Not to have them removed (they likely won't be) but to get their assistance in explaining to the woman why she must give up at least one of the pit bulls. Homing two dogs that have decided that they are mortal enemies is not a kindness to anyone, and this has gone so far that the behavior can't be trained out.

I'm so glad you weren't hurt!

By the way, trainers at dog shows keep ammonia capsules (the ones you break if someone faints) and use them to break up dog fights. You break a capsule near their noses-- and if you don't want to stick your hand in there, you can use a stick and wipe the capsule on it.

Lee Ann L. said...

Holy Hannah! I most likely would have climbed a tree and text my husband. Scary stuff.

Mad about Craft said...

I'd have turned in the opposite direction!

Patricia said...

I agree with Rob---next time call the police. They have weapons! Stay safe!!!

Coloradolady said...

My Word....what a way to start your next year!!! Good grief...I'd have freaked out! So glad you were OK!!

Anonymous said...

I'm afraid I would have done exactly what you did. I worked at a veterinary hospital for 6 years and grew up with 3 (peaceful) Dobermans. I have had the scrubs ripped off me by a dog and bitten. But I guess I'm dumb that way. ;D

I like the way Rob thinks, very caring.

Tammy said...

oh dear Lane! Obviously that dog owner is an idiot. I'm glad you high tailed out of there before you got hurt. I think you should report the incident to the police. What if a small child got caught in the middle of that?

Becky said...

SO glad you are all right and lesson learned. Sometimes we have to go through stuff like this to open up our eyes. Some people should just be left alone to work things out for themselves thats for sure.

Bonnie K. Hunter said...

somehow I think the crazy WOMAN should have been drug off by her own back legs and call animal control to deal with the dogs.

No matter how much we love them, their instincts come first, and they are NOT going to listen to us stupid humans in any kind of rational manner.

I agree...two dogs with the instinct to fight to the death should not be housed together. Kind of like beta fish. (there is no talking them into playing nice either, no matter how pretty they are!)

Glad you are okay!
Bonnie

KQ Sue said...

I love to dial 911! Drunk wandering down the side of the road - 911, windows being broken in abandon house next door - 911, swerving car in front of me - 911. dog fight - yep - 911 catagory.

Ann Marie @ 16 Muddy Feet said...

I agree with everyone else. The law or animal control should be notified not only for their safety but anyone else's in the future. Glad you didn't get hurt today either.