Hi,
Gracie here...last week was crazy around here. Mom had a busy week at work, extra night of bowling, fixing goodies for Thanksgiving dinner and of course helping poppy FINISH, yes I said Finish the garage!! That is one project I for one, am glad to be done with, it's just too cold to be outside supervising for this old dog.
Anyhow, I wanted to share a story that actually happened to me in 2008. A fellow blogger asked if we had any exciting Black Friday stories to tell....well, I do, but it's not your typical Black Friday Story.
Let me set the scene....we moved to Molokai, Hawaii in the spring of 2008 (because of our office fire) but that's another story. Mom was a stay at home "Dog Mom" while poppy went the the dental clinic and did his filling and drilling. Every morning mom, Schatzie and I took a 4 mile walk to the Kalaupapa Lookout (overlook of the Leprosy Colony) We loved this walk as we would see lots of our friends. You could see and smell the ocean. Many times we would walk through the warm refreshing gentle mists that blanketed the island. Some of the friends we encountered had dogs and we would exchange morning greetings. It was a pleasant little community. Life was good.
On Friday, November 29, 2008 it would be different. It was Black Friday and on Molokai there are no big box stores, just small mom and pop type businesses so there was not the usual hustling around in the early mornings to get the great deals. Mom would be home with us and hopefully later we'd go hiking to the beach. I liked that.....
We sent poppy to work and mom got us ready for our walk. Today mom would put the backpack on Schatzie, she was in charge of transporting our water. Off we went, a number of cars passed us by, which was normal. Tourist were making their way to the Mule Barn at the top of the hill. I offer this information as some of these tourists play a role in my story.
Mom didn't allow us much time to stop and smell the roses, we were on a power walk!! We were nearing the Mule Barn when we met Susan and her 3 pit bulls(one was a very large blue one). Now we had met Susan on our walks many times in the past it had always been just a quick hello and we each continued on our way. This Black Friday was going to be one we will never forget.
Mom said hello to Susan and the next thing I know the three pits crossed the road and attacked me (for no reason) It all became a blur. The big blue pitty got me good in the hind leg, I was screaming, as was my mom. All 3 of the dogs were on me, I was fighting for my LIFE. The dogs paid no attention to Schatzie. Mom wonders if her backpack had something to do with that. I somehow managed to get away--screaming in pain when the blue one caught me again. My mom was yelling for help. Fortunately we were only about 50 yards from the Mule Barn and a number of people (those tourists) heard us screaming and came running to help. Mom tried to grab my collar to pull us apart, I didn't know it was her and bit her. The dogs were still attacking me.....A worker from the Mule Barn used a shovel and hit one of the dogs. It allowed me to get free again--only to be caught and attacked one last time. I was so afraid. Mom says she just knew I was going to be killed. By the grace of God somehow, someway the dogs let me go. However, I was still yelping in pain and mom's hand was bleeding and she was sobbing.
We managed to get to the Mule Barn, where believe it or not the people that helped us were all dentists!! They had come to Molokai for the day to to do the Kalaupapa tour. Cell phone coverage on the island is spotty at best and we had a difficult time getting a hold of my poppy. So our good friend Diane was called and came to our rescue. We rode home in the back of her car. Mom was holding me tight--I was bleeding Mom was bleeding we were both so scared. Poppy arrived home a short time later. I'm guessing he set a speed record in covering the 8 mile distance from the clinic. We had to fill out a police report and then I was off to the Molokai Humane Society. When we moved to the island there was a vet on island , but just a few weeks before this accident the vet moved back to the mainland--so we were now vet less and I was in bad shape.
Fortunately, a wonderful vet tech named Tessa was able to help clean up my puncture wounds (over 50 of them) and we contacted a visiting vet that was able to prescribe some antibiotics and pain meds. They took me home to rest so mom could go to the doctor to receive 13 stitches in her hand and get her own pain meds. My peeps were praying that I would not have to go off island for treatment as getting off island is logistical nightmare especially for big dogs. If more treatment was needed I would have to be flown off island on a cargo plane that only flys M-F mornings or take the 1.5 hour ferry boat ride to Maui.
Once at home I began to swell and was in extreme pain, I didn't eat or drink. Mom bathed my wounds with epsom salt and stay right by my side for the next two days. Finally late on the second day I was able to go outside to potty (with help)and began eating a few bites. The third day mom tried to get back into a routine with Schatzie and asked her if she wanted to go for a ride....Mom and poppy were amazed as I lifted my head and then pulled myself up off of my bed and walked to the door all by myself. Mom said this was her sign that I was going to be okay.
Yes, I did physically recover a few weeks later, but the emotional wounds are still there, especially for my mom.
I don't blame the dogs in this situation. I blame the owner. The blue pit had a record, a rap sheet a mile long!! He had killed a goat, and came very close to attacking a child. This was a dangerous dog. I believe the dog should have been euthanized. It's difficult for me to say that but...that's what I believe.
Mom's been reliving this all weekend. In fact it's the first time she's put it down on paper. I've seen a lot of water in her eyes...we were both so afraid and it's a miracle that I'm still alive. Guess this is why me and mom have such a special bond.
So when Black Friday comes around my mom is a little emotional--now you know why!!
Love, Gracie
Stop here...if you choose not to see a couple photos of our injuries.
Gracie suffered over 50 puncture wounds all over her body.
The most serious were on her right hind leg and right shoulder where she did develop
an infection that had to be treated 10 days after the original incident.
At this time she was only 3 years old and very healthy--which probably helped in saving her life.
I sustained 13 stitches in my right hand.
A police report was made only because there was a dog bite,
because my dog bit me!!
No charges were filed against the owner of the other dogs.
They were just told to put a muzzle on him!!
One of the most frightening days of my life.
Gracie's Mom....