Monday, January 23, 2012

The Perfect Storm

On October 31, I walked Tommy & Louise together by myself. A leash in each hand and a bag of treats hanging off each hip, I showered the dogs with goodies whenever another dog (walking by or barking from behind a fence) sent Louise into a tizzy.

My thinking was as long as I could walk Tommy & Louise together on my own, I could keep Louise.

I continued to walk them like this without incident, cavalierly defying my trainer's emphatic warnings against doing so, until the morning of November 29, when the perfect storm sparked a full-on fight in the middle of the street just around the corner from my house.


The following evening, the wind storm tore into town. The photo above shows Tommy in front of a pile of debris in Farnsworth park a few days later. His snoot loop broke in the fight so you get to see his gorgeous mug in all its naked glory.

He looks sad, doesn't he? Maybe he was stressed from being without electricity for days.

I haven't walked Tommy & Louise together since. Sometimes you have to learn lessons the hard way.

20 comments:

  1. Oh, this made me sad. I'm sorry that happened. I hope everyone was ok. I hope you aren't feeling too overwhelmed.

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  2. Thanks, Margaret. You're so sweet. It was a bit traumatic but there were no major injuries and everyone's okay now. It's still hard but getting a bit easier. Next post will be more upbeat!

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  3. They fought each other?

    I wonder if that could actually be a good thing and one or the other has established dominance. Boz and Sprocket fought once. Sprocket apparently won, and it never happened again. They're fine together and always happy to see each other.

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    1. Petrea, I wish that were the case but I think it's more serious than that. I'm glad Boz and Sprocket are buddies now. Tommy & Louise's relationship is a bit more... complicated.

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  4. I'm so relieved none of you was seriously hurt, but I'm so sorry it happened. Must have been very upsetting. Tommy looks troubled. Dear me, these complex relationships are a worry, aren't they.

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    1. Thank you, Shell. It was awful but we're fine now. I had no idea how complex the relationship between Tommy & Louise would be.

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  5. I am sorry that they fought, Susan.
    Yes, Tommy looks sad...
    I am also sorry that the wind storm was bad. But fortunatelly there were no injuries and everyone's fine.

    Thank you for your sweet words about my dearest Flora... I appreciate it more than I can say.
    Warm hugs to you.

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    1. Thank you, sweet sonia. I love the photos of dear Flora by the water. I hope they give you comfort.

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  6. The sounds of a dogfight is horrifying, particularly when your own dog is involved. Much less, two dogs. I think all three of you need a valium before you attempt this again.

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    1. Hiker, someone recommended I try Prozac with Tommy to calm him down. But yeah, all three of us could benefit from valium. On the other hand, I won't be trying this again for a long, long time.

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  7. Thank you dear Susan! Yes, seeing photos and videos of my adorable Flora give me comfort.
    Big hugs!

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  8. My comment never came through, it seems. Wll, the brief version is that dog fights sound really violent, and often are, and I hope you didn't get hurt trying to separate them. I've been bitten a few times. Do you now have to walk them individually? You must be exhausted! let us know if we can help out.

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  9. Bellis, fortunately I didn't get hurt breaking up this fight. Yikes, you'll have to share your dog bite stories next time I see you. And yes, I do walk them individually now. It's pretty tiring but I take them to doggie daycare a few days during the week so I don't have to do it everyday. I'm also hiring a dog walker. Thanks for the offer to help. I may take you up on it.

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  10. He looks distressed. Sounds like you all had a tough time.

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  11. What about a treadmill? I think this could be the solution...picture it - Louis running at a nice steady clip - you in a lounge chair drinking Mai Tais and reading Vanity Faire

    dog spelled backwards is cat - yes it is, don't argue with me on this

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  12. Unfortunately it looks like you got 2 dogs cursed with a feline disposition.
    PA's treadmill idea sound good. I'd followup with her on it.

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  13. Jean, good to see you back. It was a rough week. Things have improved since then.

    PA, a friend has been pushing for the treadmill solution, but she left out the lounge chair, Mai Tais and Vanity Fair. I like your version.

    "dog spelled backwards is cat" - I didn't get it at first but then the little light bulb went on (I'm slow). You won't hear any arguments from me.

    Cafe, two pitties with kitty dispositions doesn't sound promising.

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  14. It must be disappointing that your best intentions aren't appreciated by you goggies. Srsly, they need to straighten up!

    Ranger was mauled by a pitbull once. Actually, he had been molested, as it were, a few other times but this time the dog's fence was downed by a hurricane and she was roaming free with another dog. The way you break their jaw grip is to insert a broom handle or something similar into the corner of their mouth. It was nothing short of a miracle.

    I'm still rooting for Team Louise and hope she finds her furever home one day.

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  15. What I didn't include above was that her owner was completely negligent with her care. It wasn't her fault.

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  16. I'm glad Ranger survived that attack, Paula. How scary. I'm not surprised a negligent owner was behind it.

    Fortunately I didn't have to contend with any jaw gripping in this fight, but I have heard of that technique to stop it.

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