Yesterday morning, before making the kids’ breakfast, I put Felix in the backyard . As we ate breakfast, he was watching us from a sunny spot on the patio. But when I backed the car out of the garage to take the kids to school, I noticed our side gate was open, meaning Felix might not be secure in our backyard. My regular readers will remember that it has only been a month since our previous dog ran into the street and was killed by a car.
So, the sight of the open gate was quite frightening to me. Instead, however, of calmly articulating my fears, I started screaming hysterically. Miraculously my son understood me and ran down the street and found the dog. My daughter, however, had no idea what was going on, and ducked under the car seat. In retrospect, that seems like an appropriate response, since she knew there was danger, but had no idea the nature of it. I ran into the house to scream some more, this time at my poor husband.
In conclusion, I suppose no one is going to put me in charge of an emergency response team. I had my assignment, and my performance was pretty dismal. Luckily, we all were fine in the end….and at this point I can laugh at myself.
Barbara, the best thing to get is an invisible fence. It’s fairly easy to train your dog and they learn their barriers. Cheaper than emergency room vet bills about $150 at walmart! We have a wooden fence now but didn’t when we first got our dog. They really work! Oh, i know how to yell too with 4 boys and a girl two home businesses a dog,cat, tortoise and two gerbils I fell like a drill sargent sometimes.
i felt the same way when my guinea pig’s cage was wide open and she was nowhere in sight! (it turned out she was hiding in the corner in her den where i couldn’t see her)
Brave to be so vulnerable, I agree! I’m sure at one time or another, or who knows, down the road, I may have or will readt the same way – you know, kids are great, they have that special way of grounding us from time to time! Thanks for sharing!
Wow! You are very brave to be so vulnerable and share your reaction and your disappointment about it. I’m a calm person (as opposed to my sister who would react that way), but I know I wouldn’t have the courage to share the story. Good for you!
Valerie J
I guess yesterday was a very bad day for pets and pet lovers alike. My next door neighbor lets her 18 month old play next to the fence we shair and she often puts her hands through the fence pretty often. Yesterday, however, she put her hand through the fence and was pulling on my little pugs hair. My yellow lab/pit mix that normally loves kids saw this as a thret to the pugs life and bit the child. My lab/mix has taken tuns of abuse from my son and I am sure if she had pulled his hair he would have not bit her but he is protective of the much smaller dog. My 7 year old son watched the whole thing take place. I am very sorry that the child was hurt but I still have to wonder why the mother would let the kid do this and now I have animal control contacting us.
We have 3 dogs and 2 cats AND a broken fence gate!we are c-o-n-s-t-a-n-t-l-y checking and rechecking that dang gate. Two of our dogs are diggers and one is a jumper. Despite our best efforts, one or the other of them is escaping on a regular basis. Fear of things we love becoming lost or injured brings emotions that we otherwise keep in check. Your emotions show how much you care for your ENTIRE family, pets included 🙂
I used to respond exactly that way and like you wasn’t proud of my response. But also like you it gave me a learning opportunity. Bye
I can identify with that. My new puppy just yesterday for the first time and in a very brief moment climbed onto the table in our kitchen and proceeded to chew-guess what-the brand new (less than 24 hours old) replacement of my sons lower retainer. It was a good thing husband was the first to see the dog-lets put it that way. I had a few minutes to regain my composure after he told me.
We all react differently under pressure but the key is we react. We do what we must and try to make it better for the next time. What is it about those retainers anyway?
Have a great day!!
Glad the dog is back and all is well again.
Your screaming released a wealth of information to your children. It told them you can be fearful and this is how some (actually a majority) demonstrate their fear; and it told them you have value for this dog. Do not pity your “poor husband”. How does he react to not being able to find the television remote just when his favorite team is going to play? If he’s like most men, he yells; yelling about an inanimate object which momentarily brings satisfaction and joy. A dog, on the other hand, gives us more.
Do not throw away the application for the ERT. Calm doesn’t always convey caring.
Hello,
I understand you quite well,since I have a dog
and six cats!!!
Best regards from jo
Barbara: thank you for revealing your humanity to your subscribers and the rest of the world.
I can be just as rattled as the next person when I’m concerned about the safety of a family member or pet, but it’s difficult to admit it. How wonderful that we have husbands who understand!
Hope your beloved new dog has many happy years with you and your family, and that the trauma of losing your other precious pooch will diminish with each passing day.
I find that in any situation I can always just go inside and babble at “the husband”. It always makes me feel better.
I am glad the pooch was fine.