I wrote this last night because I couldn't think about anything else. Hopefully I can stop replaying it in my head now.
My babies are one of the lucky ones. I know how these stories end for other dogs that have fallen victim to unprovoked dog attacks. My heart goes out to those beloved pups and their families. This is our story...
This isn't the first time we've been attacked...
This time last year we were in San Martín, Patagonia. We had been there for about 5 days before we finally took the pups into town one evening. We walked into a tent where a bunch of vendors were set up selling things when all of a sudden this HUGE Turner and Hooch (French Mastiffe) street dog leapt up from behind a booth.
Without a thought I had Pippa in my arms in a second and the dog turned its attention to Fonz and Leandro right behind me. This monster dog had his giant mouth over Fonz’s, about to close down when Leandro kicked this dog’s head nearly off its body. He had these bulky, heavy-footed mountain boots on and I think it got the point across.
The dog backed down and we ran out of the tent with our stomachs in our throats. We got lucky that day and it’s haunted me ever since. But at the same time I was proud of our actions and wouldn’t change a thing. We still praise daddy all the time about always saving Fonz. Fast forward to yesterday...
The Walk
We get about 5 blocks away in our neighborhood when we pass this house where 3 men are out in the yard talking and doing what looks like yard work. That’s when I see the dog. The image that’s been playing over and over in my head in slow motion. A German Sheppard laying on a porch about 40 yards away and he's just spotted us. Ears straight up, he leapt up and started running full speed at us. He is completely zeroed in on the white, fluffy dog at my feet, Pippa.
This is the part where I feel guilty. Where I got lucky. I have both dogs and I'm completely frozen in fear, and all I can say is, “Babe, oh my God...Babe, the dogs...the dogs!” My voice is loud and shrieking in fear at this point but I can’t move. I’m watching and waiting for one of the 4 men between me and this German Sheppard to stop him. We’re now backed into the street and the dogs are scooting behind me, beyond my reach and Leandro is bracing in front of us ready to block and take the dog down. He thought I’d be picking up the dogs, whom I had in my possession the whole time...but I didn’t. I just stood there frozen, watching it all unfold in slow motion.
The next 5-10 seconds are a blur and I feel like I was so overcome with adrenaline that my mind tuned out that chunk of time right now....
My main focus sees the dog running towards us at full speed. My peripheral sees 3 other large dogs in the yard getting up. The main dog is steered off by Leandro for a couple of seconds.
We're all very close and he gets past Leandro’s grip and stalks straight for Pippa and goes straight for her neck. I see him whip her to the right and I guess keeping Pippa close on the leash put him right where I needed him. At that moment I jumped on his back with the weight of my entire body. And with both hands I dug deep into his loose neck and pulled back with everything I had. We hit the ground pretty hard and then everything is a blur.
I look up and see Fonz about 20 ft away in the street and with a truck pulling up behind him. A few more seconds of time is missing and then I have Pippa in my hands and look over to see Fonz hunkering down on the sidewalk and Leandro running to get him before the dog can.
Scene of the crime. The big gate for vehicles down at the end was the one that was open.
The Aftermath
My next memory cuts to Leandro and I holding the dogs and we’re in a full blown screaming match through the gate with the owner of the German Shepherd. I don't even care that I'm screaming profanities in English and he probably can't understand me...I'm seeing red.
He never helped or called the dog off, not once. It was like we were in the twilight zone or something. Nobody intervened and then this guy refuses to apologize, help or feel any sort of remorse. Instead he tells Leandro to come over there and settle it with him. This dude's dog attacks us, we almost get run over in the street and I'm busted up but he wants Leandro to fight him. That tells you what type of people we’re dealing with here.
I’m shaking and hysterical as we walk a few houses down to check the dogs call the police. I see blood on Pippa’s fur but I can’t find a single puncture wound. Come to find out it was mine. Least of my worries but now that I see my fingers and feel my torn up knees, it starts to hurt like a mother.
Cops + No Show Ambulance
We waited at the scene with the cops for what seamed like forever. They made us wait for an ambulance that never came and then refused us a ride back home because they weren’t allowed to give citizens rides. They tell me not to clean the wound until I get to the ER to have it looked at and photographed. They tell us to go to our neighborhood police afterward and file a formal complaint. Come to find out, everything they tell us us basically wrong.
Eh, it's not so bad but it hurt like a B that first night. That's not blood smeared on my ring finger hand. That's skin completely taken off the surface of my knuckle and cuticle.
The ER
We drive to the ER downtown where we wait and wait. They send me to X-ray my hand; it’s inflamed but fine. We leave with a prescription for a week's worth of antibiotics, an anti-rabies vaccine and Tetanus Shot scheduled for tomorrow. Great.
The Police Station
Complete waste of time. They tell us they can't help us with animal cases so we have to go 40 minutes out of town to the animal precinct. That's where we can file a complaint tomorrow.
This is the part where we go home, drink a bottle of wine and order delivery from our favorite restaurant . I finally get around to cleaning those dirty wounds.
The Animal Precinct
We get to this animal precinct on the outskirts of town. It ends up being a run-down “humane" society. Everyone's running around and dogs are howling throughout the halls. There's a medium hard-sided crate behind the front desk housing two puppies that are scratching and crying in their own feces. There's stray dogs running around outside and inside the facility. There's an eerie fluorescent light that's illuminating the entire waiting area but it flickers off every 15 seconds.
We finally flag someone down who tells us that we’re actually supposed to go to the the anti-rabies clinic first to get the complaint and then come back to this doggy hell to file it. So basically you’re telling me that none of the police knew how it works if you get attacked by an animal in the street? And all of this has been for nothing? We head to the Clinic..
The Clinic
So it turns out this is the place I'm supposed to come to file the formal complaint that will then get emailed to the animal precinct. Then they order the owner of the dog to bring it in and get it tested for rabies. All of this is absolutely necessary if we build a case against them.
As you can see from the photos, this place wasn't exactly the poster child for sanitation. I did NOT move forward with any anti-rabies or tetanus shots at this facility. Hard pass. But we filed the motion needed to get this German Sheppard a required rabies test. Finally a win.
HOME!!!
One last errand to the pharmacy and we're finally going home with the babies. I've decided to wait on the tetanus and rabies until we get the results of the German Shepherd's rabies report. I'm about 85% sure it didn't bite me but there is one puncture on my thumb thats small and round. I'll go through with the rabies shots should there be some crazy reason this dog carries rabies.
As for the babies, I've been loving on them endlessly. We've been playing, eating and lounging. I've had some flashbacks and ugly cries from time to time, but mostly I'm counting my endless blessings to have them here in one piece.
For reasons beyond my understanding these two dogs made it out alive of a situation that could have lead to disasters beyond our worst nightmares. From the dog attack to the fall to the oncoming traffic and 3 other dogs in the yard. I'm still scratching my head as to why they never joined the attack. We both saw Pippa being dragged by that dog and not a mark was left on her. How?
Lastly...
I've never felt more grateful for my partner, Leandro. He has been an amazing protector to our little family. He has taken such great care of us and has been spoiling me with my favorite foods, delivered. Hell yes.
He's also been the most persistent for justice. He mapped out every move these last 24 hours, drove us from place to place and already scheduled a meeting with his lawyer. He never gave up hope for justice when I would have checked out after the hospital. Pun intended. We love you, Daddy.
