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Monday, June 20, 2005
Holy Maurading Mongrels
Man, my heart has finally slowed down here. I took Belle and Shotgun for our morning walk. I've been doing this walk now for three years, more or less that same major route, with some variations down side streets. I know which houses have dogs, cats, which houses are on sale, where dogs are tied up outside, the whole nine yards. I remember walking Belle on Park and having a Pitt Bull run after us, now I avoid that street.
But today started out the normal way with the long walk down Mixon, where there is never any trouble. Unfortunately, it didn't stay that way. I'm walking, listening to Morning Editon, making sure Shotgun isn't annoying Belle too much when out of my right eye I see some movement. It's two rotteweillers, rather large, and they are walking towards me.
I take off the earbuds so I can make sure I've got all my attention focused on what to do next. I'm completely unarmed (other than the bag of dog poop that I'm holding). Belle starts this high pitch barking - she's scared, and the puppy is just running around and I can tell he's terrified too (probably more from Belle's hysterical barking). And the dog keeps coming towards us. I'm trying to figure out what the best thing to do it, I'm afraid of standing still and I'm more afraid of running. In fact, as I start to move slowly away, the big (male) dog speeds up some. So, I start yelling "STOP" at the top of my lungs. It's 6:35A and I'm YELLING AT THE TOP OF MY LUNGS - thinking surely someone will hear this and come out to see what's going on.
Well, nobody comes out, and by now, I have Belle partially in my arms and the puppy has tied himself around my legs. At least the dogs have stopped their advance. With just this brief moment of seeing they weren't still moving forward, I managed to untangle myself, Belle stopping schrieking, and I s-l-o-w-l-y started retreating.
My heart pounding I looked back later and saw the mongrels running the opposite direction on Mixon.
I'm going to start carrying doggie mace, this was way too scary to repeat.
But today started out the normal way with the long walk down Mixon, where there is never any trouble. Unfortunately, it didn't stay that way. I'm walking, listening to Morning Editon, making sure Shotgun isn't annoying Belle too much when out of my right eye I see some movement. It's two rotteweillers, rather large, and they are walking towards me.
I take off the earbuds so I can make sure I've got all my attention focused on what to do next. I'm completely unarmed (other than the bag of dog poop that I'm holding). Belle starts this high pitch barking - she's scared, and the puppy is just running around and I can tell he's terrified too (probably more from Belle's hysterical barking). And the dog keeps coming towards us. I'm trying to figure out what the best thing to do it, I'm afraid of standing still and I'm more afraid of running. In fact, as I start to move slowly away, the big (male) dog speeds up some. So, I start yelling "STOP" at the top of my lungs. It's 6:35A and I'm YELLING AT THE TOP OF MY LUNGS - thinking surely someone will hear this and come out to see what's going on.
Well, nobody comes out, and by now, I have Belle partially in my arms and the puppy has tied himself around my legs. At least the dogs have stopped their advance. With just this brief moment of seeing they weren't still moving forward, I managed to untangle myself, Belle stopping schrieking, and I s-l-o-w-l-y started retreating.
My heart pounding I looked back later and saw the mongrels running the opposite direction on Mixon.
I'm going to start carrying doggie mace, this was way too scary to repeat.
posted by Pat permalink
3 Comments:
At June 20, 2005,
MissAbyss said…
Pat. I read your harrowing story and I feel your anxiety! Somebody else might disagree with me, but I think your instinct to yell and try to intimidate those dogs was correct. I live in the country and I no longer take walks around here alone, because too many people don't keep their dogs fenced in. The dogs that have harassed me on my walks, too, tend to respond appropriately when I let them know I'm not afraid of them. If you see those dogs again, and there are no people around to claim responsibility, I would call animal control. If the dogs have tags, they can figure out who is the owner. Anyway, I'm glad you and Belle and Shotgun are OK. Phew!
At June 20, 2005,
Allan said…
That sucks. That's why a 100 lb+ Akita comes in handy instead of our maybe 6 lb tea cup chihuahua. Carry a big stick or staff. I do...
At June 21, 2005,
Pat said…
Thanks missabyss and r, I appreciate the thoughts. I was a little nervous when I went walking this morning, and thank god they were not there. Yesterday, I did drive up the street I saw the dogs come from, but I didn't see them outside. Someone in the neighborhood told me another street she thinks they are from, so I'll check that out later today.
Cats don't behave this way!
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