Monday, February 13, 2017

#LIFE

So over time I've met some really great bloggers out there.  And I am always excited to see comments from so many of you.  I also know several of you have been concerned because of my past few posts and I think I can finally talk about it - sort of.  All I ask is that you all know how much I love my boys so please don't criticize or judge.

On 2/3/17 I came home and only Cass met me at the door.  The table in the living room was overturned and I could tell things were broken. I kept yelling for T and he never came.  I heard panting up the stairs so I ran up and found the bathroom and T covered in blood.  I mean, so covered I close my eyes and I still can see it.

I had to manage to get a 115 pound dog down the stairs who couldn't/wouldn't walk because Mr. Barb was at work and was out doing transports so he couldn't be reached.  I don't know how I managed and I think my body still feels it.  I get him out to the curb and then have no strength to pick him up and put him in my truck (he usually rides in our SUV).  I'm screaming and run to our neighbor's who sees me covered in blood and makes a call to a guy she knows across the street who comes and helps.  I drive Booker across town, which I honestly don't remember, and his vet, who is the greatest, rushes out, gets him out of the truck and takes him in for emergency surgery.  He ends up with 16 stitches - inside his ear, on his head, on the outside of his left front leg and on the inside of the same leg.  The inside of his leg is the worst part of the injury - it's basically in his doggy armpit.

Basically, him and Cass, who have always gotten along, must have found something (probably part of the night before's treat we didn't see) and Cass, who just turned 3, attacked T.  Mr. Barb was upset and furious and every emotion in between as was I, except I had the extra trauma of being the one who found him.

Anyway, T got to come home that evening and he is on the mend.  Stitches come out Wednesday. Cass is at the vet as I type this getting neutered because our vet feels that will greatly help.  We also have a new crate to keep Cass in while we work until we see what happens.  The good thing is that even though deeply upset, we are both committed to keeping Cass (it was touch and go for a while) as well as keeping Booker T safe.  They have never fought before and I've learned how lucky we were to have had 5 males in the past and this is the first time something like this has happened.  Also, T has no fear of Cass and they have gotten along fine since - even though they are being watched and guarded.

So now you know the cause of my nightmares.  I don't think I'll ever get that picture out of my head. Plus we've lost a lot of sleep while T has been healing and have been emotionally put through the wringer.

Thanks to all my blogging buddies who have been worried and please understand why it's taken a while to talk about this.

Now back to our regularly scheduled blogging.

20 comments:

  1. Oh Barb, I'm so sorry this happened. Hopefully it was a one-time event and you'll never have to deal with such an awful thing again. I am glad they're both ok and hope the neutering of Cass works out for the best.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cass is recovering well. He seems kind of depressed. They said the anesthesia hit him pretty hard, but they also said they get that a lot with big dogs.

      Delete
  2. I feel for you and know how you feel. I had two dogs that were together for two years and then overnight could not be kept together anymore. Two vet trips when almost a month later a roommate didn't follow the new procures. I am glad yours seem to be together again and Ok. Best of luck to you and the dogs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Nathan. It's really a hard thing to go through and I can't believe your roommate didn't do what they needed to do!

      Delete
  3. Wow that would be scary. I'm glad T is okay and the fact that they're okay together at the moment hopefully means it'll never happen again. You never truly what can happen with animals but that must have been heartbreaking. All my best wishes going forward that both dogs are fine.

    Wishing quick healing for T!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much for the kind words Greg. T got his stitches removed yesterday and is on the mend - and spoiled as always.

      Delete
  4. Oh man, I had a gotten a feeling from your posts in the past week that something was on your mind. How terrible this incident must have been for you, but I'm glad that T is okay and recovering well. Wishing you and the dogs the best, I hope things will settle soon.

    ~Mogsy @ BiblioSanctum

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It has been a much better week even though some of the stress is still there. Thanks for the good thoughts.

      Delete
  5. Oh I'm so sorry, that had to be so scary to find him like that. I'm glad to hear T is ok and that the dogs seem to be getting along ok since then. Hopefully the neutering will help. Tell T to get better soon!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh wow, what a horrible thing to go through. I'm so sorry! It sounds like they are on the mend, and I hope it was just a one time occurrence. I just hate when dogs don't get along (I have my own story about that, but maybe another time). Take care Barb!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can't imagine ever going through this again so I hope you're right about it being a one-time thing.

      Delete
  7. Oh Barb! It's no wonder you've been having nightmares. Poor Booker T...I hope the poor boy is ok. It's upsetting just thinking about it so I can't imagine what you've been through. I can't imagine the shock of coming home to see all the blood and the panic over what you were going to see. I really hope everything is going to be ok and it was a horrible one-off incident. Thoughts with all of you *hugs*

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much Chuckles. T says to tell Auntie that he got his stitches out yesterday and is on the mend. Just needs to get the bite underneath his arm healed. Thanks for the hugs - I definitely need them.

      Delete
  8. Oh Barb! {{{BIG HUGS}} I can't imagine coming home to find one of my furbabies in such a state of distress - and to know that it happened because of a fight with the other one :( It sounds like you have a good plan in place to keep it from happening again - hopefully it was a one time thing and everything will be fine moving forward. So scary! Thoughts and healing wishes to everyone :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh, wow. That is so scary! I'm so glad they are OK. I hope you are doing better and sleeping better, too. *Hugs*

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Definitely sleeping better this week than last. Thanks for the hugs.

      Delete
  10. OMG, Barb!!! This is truly shocking!! Since I don't have any pets of any kind (except horses, in my head) I was not aware that this sort of thing could happen. I feel so bad that you had to find T in that condition....

    I am glad, though, that you were able to get help for him so quickly, and the situation was swiftly resolved. I think it's a good idea, too, that you guys had Cass neutered. I guess male animals will at times see other males as rivals, even if they do get along otherwise.

    I once commented on Facebook that I didn't like the practice of gelding horses. Someone who was experienced with these animals told me that stallions are pretty unmanageable, especially if there are mares around. So this is why they're gelded. I guess I can understand....

    So glad that things are pretty much back to normal for you and your husband! HUGS GALORE FOR YOU & THE BOYS!!! <3 <3 :) :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. I really feel for you, Barb! I have 3 doggies and there have been a few times that we have had to stop them from fighting so I know how this could happen. I am thinking of you.

    ReplyDelete