OK. So, I'm not really an animal "hater" but what I really do hate is people who treat their pets like people. You know who I'm talking about. Those who dress their cats in Christmas sweaters and carry their dogs in their purses.
Well, I had a run-in (literally) with just that type yesterday.
I was out for a run when a woman and her two dogs were stopped on the path ahead of me. The dogs were taking care of business. As I ran by, the German Shepherd lunged at me and bit a chunk out of the back of my upper left leg. No joke.
First, I was shocked and then I was really scared and then the pain hit. I've been running for years and I've never had a dog bite me!
While I gripped the back of my leg in horror, the woman just stood there and proceeded to deny that her dog actually bit me. "He must have just given you a little 'love nip'", she insisted. "He wouldn't bite anybody. He's just a puppy. You must be mistaken, he just didn't bite you." Well, canine punctures in my upper thigh showed her otherwise. (Lucky for me, I was wearing thick pants and not shorts) Once I showed her the blood and the bruises, she pulled her dog close to her and said, "Oh, he's just so scared. You've scared him." Seriously. I am not lying. Her dog had just sunk his teeth into my leg and HE was petrified? Well, it was at this point that my anger overruled my pain and fear and I think I may have started yelling at her through gritted teeth and tears, "HE's scared? I'm terrified, lady!"
She backed off a little but just kept telling me how her dog was just a puppy and how her dogs are her life and they are her babies, etc. I wanted to explain to her that I had 3 real babies at home--three actual living and breathing HUMAN babies who would appreciate a mother with all limbs in tact. But I managed to compose myself, memorize her name and number and continue on my way. (She did offer to give me a ride home, but like I wanted to take a back seat to the doggy carseats she probably had waiting in her car for each of her mangy mutts.) I walked for a good mile, crying and cooling off my temper but I was still a solid 5 miles from home so I eventually picked up my pace and ran the rest of the way home. Running helped calm my mood until I relayed my experience to Brent which scared Ally pretty bad. I think I might have been yelling again...
My leg still hurts pretty bad, but it's nothing a little antiseptic and some duck tape can't fix. Brent was the hero and patched me up nicely First-Aid-Kit-style. He took some pictures just in case we needed to go to the doctor later. I don't think that will be necessary. The woman's "babies" are well-cared for and are up to date on all their shots. I do wonder how she would feel if I let Keith or Cole gnaw on HER leg. Some people. Newsflash: PETS. ARE. NOT. PEOPLE!!!
OK. Now that I blew off my steam, here are some recent pics of my true babies. I'm not really sure what happened to my mad blogging-skills in March but if I want my family to start talking to me again, I better start blogging.
