Sir Drake on guard duty 2001, just little over 2 human years old.
One son was rushed on the night of June 13th following a graduation exercise. The graduate then rushed the dog, gave him some terse words and refused to back down. Meanwhile, I'm running in heels towards a terrified and shrieking child who in that time would have put Usain Bolt to shame - the child not me - as he must have sprinted 6 car lengths in 5 seconds. Added to that he was now cannon-balled in the middle of the road. Yes, enter the big WHAT IF? My presence of mind is now between calming him while heading back down to the car and saying prayers that this dog would stay where it was and not attack the other two.
After some time, the dog started backing away. It, however, refused to stand down even after it's master called out. You see it was being outmatched by the fearless one and it wasn't going to cower easily. The yard where the dog belongs is not fenced! Now this got me real infuriated. It really took a lot for me to not give the owner himself two choiced words ... Instead I said "goodnight, please tie that dog."
There's another yard right next to the school. Though fenced, the dogs still get out as they are prone to find away when it suits their fancy. You would think the common sense thing would be to secure the dogs during school hours or secure the fence if it's so much more important to the owner that they roam. Here's a solution: buy a long chain so it can walk/run about securely INSIDE!
Going down to town last week, at the Buckley line round-a-bout, we were welcomed by a huge Rottie and some other huge mixed something. There was another huge something between the gas station and the tire repair and two more going around the bend. Children were already out and about.
Back in 2006 while on the job, a co-worker's children was spending some time in the office. Sometime close after noon it was agreed they would walk home. They lived in Nut Grove and had done the route countless times. It wasn't an easy decision for them to go alone, yet it became a hectic morning in the office and the fussy children DNA began to show up. Though torn, she reluctantly conceded. Not too long after she'd resettled at her desk, in came some terrified children, one bleeding. They were met on Tanner Street by a dog who gave chase to one daughter who ended up falling as she ran into a car. Thankfully the man driving called and was kind enough to bring them up to the office, then transport mother and children to the hospital. Yes, WHAT IF?
2007 a niece and a visiting nephew from the US were chased coming back home from the village shop. They were in her neighbourhood. Somewhere between the shop and home on the return leg something had changed. The dog was in the yard when they went but was now out. The boy being the elder told her not to run, just walk. The dog began coming closer raising her fear. She started running, the dog gave chase. Dear cousin started throwing stones but the dog kept at it. He started running too ... Yes, WHAT IF?
I myself have had the experience of being chased. Walking home from primary school one afternoon with my siblings - a dog - must have been months old really - came out and started following us. All would have been well had it not decided to pick me to try to warm up to. I kept switching sides, trying to hide my anxiety as it wasn't my wish to come under the brunt of jokes for the evening. I walked a little faster, the dog kept pace too. I brushed, it went out and came back. I couldn't take it any more, just don't like them brushing at my feet or licking so, unless I initiated the petting. We were just yards from home, I began running ... fast. The dog too! The siblings were laughing, at this point though I couldn't give a pineapple. All I knew if this thing was chasing me a bite may well be in my future and that wasn't going to happen. I wasn't going to be a willing participant. I had my target set; run straight into the yard and into the garage ... full sprint on. I would have exited through the back of the garage had not my grandfather who was just back from his farm been putting his cutlass through at the same time. Had he not averted his hand my shin would have connected with his always ever so precisely sharpened cutlass. Pulling some fast breaks I also avoided the pitch fork! "Girl, what's wrong with you?" He soon got the answer for himself and "that damn dog" and it's owner did get a telling. Yes, WHAT IF?
Then here's another growing issue. As a renter I am not allowed to have dogs. That's fine, I do not want one at this point and time. Yet, there are dogs in the yard, pulling at my clothes on the line, pooping in the yard, knocking over the garbage drums and yep - you guessed - the nerve to be barking or growling at my children. Surely I'm not the only one peeved by this situation. What IF?
Then here's another growing issue. As a renter I am not allowed to have dogs. That's fine, I do not want one at this point and time. Yet, there are dogs in the yard, pulling at my clothes on the line, pooping in the yard, knocking over the garbage drums and yep - you guessed - the nerve to be barking or growling at my children. Surely I'm not the only one peeved by this situation. What IF?
SERIOUSLY PEOPLE, get your act together 'cause anybody dog bite any ah me children OR me will have a really hard time wrapping their head around the fact that I am indeed a dog lover. Added to that, prosecution to the fullest extent of the law will be sought!
#nonsense #growup #getreal #beresponsible.
#nonsense #growup #getreal #beresponsible.
