How would you like to be away from home a few hours, then return and discover that the larger of your two dogs had attacked and critically injured your smaller dog?
I got an e-mail recently from Linda Knight telling of her experience. It's a story that's too horrible to imagine. I asked Linda for permission to use her story. I believe it will help all of us dog lovers appreciate our pets even more. Let's listen to the story in Linda's own words.
"I read your weather e-mail every weekday and love reading about Molly. Make sure to cherish every moment with her that you can. My Shih-tzu, Leah, was killed on Sunday by my other larger dog while I was away from the house. A total freak accident took away my 10-year companion and no amount of money or tears could give me a second chance to turn back time and fix it for her. She lived long enough to let me know that she knew I was there and then God took her to be with Him. At least where she is she will never hurt and the injuries she sustained will be whole. I would like to commend veterarian Keri Riddick and her staff at the Emergency and Specialty Animal Medical Center off of Acton Road. They did everything in their power to make it ok, but she ended up dying from complications from perhaps a blood clot. So, again, spend every moment, and love everything she does like there's no tomorrow because freak accidents happen. And, we all know how dominant a Shih-tzu can be. They are 10-feet tall and bullet prrof to have them tell it. This one time she didn't have me there to back her up and for that I will forever feel the guilt and pain of not being there to be her ultimate protector."
Linda continues in her own words: "Always let Molly give you kisses and know that when she runs up to give you kisses in your mouth that one day you will miss those nasty little kisses, so let her have them now. Never turn down a chance to share Molly's love because you will never find a love as pure and neverfailing as hers. Leah and Sally had lived inside together without any problems for more than four years. As I have stated, my guilt for being overly confident in Leah's safety with Sally is something that I will never get over, but I will have to learn from it. It was a lesson that had too high a price."
And more from Linda, "This has been a reminder that there is an innate instinct in animals that, no matter how much we try, we cannot take out of them. I am to blame for humanizing them. Since the incident, Sally has grieved tremendously, lying on Leah's bed, looking for her throughout the house, not eating, and not having anything to do with anyone. I never would have believed that she would have been taking her actions as hard as she has. This has taught me a valuable lesson that will only make me a better and more realistic parent in the future. I hope you and Molly get to spend some quality time between the bad weather events."
That is the story from Linda. I included a shorter version of it in the Thursday afternoon e-forecast and 7-day discussion, but there was just not enough room to describe the whole event. I certainly feel for Linda and she is offering to let us use her story to encourage us all to not take our pets for granted and to enjoy the time we have with them since they are not around forever. As I mentioned in the e-forecast, I am a strong person emotionally, but Linda's story made me misty eyed.
Life goes on...
I got an e-mail recently from Linda Knight telling of her experience. It's a story that's too horrible to imagine. I asked Linda for permission to use her story. I believe it will help all of us dog lovers appreciate our pets even more. Let's listen to the story in Linda's own words.
"I read your weather e-mail every weekday and love reading about Molly. Make sure to cherish every moment with her that you can. My Shih-tzu, Leah, was killed on Sunday by my other larger dog while I was away from the house. A total freak accident took away my 10-year companion and no amount of money or tears could give me a second chance to turn back time and fix it for her. She lived long enough to let me know that she knew I was there and then God took her to be with Him. At least where she is she will never hurt and the injuries she sustained will be whole. I would like to commend veterarian Keri Riddick and her staff at the Emergency and Specialty Animal Medical Center off of Acton Road. They did everything in their power to make it ok, but she ended up dying from complications from perhaps a blood clot. So, again, spend every moment, and love everything she does like there's no tomorrow because freak accidents happen. And, we all know how dominant a Shih-tzu can be. They are 10-feet tall and bullet prrof to have them tell it. This one time she didn't have me there to back her up and for that I will forever feel the guilt and pain of not being there to be her ultimate protector."
Linda continues in her own words: "Always let Molly give you kisses and know that when she runs up to give you kisses in your mouth that one day you will miss those nasty little kisses, so let her have them now. Never turn down a chance to share Molly's love because you will never find a love as pure and neverfailing as hers. Leah and Sally had lived inside together without any problems for more than four years. As I have stated, my guilt for being overly confident in Leah's safety with Sally is something that I will never get over, but I will have to learn from it. It was a lesson that had too high a price."
And more from Linda, "This has been a reminder that there is an innate instinct in animals that, no matter how much we try, we cannot take out of them. I am to blame for humanizing them. Since the incident, Sally has grieved tremendously, lying on Leah's bed, looking for her throughout the house, not eating, and not having anything to do with anyone. I never would have believed that she would have been taking her actions as hard as she has. This has taught me a valuable lesson that will only make me a better and more realistic parent in the future. I hope you and Molly get to spend some quality time between the bad weather events."
That is the story from Linda. I included a shorter version of it in the Thursday afternoon e-forecast and 7-day discussion, but there was just not enough room to describe the whole event. I certainly feel for Linda and she is offering to let us use her story to encourage us all to not take our pets for granted and to enjoy the time we have with them since they are not around forever. As I mentioned in the e-forecast, I am a strong person emotionally, but Linda's story made me misty eyed.
Life goes on...
on April 8, 2005, 9:11 am
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