Effie has really seen some shit this year; waaaay back in January, Effie was out for a pre-dawn walk with Drtr. Some dipshit opened her front gate and her off-leash dog ran down the sidewalk, bit a huge hole in Effie's side and then ran back to his owner.
Effie didn't even have time to react and she seemed unfazed - plus, it was dark - so it wasn't until Drtr got home and we saw the dog in the light that the big bleeding rip in her side become evident. I nearly barfed and fainted simultaneously.
I will spare you the gory photos of the dog's open wounds but here is the aftermath a couple of weeks into healing:
Thank fuck for pot brownies.
Fortunately, Drtr had seen where the dog owner lived. So, after we spent all ding dong day at the vet (partly because Effie WOULD NOT succumb to the sedation and spent nearly two hours determinedly lurching around in an exam room after several injections), Krtr and I were able to write an strongly worded letter to the dog owner. We told the owner that the vet suggested we report the incident to the cops, because the injury was so serious. We also enclosed photos of the Effie's injuries. And the $1000 vet bill.
Furious and spoiling for a fight, we braced ourselves for a response from the dog owner. I spent several hours having angry hypothetical conversations with this woman. What was she THINKING? What is WRONG with her DOG? SHE WOULD PAY THEY WOULD BOTH PAY.
In the end, our righteous anger was diffused by the fact that the dog owner contacted us right away. She apologized profusely for being so careless and said she just hadn't been thinking when she let her dog out. She explained that her dog had become more protective of the house since they had a baby. She agreed, sans fuss, the pay the entire vet bill... and then she DID.
I almost felt bad for calling the police on her. Then I looked at our heavily sedated puppy, with the drainage tube sticking out of her side, and ceased to "almost feel bad". Because my poor sweet little dog was FUCKED UP.
I've never had dealings with Vancouver Animal Control, except when they refused to control various animals in our neighbourhood because apparently they don't wrangle skunks or crows here.
This dog thing was different. We filled out a report online and within the day, we had a call from Animal Control and an appointment with an Animal Control officer. She came over to interview Drtr and check out Effie's injuries and give her some lovin'. Then she went over to the dog owner's house, interviewed them and issued them a $250 ticket for having their dog off-leash on the sidewalk. Justice was swift and very satisfying. Thanks, City of Vancouver!
We had several more trips to the vet for drainage tube removal and stitches removal and Effie had to wear a raincoat for weeks, rain or shine, while her fur grew back. Good thing she's adorable in pink.
When we told folks Effie had been injured, they assumed she'd gotten into a scrap at the park instead of being attacked on the street for no reason - and that was a fair assumption. Effie a very rough and tumble gal. After almost every visit to the off-leash park, she comes home with some kind of minor injury, either from enthusiastic play or trying to initiate play too enthusiastically and being brutally rebuffed.
Effie never holds a grudge. But I was still nervous that, after several weeks of healing and not having any time off-leash, Effie might be nervous and weird about gambolling about with other canines. I wanted her to be more cautious so that she didn't get bit on the fuckin' face so often but I didn't want her to lose her joie de vivre.
Fortunately, I got exactly what I wanted. Once she was ready to be set loose again, Effie had matured a little bit in the off-leash department and it's been a delight. She's a little more cautious now about approaching other dogs at a sprint; and, if she gets the "no thank you", she's become very good at just moving on, which makes our park visits a lot less stressful for moi.
Good girl.
