A Close Call

Postby **Dan England** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 4:11 pm

I have a neighbor who raises, trains and races Thoroughbred horses. I went by their stable yesterday to drop off a book which I thought they would like to read. As I entered the doorway a dog on a chain walked up to me. He didn't show any signs of aggression and I really didn't pay any attention and continued to walk by him. All of a sudden he latched on to my thumb, removing half of the nail and a small portion of the tip of the thumb. From there, things happened so fast that I don't remember thinking of what I should do. I think that I lunged backwards. The dog released my thumb and latched on to me in the hip region. I was wearing coveralls and he got a good grip on them. His teeth were set and my backward movement ripped the entire right side of the clothing off from my waist to my shoe. I felt his teeth on my hips and I thought he probably had taken a chunk of flesh. Anyway, I fell away from him and the chain wouldn't allow him to reach me again. As it turned out, he not only ripped off my coveralls but also removed a baseball sized section from my undershorts but did not get any flesh. Had I been an inch closer, he would have had a grip on my leg and would have inflicted serious injury before the owner could have gotten him off. I was lucky. I will have a sore thumb for a couple of weeks but am not harmed otherwise. I could have been facing a prolonged hospital stay. PLEASE CONSIDER A STRANGE DOG AS A DANGEROUS DOG. I plan to do so in the future. Dan

Postby **johnbron** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 4:34 pm

Your are lucky Dan. It could have been a very serious injury or even a fatal one.

I dont trust any dogs anymore since I have had a few bad experiences with unknown to me dogs. I am getting too old to fight them off anymore. When I was in My 20s I killed a german shepard that attacked me with My bare hands. Never could understand how I did it but I guess fear & adrenlin kicked in and allowed me to choke the life out of it.

Postby **Don McCombs** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 5:03 pm

Dan,

Glad you came through the experience relatively unharmed. I'd be interested to hear what the owner's reaction was to the episode.

Postby **Dan England** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 5:22 pm

Don: The owners, man and wife, were quite shaken by the event. They kept inquiring as to whether I was hurt, even tho I assured them that little damage was done. They apologized over and over and asked repeatedly how they could make things right with me. I am sure that they could imagine lawsuits, at least that would be a natural thought, but beyond that, they were truely concerned about my condition and possible injury. I stated in my first post that I was very lucky. I also think that the owners were very lucky. I believe that the dog is chained near the entrance of the stables at night and when the owners are gone to prevent tampering with the horses. The dog is removed and placed in a stall during the day when visitors might be present. I went by fairly early in the morning and they just hadn't returned him to the stall for the day. I would imagine that this will be the first action of the day in the future. The owners are my friends and they will continue to be my friends. At some time in our life, we each get careless and endanger ourself or someone else. Sometimes we get lucky, as in this case. Dan

Postby **Don McCombs** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 6:03 pm

Sounds like you have good friends. I'm afraid there are some out there that would have been more concerned for the dog than for you. And yes, they are very lucky. Especially lucky that you didn't have a child with you. I am always a little leery of dogs that don't know me, regardless of how friendly they seem.

Donny M · Postby **Donny M** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 6:17 pm

Glad it wasn't anymore serious :!:

And you still have the body parts to give up for some rain :lol:

Postby **Dan England** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 6:41 pm

That is a good one, Donny. You caught me off-guard on your last statement but I am proud to report that all is well. Dan

Postby **Jeff Silvey** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 7:25 pm

Don:
Make sure the dog has his shots. Watch for infection. You are lucky.
Jeff

Postby **Harold R** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 7:26 pm

WOW! Glad you're OK Dan. Could have been worse...without that chain! Regardless of the hole...I'd have probably ruined the shorts! :lol:

Seriously, is a tetnous shot in order?

Postby **Rudi** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 7:39 pm

Dan:

Yup, close call. Ain't nothing worse that a ticked off guard dog doing what he was trained to do. We all tend to get a little complacent as time goes by, and when we do we run risks of getting hurt, or worse. Thank God that all you did was ruin a good pair of coverall and shorts and that what did get hurt was only a smidgen compared to what it could have been.... :shock:

I don't think too much will happen. Dogs are rather clean animals relatively speaking, and the dog is around horses and other animals, so his shots should be up to date. Rabies etc., should not be a great concern.

I imagine your neighbours are besides themselves, and I hope that y'all recover easily.

beaconlight · Postby **beaconlight** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 8:01 pm

Dan just glad you were not facing the other way.

Bill

Postby **Dan England** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 8:26 pm

Beaconlilght, I sure will agree with that statement. A dreadful thought. Dan

Postby **Dan England** » Mon Jul 24, 2006 8:23 pm

Beaconlight: Are you suggesting that had I been facing the other way that my forum name could be changed from" Dan England" to "Shorthorn"? Just wondering. Dan

Mac from NS · Postby **Mac from NS** » Tue Jul 25, 2006 6:38 am

double R · Postby **double R** » Tue Jul 25, 2006 1:50 pm

If the dog was mine I would put him down. A dog like that will get the owner in big trouble sooner or latter.

Farmall Cub

A Close Call

A Close Call

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