Monday, June 15, 2009

Happy Ending

This has nothing to do with sewing but I want to share it anyway.

Last night, DH and I decided to go out for dinner to a local Chinese buffet-style restaurant. Both DS's and their girlfriends joined us. We were all set for a fun dinner with our largish group. We all piled into the car and headed out.

As we were making our way to the highway, we traveled up one of the through streets in surburbia-land and were slowed down by other cars ahead of us dodging something in the middle of our lane. When it was our turn to dodge, we saw exactly what the roadblock was — a big yellow lab Old Yeller kind of dog laying on his side, head away from us, and his "buddy" standing next to him. Oh no!!

There was NO WAY we could just drive on and not look back … and WHAT were those other people who did just that thinking anyway? Not to mention the creep who had hit him and kept going.

We stopped the car and turned on the hazard flashers. The "buddy" dog had already taken off down the road and we couldn't get him. From the car, we could immediately see the dog on the road was still alive as his paws were moving slightly. DH and I got out to investigate. DH walked around to the dog's head and all looked fine there. There were some bloody wounds on the dog's front foreleg, but his legs all looked to be in normal position. There was a collar about 10 feet away (I don't even want to think about how that happened), but there were no tags on it.

I called 911 and asked that they send an Animal Control unit to pick up the dog and another officer to direct traffic, which was starting to get a little out of hand with all the rubberneckers and us "parked" in the middle of the road. I really wanted to put the dog in our car and take him to an emergency vet but I was afraid of hurting him worse by the movement and effort it would take to get this big guy into the back of our car.

An older couple came out from their yard and stood with us next to the dog, telling us they had just heard a loud THUMP! and were out to investigate. We all were talking sweet nothings to the dog to keep him calm and the good boy started wagging his tail. Poor guy.

While we were waiting for Animal Control to show up, another man stopped his pick-up truck on the side of the road, got out and started walking to the group next to the injured dog. (I was trying to direct traffic at this point, since it was badly needed.) It turned out this man is a vet!! A brand new one, who had just opened his office nearby not even 3 months ago.

The vet said he would load the dog into his truck and take him back to his office to check him out. Another man had also stopped at this point and joined us. He volunteered to leave his car so he could go with the vet to keep the dog calm and as comfortable as possible during the ride. Fearing internal injuries (the dog was still laying flat on its side with no effort to get up after the 15 or so minutes we had been there), we all thought that at the very least, this dog could be helped to go peacefully with a trained vet instead of just dying on the road, scared and in pain, with cars zooming past. We quickly made a makeshift "gurney" with a tarp so we could lift the dog in one motion into the vet's truck.

Before the vet and other kind stranger left with the dog, I jotted down the vet's name and number, introduced myself and told him I'd call him in the morning. We called 911 back and updated the operator on the situation, and then got back into the car and went on our way, sad for the dog but happy that fate had sent the vet past us when we needed him.

We went to dinner and after we got back home, I had already decided that IF the dog had made it through the night and the vet needed a foster volunteer, I would take him in. My sons kidded me, of course, knowing that we might end up with dog #4, and a big one at that. I fell asleep thinking about the dog.

This morning, I called the vet's office. The dog was OK!! They had cleaned and stitched up his external leg wounds but had found no internal injuries. His owner had found out what had happened and picked him up last night, so the big guy didn't even have to spend a night away in a strange place. (The dog had gotten out of their yard and they were out looking for him when all this was taking place.)

I even got a call from the Sheriff's Department this morning, following up to see what had happened to the dog.

I love a happy ending! And I know which new local vet is going to get three new poochie patients, who are due for their vaccines this month.

42 comments:

  1. What an awesome story! I am glad to hear you took the time to help that poor dog-too many people just don't want to get involved. Glad to hear the dog is doing well.

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  2. Another reason to believe you are the "bees knees". So glad you were there.

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  3. That is a very sweet story! It takes more courage to do the right thing than to just ignore the situation. Good job!

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  4. Great story--thanks for being a responsible citizen and helping this poor guy. What a lucky dog!

    Lynda (another softy for fur babies)

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  5. Kudos for stopping to help! I'm glad no one thought he was "road kill" and didn't bother to swerve. I'm also glad owner and dog were united.

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  6. Great story. I'm so glad the dog is ok and that you were able to help him.

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  7. I love a happy ending, and what great timing on the part of the vet! As a child, I was known to rescue baby bunnies and birds from my cats and try to nurse them back to health. Good on you for stopping to help that poor dog!

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  8. Debbie, your the best. You're so generous with your sewing knowledge and skills, I guess I'm not surprised to hear of your generosity and kindness to our best friend. A very sweet story; thanks for sharing.

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  9. Oh this just gladdens my heart to hear the story. I'm happy that everything was ok with the fur friend and that you found a great new vet!

    I found my brother's dog, hit laying on the side of the road once (he was not living at home anymore). Someone had dragged her to the sidewalk and left her (you could see the marks). It amazes me that people don't take responsibility for their actions and help a poor, defenseless animal.

    Thank you for doing all that and for being you. I can't believe nobody else stopped. Now he can play with his buddy again, who I bet is worried about him.

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  10. Thanks for sharing the story. You probably saved a dog's life (with the help of the vet who sounds like a wonderful person to trust with pets).

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  11. How could people drive around those dogs and not stop??! I can't even imagine it. Thank goodness you stopped and I'm so glad to hear all is well. It sounds like this vet is going to get a lot of new business and that's a good thing too.

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  12. I'm so glad you stopped and did the right thing. I am a huge pupper lover and I'm always upset for days when I see an accident like that, but without the happy ending. You're my hero!

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  13. I love that story! It's heart warming to know that there are actually people still out there who are kind and caring.

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  14. You are a kind lady, with a very kind family. You made me cry tears of joy!

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  15. Thank you for sharing this-it brought happy tears....
    AND thank you for being there for the poor dog!
    Corinne

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  16. Oh, Debbie,
    Your story did my heart some good.
    Thank you for being kind and caring and not ignoring the doggy as some did.
    Vicky F

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  17. What a Happy Ending indeed. You did the right thing by stopping and I'm sure the owners (& dog) were grateful for all you did :)

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  18. I got goosebumps reading this. I saw a similar situation over this past winter on an exit ramp near my home. So glad he/she was ok.

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  19. What a wonderful ending - one can't ask for better than that! You are an angel!

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  20. I really appreciate you being such a good citizen and doing the right thing, thanks. It's nice to hear of a story like this, if it weren't for you that poor baby would've died. If not from his injuries, then possibly from getting run over by a passing car.

    I found my cat by chance too. I was in a doctor's appt with my aunt and saw this tiny kitty hiding behind a bench. When I called her she was scared, but came out. I saw that her tail had been badly hurt, to where the actual bone of her tail was out. She was so malnourished and scared. I took her to the humane society but they turned me away because i had to make an appt first! Can you believe? Anyway, we took her to the vet and her tail had to be cut off. But she grew on us, and now she's a member of the family.

    Hugs,
    Lory

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  21. That's such a nice story, Debbie. You are truly a sweetheart, for people and animals!
    Helen

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  22. That story made me so happy! It's true, it does take courage to do the right thing rather than keep driving. You are a great person, and you're teaching your sons empathy, which you can never have enough of.

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  23. Good thing you were there until that Vet arrived. As someone who many years ago worked for a Vet and his son (fresh out of Vet school) I can say there is nothing like a new Vet who has a passion for healing animals. The younger Vet I worked for would refuse to put an animal down unless there was no hope. He got the office painted, brick work done at his home and his car fixed among other "trades" and barters--as well as a certain employee of his (cough cough) ending up with over 5 dogs at various times (pre-DH and kids). He would say "I didn't go to Vet school all those years to put animals down--just leave them here with me." And they did.
    Bless you for staying there until help came! Did you hear anything about the "buddy" dog?

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  24. A very happy ending. When I got about 1/3 of the way through the story, I though "Debbie has another dog!" I'm so happy it turned out well. I have the heart of a dog owner, but I live with cats (whom I also love).

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  25. How can anyone just drive past, seeing a dog lying there in the road? the poor thing. What a lovely ending though - although I was secretly hoping you were going to bring him home...! Happy that the owner turned up though, that's how it should be.

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  26. Good for you and your family! Poor guy - and doesn't it break your heart that he'd wag his tail in the middle of all that fear and pain? I shudder to ever think of our dog getting out and being hit, just waiting for us to come find him...thank God there are people like you out there!

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  27. I know the owners of the dog were glad to know that there are kind people like you and your family who are willing to help when needed. You should write to you local paper and put in a special thanks to the vet to stopped. His new business could probably use the good press:)

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  28. What an awesome story. Somebody was definitely watching over to make sure that vet showed up and the owners found their dog! Thanks for posting it!

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  29. Oh Debbie, you are an angel. This brought tears to my eyes. It takes a very special person to be able to put themselves in the place of animal and feel it's pain and fear. God Bless you and everyone who helped. It shows that there are still kind and caring people in this world. That the poor dog got to go home was even better. I'm sure he'll be hesitant to ever leave his yard agin!

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  30. Awwww! What a wonderful story. Good for Old Yeller and your family. Nice to find a vet with such a good heart, in the right place at the right time (I think they all have good hearts).

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  31. Wonderful story! DId the "buddy" ever show up again? Are they from the same family?

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  32. Debbie, this story just warmed my heart! Thanks so much for sharing it and for stopping for that poor (but ultimately very lucky) pooch! It's always nice to hear there are such good people out there. :)

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  33. Thanks for sharing your story....I also love happy endings and I totally understand your decision to be the foster family if needed.

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  34. What a great story, Debbie. Thanks for sharing!

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  35. Debbie,

    Thanks for passing on that great story. I too am a dog sucker and it makes me happy to know that there are other people who do the right thing when it comes to pets. Mick and I are always rounding up lost dogs and returning them home. Thanks for being awesome.

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  36. What a great and heartwarming story. Being the daughter of an 82 year old still practicing vet I really enjoyed the happy ending.

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  37. That is a happy ending. Tears just well up in my eyes when I hear about animals being and people not stopping to help!

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  38. Oh my goodness, I'm so glad that it ended up well. I can't imagine how someone could have hit him and drove away.

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  39. AlaskaBerninaGirl9:09 PM, June 18, 2009

    You are awesome that you stayed and helped that dog, and thank goodness that you did. I am sure you helped save his life and helped his owners from sure grief had he been run over again. Kudos to you! This world needs more people like you and I don't say that lightly...

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  40. Glad that you were able to help the big boy & the story had a happy ending. Thank God for people like you Debbie.

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  41. That is so neat how the community of people came together to help the dog. It really makes me believe in the humanity of people and we do come together when there is suffering.

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  42. This is SUCH a NEAT story, Debbie. BLESS YOU and your family, the vet, the other good Samaritan and all those who helped "Ol' Yeller" in his plight. (We have an ol' yeller of our own.) I wish you had his buddy, too. (Yes, now I'm trying to send even MORE dogs your way!)

    And on ANOTHER topic, that is the NEATEST antique machine I've ever SEEN. What a BEAUTY, after all your work in bringing it to life.

    Annette

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Thank you for each and every comment. I appreciate them all, but I have to be honest and let you know that I'm usually bad about answering questions. I hope you understand that there just isn't enough time in the day to do everything I want to do.

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