Stella the trooper

Stella the trooper
Originally uploaded by sideshowknits

We had a harrowing night last night. Everything was fine as we walked home from work. Ben met me like he normally does somewhere along Paulina and we continued home with Stella in tow. On Huron (our street) we let her off leash; we saw no dogs or anyone outside who would object. She started running ahead and I followed. She started jumping the little easement fences like she always does, boinging over them with enthusiasm. Then instead of going diagonal over one and back diagonally over the second she went directly over the two and the little gap. But, she did not make and staked herself on the second fence. Ben rushed forward and got her wriggling body off and we set inspected her belly but didn't she any damage. Whew. We carried her home even so she looked stunned and very sad. When we got upstairs to our apartment she wouldn't lie down and still had a look of confusion on her little cow dog face. Finally getting her over to her bed we saw the damage. The fence had punctured underneath her front left armpit and split the skin. Unsure of where to begin we started by calling our friend Lisa who's father is a vet and who we turn to when we need advice. She suggested we clean and bandage the wound and perhaps it was small enough that we could superglue it like they do at the vet's. When we got a good look at it, superglue was not going to be enough. We had dinner guests coming over (we hadn't even started thinking about preparing dinner- nor was the house clean) and I couldn't get a hold of them as stupidly I did not have a phone number. Ben walked off down the street with Stella bound to get a cab and get to the emergency vet on Belmont and Clybourne. I waited at home with Lisa who came over to comfort me and Lindy. We sat and knit and ate chocolate covered peanut butter filled pretzels. They kept me from thinking the worst. Ben finally got home after midnight because he tried to get a cab for an hour and a half and finally got a ride from a good samaritan who had been at the emergency room with her three wiener dogs. THANK YOU! Home safe and sound Stella has 14 staples and stitches to boot, and a tube to drain the would for the next twelve days. She has to wear a t-shirt so she won't pull the tube out. You can see the red stain in the picture. We are just glad her guts aren't on the sidewalk in front of our house. And that when she get better and feels like jumping things again we put her in agility classes. Where she can be safe and hopefully we won't have another emergency room visit for awhile.