How could anything go wrong? It's so easy. Rosie & Penny
hear the cookie jar open (having observed
our predictable "getting ready to leave" behavior) and they
make a dash to their respective kennels. They know that they will have cookies
and a nap when they pop into their cozy "boxes". The kennels are the
"airline approved" type...plastic, top & bottom bolted together,
with a wire grill door. Totally safe. Totally ok to leave the dogs unsupervised
for several hours. Or so we thought.
Last Saturday, we went to a plant nursery and loaded up on
stuff for the garden. When we returned home, I decided to leave the dogs in the
house and in their boxes for just a few minutes more while we unloaded the
truck. This way, I wouldn't have to worry about the dogs and the open alley
gate where the truck was parked. I had done this many times before. With my unloading
chores complete, I went inside to fetch the dogs. Oh! My! Gosh! Penny's
vocabulary and pronunciation limitations don't allow her to explain what had
happened. I found her attached at the snout to the wire grill door. Her nose
was sticking through one very small hole and her lower jaw was sticking through
another. She was pretty well through the holes, and the wire was pressing
painfully into her gum and against her teeth. She couldn't budge loose. Her
totally safe, ok place had become a torture chamber.
Somehow, somehow, somehow, we managed to help poor Penny.
And here's what we learned from the experience:
- A good pair of wire cutters (and a strong, desperate hand) can cut through very hard metal if someone you love is stuck.
- The fire department doesn't make emergency calls to save animals.
- Dogs recover from trauma quicker than humans.
- Never, never, ever say never. Nothing is 100% safe.
The
worst picture of all...Poor Penny stuck on the door...was never taken. We were
too busy rescuing her!
The side-by-side kennels.
The hole we
cut in the door.
All is forgiven, and all's
well that ends well.
Oh goodness! I tried crating Milly and Shelby when they were puppies. They rubbed their noses raw to the point they were bleeding. They aren't crated but I totally understand that people do that and why. I am glad she is ok! I bet she won't do that again! :)
ReplyDelete~Maggie
That Penny is a crafty girl. She knows how to maximize results. Yes, she had to endure a very bad experience, but now she and Rosie get to spend their "alone time" in my office, under my work table on a nice big bed. I'm still a little freaked out with the idea of putting anyone back into a crate. Thanks for checking in!
DeleteOh god! Poor poor Penny! That must of been so scary
ReplyDeleteDachshund Nola
Hi Nola! Yes...verrrrrrrrrry scary! The things kids and dogs can get into, even when you dog and kid-proof your house.
DeleteHey, you are very, very pretty! I think you're a Mini-Doxie, right? Princess Penny & Rosita Juanita Lupita Chiquita Panchita are Standards. Penny's coat is a bit like yours: she has some black overlay on a dark blondish-brown base. RoRo is a classic Red. Nice to meetcha!
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ReplyDeleteOh nose!! :) We are glad Penny is okay, but we can't believe the fire department wouldn't come out, don't they know us doxies are VERY IMPORTANT?!?! I have always been crated when mom leaves the house, and for a while I even learned how to open my crate door & get out. That did not make mom happy so now I have a lock on my door... the nerve...
ReplyDelete*Jasper
Hi Amy & Jasper...or is that Jasper & Amy? Yeah, I know...pretty crazy about the fire department. I thought the legend was that they helped cats out of trees, so of course they would help a poor little doxie in a true emergency. Very impressed that you learned how to open the door. Must be a different type than ours, for which you really need opposable thumbs. Nice to hear from you!
DeleteOMD!! OMD!! Our hearts stopped while reading this....what a horrible nightmare to have happened. We thank dawg dear Penny is okay...poor, poor baby.
ReplyDeleteWe have similiar crates....but we haven't used them in forever...Mama recently purchased a gorgeous car seat for us....so travelling we won't be stuck in our crates.
(((Hugs)) your friends
Oskar & Schatzi
Hi! Can you share information about the car seat? I'd love to improve the girls' car experience. Smiles!
Delete