Monday, March 23, 2009

Salty's injury from an attack

April 25, 09 My total bill is $603 for Salty. He is healing up well now as the front left leg wound has scared together. His stomach wounds are not showing any sign of infection either. Photo of Salty taken in Feburary 2009 Update-I called on Monday because since Salty's emergency visit Saturday at 5pm, due to his front leg wound opening, again opened Monday morning after taking off his head cone about midnight Sunday. He had been licking at his wounds all night while I was asleep. They could not get him in till Tuesday and he had one staple left in the center of the wound. A small amount of infection was noticed. He was put on additional anti-biotic pills. Now the new staples were glued also. His stomach wounds are healing great, and now his front leg wound is healing. He will be seen again on Monday and I am keeping his head cone on till then.
Update Mar. 29 - Salty's new staples for his shoulder (see below with cost), now have him doing as well as possible. The Veterinarian removed his tube drains/stitches. His stomach had been swollen at the beginning. Now that fluid is gone and the anti-biotics, and my washing and applying a cloth for 10 min. with Epsom Salts that had been boiled and then made just warm for Salty. To see him healthy, though having to endure the head cone while the stomach and shoulder heal more, is beyond what I could hope for. To have my dog survive and look forward to many more years.
On Wednesday,March18, Salty and I were walking our usual walk up and down the lane in front of my house. Salty has a leash every time. My home is the only one on the lane that is connected to the Spillway Rd. blacktop. When we got to the end of the lane near the blacktop I saw a 160 lb. bull mastiff type dog approaching us. He came right up to Salty and attacked him. I could not get the damn dog off Salty and kicked him which did nothing. He was shaking Salty with my dog's back on the ground, nearly tearing out his guts. Finally the dog let go. I was yelling as loud as I could at it to make it leave. It came at Salty again and my hand got mixed in trying to break the dog away and I was severely cut on my right small finger and bleeding. After the second attack the large dog stepped back. I made a fist with my left hand and hit it in the side of the mussel as hard as I could. I kept screaming at the dog to leave. It just backed away a little as it kept starring at me and Salty. Finally it backed a little more, but did not want to leave. It left heading toward my home, up the lane, and out into the fields out of sight.
It was about 4:15 p.m. and I got Salty in the car to get to the Veterinarian. Right before the Veterinarian was a State Police car doing an arrest at the edge of a shopping mall. I just rolled my window down and showed my bleeding hand, but there was an arrest taking place and I was told to park away across the parking lot. Another State Trooper came and after 15 minutes he began to pull out and looked over at me and I held up my hand. He came over and took my information. I then headed to the Veterinarian before 5 p.m. closing. Salty needed to be kept overnight and have tubes in his bite wounds. Then I went to the emergency room in Carbondale, and was sewn up and was told they would notify the Williamson County Animal Control. Bi County Health Dept. phoned me Thursday morning as well as Animal Control and the State Trooper left me a message on my answering machine confirming that he notifying them also. He was concerned and wished me well on my injured hand and Salty before the machine cut off. I was instructed by Animal Control to look for the dog's home so they could issue a response to the owner.  still wearing his head cone. The skin did not stay together. Saturday 5 pm-Emergency visit at another available on call clinic was $156.

15 comments:

Julie said...

Oh no, how terrible. And those huge dogs can be very dangerous when upset. I am glad you and salty are going to be OK but it is terrible they can't fine the owners. We have people let their dogs run loose all the time here. It is bad as my dog is always on a leash. Take care.

Sandra said...

How awful for you and Salty, it must have been terifying for you both. A smilar thing happened to a retired Police dog who lives nearby. Two mastiff type dogs attacked him so badly that he almost died from his wounds. It seems that he survived only because he was just very lucky. The owners of the two dogs, despite being reported to the police many times seem to have no interest in controlling their dogs. I`m glad you and salthy are ok after your ordeal mark.

Love Sandra xx

Helen said...

I am so sorry. That is awful Mark. Poor Salty was unable to fight back and it would have made matters worse if he had. Take a big stick with you on your walks or a gun one. Those kind of dogs should be pinned at all times. That man making the remark about if it was his dog you wouldn't have been able to get him off just tells that he is a dangerous dog. You are lucky that he didn't attack you. Best wishes for Salty.

baldy said...

MARK, I AM VERY SORRY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED.
AS A DOG LOVER IT GRIEVES ME THAT THE OWNER CAN GET BY WITH THIS.
DOES THE LAW ALLOW YOU TO CARRY ANY KIND OF PROTECTION SUCH AS STUN GUN ?
IT WOULD TAKE SOMETHING POWERFUL TO STOP A CICIOUS ANIMAL LIKE THAT. sam

Linda :) said...

Oh Mark, I am so sorry for you and Salty but glad that you both are recovering well.... so glad the police were helpful and even followed through to check on you... I so hope the news station can be of some help too... so rude that people just do not take responsibility these days....
Have a good week! :)

Kath said...

Hi Mark sorry for my late comment but I have had my pooter in for a facelift and surgery.Now it is repaired I am back commenting once again.Well trying to catch up on missed posts yours being one of them.What a shock I got to read of this terrible thing happening to you and Salty.It makes my blood boil.If it is the persons dog you think it is who are denying the fact.How stupid can they be it could have been a child the dog attacked.I am so sad for you and Salty poor thing his wounds look so sore bless him.I hope you are doing fine now and both of you are in my prayers for a speedy recovery.Whoever owns the dog I should hope they are punished in some way one day.Lets hope it doesn't attack again.It must have realy made you nervous to go for similar walks. I know it would me.Take Care Of Yourself and hugs and cuddles to Salty.God Bless Kath xx

Helen said...

THanks for visiting my blog today 4/8/09. Glad that Salty is slowly improving. Seems like the Epsom Salts, and salve are working. Helen

Nancy said...

It kills me when a sweet dog (or ANY dog) is hurt. Sorry it happened to yours. Salty seems to be recovering though, so that is great.
Thanks for all your wonderful comments on my blog posts!!
They mean a lot.

Nancy

Ally Lifewithally said...

Oh Mark poor Salty bless his heart he certainly didn't deserve that attack ~ I am so glad he is doing better and I hope he will make a speedy recovery and be back to good health soon ~ I hope your hand is better ~ it must have been terrifying for you both ~ I hope the authorities catch up with that rouge dog and take it off the streets ~ Ally x

Lori J said...

Hello there,
Sorry to hear about the pooch.
I am not sure if you meant to send me this post or not..

ALBERTA Lori (temporary in Tucson but heading home in the am)

Bookncoffee said...

Trying to figure out how to follow you but the follower option is not here. Sorry about Salty.

Rjet33 said...

People like that kill me in not wanting to take responsibility for their pets actions. I hope it all works out in your favor and I am so very glad Salty is going to be okay.

Blessings!~

Funnyface said...

Hi Mark...what an awful thing to happen to Salty and you too. I hope you have both recovered from this awful experience.
Luv Jayne X

Rjet33 said...

You can take them to small claims court, you know. They should have to pay.

Jeannette said...

Oh Mark, I'm so sorry to hear about poor Salty being attacked. I was away round about that time and never got to read it. I do hope he and you are OK now. When I was 8yrs old a greyhound attacked my little dog, thinking she was a rabbit, and nearly shook her to death. I amanged to whip the dog with her lead till she dropped her but I remember how scary it was. Jeannette xx