Annual summer dog trauma

As seems to happen every summer, this morning Mr. K was bitten. He is now at the animal hospital, where he is having surgery -- many stitches put into his poor little haunch. He was bitten in the park this morning, where I had taken him and a friend's dog, whom I'm looking after for a day or two.

The dog who bit him was one of about six dogs who were with a walker I've met before and was just in the middle of chatting with, when it happened. It was a freak accident, not really an attack. All the dogs were hanging out in the shade, trying to stay cool. Mr. K ambled slowly up to some dog lying under a picnic table and the dog snarled at him, causing Mr. K to jump about 20 feet backwards, as is his wont when he is startled. He sort of landed on another dog who was lying there and was, in turn, startled. And bit him, I guess. It is a wide-open wound, quite bloody.

I walked him to a nearby vet - the closest one, but one I've never been to. Mr. K was visibly in distress, and this was compounded by the heat. I suspect he was in some mild shock. He tried to lie down on random lawns as we walked - I had to coax him to keep moving. Poor, poor little guy. Then we got to the vet and the vet put a cone on him and led him into a cage, to wait for a few hours before being put under. I have to say, that part broke me down. I had a little cry in the waiting room, once I realized he would be put in a cage. Seeing him all docile - he didn't fight the cone, he didn't pull when being led away from me toward the cage room - was a little freaky. It is so unlike him that it was clear he is not doing well.

So I'm just waiting. I shall soon bring my friends' dog back to their place, and then come home to wait some more, until the vet phones to say he can be picked up. The poor muffin.

I'm also waiting to hear back from the owner of the dog who bit him. The walker has put the two of us in touch, and I would like to ask him for half the very expensive vet bill. That seems reasonable, to me. If it were the other way around, I'd want to pay half.

I've cancelled my trip to New York...I didn't feel right about leaving, since ex-GF has to work and I can't stand the thought of Mr. K being left alone for the first couple of days of this, all coned up...I was able to keep the ticket, and may reschedule for next weekend.

So there you go.

And here is a picture of a peaceful Mr. K. Let's hope that he feels like this over the next few days...