Burned Feet and Hitch Hiking
The weather report predicted 108 for my lovely little town today, which meant that the inside of my house would get to no less than 98. Thus, I decided to take Kristine and dogs up to the mountains to hike around PinecrestLake and then take a dip in the icy, mountain water should we ever feel compelled to do so. The lake is somewhere around 6000 ft in elevation. Not super high, but high enough to be cool.
It seems we brought the Central Valley weather with us.
It was upper 90s at the very least (and I say this as someone who's been living in 100+ for the past 2 freaking weeks in a row!), and the result was a couple of doggies who were hot, tired, and had badly burned feet from the scorching granite. As Leo wouldn't actually harm or scare anyone if he ran up to greet them, nor would he ever run away, we unleashed him so that he could run from shadow to shadow, collapsing onto his side and burrowing into the cool dirt at each stop. Anubis, being completely unsafe off leash, was not so fortunate. We made it a little less than halfway around the lake, and Anubis just stopped. There was no making that boy take another step. I felt like the worst doggy mama ever.
Fortunately, we were very close to a little cove with some safe wading and swimming areas, and after a 10-minute rest, I coaxed Anubis the 50 yards further to get him into the barely cool water. Once he was in, he just stood there without moving for at least 30 minutes. Leo dove in, drank deeply, lay in the water, and joyfully frolicked. Anubis just stood there.
Thankfully, Anubis did eventually begin to revive. I poured water all over him, which made him literally close his eyes and smile. He took a slow but long drink and then started willingly taking steps. Soon his steps became high, prancing steps, and eventually, there was great splashing, snorting, and water biting. My baby boy was back. But as soon as I got him on land, I could see that his feet were still very sore. We waited until the sun had set behind the mountains (only about 5:00 and still perfectly light) in the hope that hiking back might be easier in the cool evening, but I really didn't know how we were going to make it with the big guy’s hurting feet.
A family had been playing next to us in the water, and they saw the predicament we were in. Apparently, they had a lab that did something very similar (of his own accord by running around the family pool) and couldn't stand up at all the next day, so they had an immense amount of empathy. The dad offered to give us a ride back via his boat. I didn't give him the chance to rescind that offer.
The boat was a fishing boat that rocked like crazy and could easily capsize with a panicked dog in addition to having the scary sound of a motor. It was not a good "beginner boat" for my dogs' first boat ride. Leo, being the ever trusting spaniel, jumped right in. Anubis made me lift him up and then maneuver the tippy boat while carrying him. But we made it in. I hugged the boys tightly, Leo trying to climb all over, and Anubis too scared to move a muscle. At least he wasn't walking on hot granite.
The lake isn't big, so we made it to shore after only a few minutes. Both the boys disembarked onto the dock on their own, and I waved and shouted an enthusiastic thank-you-so-so-much to our savior, the complete stranger, while he turned around to go back to his family and we ran after Leo whose leash got dropped in the chaos of getting out of the tippy boat.
We made it home around 8:00 p.m., and the thermometer had the mercury pegged at 100 degrees outside and 96 inside. It was only just cooling down. Both the boys came in, got another drink of water, and then crashed hard. Neither of them ate any dinner. I'm sure they will be famished in the morning. Fortunately, I am most certain that tomorrow will provide Kristine and I much free time away from the house and unencumbered by doggies or worry of doggy separation anxiety as they will sleep most of the day as well.
Tonight, Anubis gets aloe and vitamin E on his poor feet.
I’ll be checking the weather report before we head to Pinecrest in the future.
It seems we brought the Central Valley weather with us.
It was upper 90s at the very least (and I say this as someone who's been living in 100+ for the past 2 freaking weeks in a row!), and the result was a couple of doggies who were hot, tired, and had badly burned feet from the scorching granite. As Leo wouldn't actually harm or scare anyone if he ran up to greet them, nor would he ever run away, we unleashed him so that he could run from shadow to shadow, collapsing onto his side and burrowing into the cool dirt at each stop. Anubis, being completely unsafe off leash, was not so fortunate. We made it a little less than halfway around the lake, and Anubis just stopped. There was no making that boy take another step. I felt like the worst doggy mama ever.
Fortunately, we were very close to a little cove with some safe wading and swimming areas, and after a 10-minute rest, I coaxed Anubis the 50 yards further to get him into the barely cool water. Once he was in, he just stood there without moving for at least 30 minutes. Leo dove in, drank deeply, lay in the water, and joyfully frolicked. Anubis just stood there.
Thankfully, Anubis did eventually begin to revive. I poured water all over him, which made him literally close his eyes and smile. He took a slow but long drink and then started willingly taking steps. Soon his steps became high, prancing steps, and eventually, there was great splashing, snorting, and water biting. My baby boy was back. But as soon as I got him on land, I could see that his feet were still very sore. We waited until the sun had set behind the mountains (only about 5:00 and still perfectly light) in the hope that hiking back might be easier in the cool evening, but I really didn't know how we were going to make it with the big guy’s hurting feet.
A family had been playing next to us in the water, and they saw the predicament we were in. Apparently, they had a lab that did something very similar (of his own accord by running around the family pool) and couldn't stand up at all the next day, so they had an immense amount of empathy. The dad offered to give us a ride back via his boat. I didn't give him the chance to rescind that offer.
The boat was a fishing boat that rocked like crazy and could easily capsize with a panicked dog in addition to having the scary sound of a motor. It was not a good "beginner boat" for my dogs' first boat ride. Leo, being the ever trusting spaniel, jumped right in. Anubis made me lift him up and then maneuver the tippy boat while carrying him. But we made it in. I hugged the boys tightly, Leo trying to climb all over, and Anubis too scared to move a muscle. At least he wasn't walking on hot granite.
The lake isn't big, so we made it to shore after only a few minutes. Both the boys disembarked onto the dock on their own, and I waved and shouted an enthusiastic thank-you-so-so-much to our savior, the complete stranger, while he turned around to go back to his family and we ran after Leo whose leash got dropped in the chaos of getting out of the tippy boat.
We made it home around 8:00 p.m., and the thermometer had the mercury pegged at 100 degrees outside and 96 inside. It was only just cooling down. Both the boys came in, got another drink of water, and then crashed hard. Neither of them ate any dinner. I'm sure they will be famished in the morning. Fortunately, I am most certain that tomorrow will provide Kristine and I much free time away from the house and unencumbered by doggies or worry of doggy separation anxiety as they will sleep most of the day as well.
Tonight, Anubis gets aloe and vitamin E on his poor feet.
I’ll be checking the weather report before we head to Pinecrest in the future.