To kiss that bullet clean

[lizblackdog]

We were walking; and Spike spotted a stick on the ground and decided to play with it. This happens a thousand times a day. It was a small one; about pencil-width and twice as long. He pounced on it, bounced up and down and chomped it into pieces. So far, so normal

Comments

[peaceful_fox]

Animals can bounce back from some really incredible things, but it doesn't make it any better at the time. He obviously was feeling some pain.

I tend to become totally unstrung when one of my animals is in pain or their life is threatened. I can deal with the matter at hand and then I dissolve.

Arrietty landed in a strange position a few days ago and couldn't walk correctly for a while (I mean she dragged her back legs and couldn't use them). I thought she had broken her hip as she is frail. I totally freaked out. My first thoughts were "She's in pain and we're going to have to put her down and I can't deal with that". She recovered (I think she pulled a muscle) but I couldn't believe the grief with which I responded - it was totally raw, angry and very powerful. When the day comes, I will have to channel that into something good or I don't know what it will do to me. A cat saved my life in a 9 year abusive relationship (not my last one) and I have vowed to protect them and live my life for them as much as I can.

[lizblackdog]

I can deal with the matter at hand and then I dissolve.

Yes. Exactly. I dealt with the problem swiftly and calmly and rationally. I even managed to calm Squish down when the sight of Spike in hysterics looked like tipping him over the edge.

But I was crying and shaking hysterically myself by the time I got home; I could barely stand. I just nearly puked from the crying and the shaking hasn't gone yet.

I didn't know a cat had saved you. It was a dog who saved mine; my old dog Scampi who died before I got Spike. This is him.

[ex_chose]

oh my goodness, poor Spike! I must confess I winced throughout this entry, because I could picture/feel what the poor pup must have felt. kudos to you for being the best mama and for focusing on making him feel better instead of focusing on what could happen to your fingers.

[lizblackdog]

Thank you :)

I really, really, really hope this will turn him off pouncing on random sticks every time he gets the devil up his tail. Unfortunately, I rather doubt it.

[lizblackdog]

That's it. It's absolutely true, and I know that you would do it without hesitation, as would I. May it never be necessary.

[cottonmanifesto]

that's happened to charlie before!

last night, i had to pick a reed to protect us from the geese (i just walked waving it in front of me and they got the hell away), but afterward, maggie got to chomp on it. whatever she did ended up making her tongue bleed (she didn't notice). i think they think it's worth the risk.

happy early birthday to spike! are you doing anything special for him?

[lizblackdog]

...I don't know. He'll be six. It's brought on a very keen awareness of the fact that he won't actually live forever. At the moment I can't think about it without crying, and I honestly can't dredge up any urge to celebrate the occasion.

But he does have a new tuggy and I'll certainly be loving him and playing ball with him a lot.

Thank you :)

[cottonmanifesto]

i totally understand. i can't imagine a life without my dogs. they'll be here forever, right?

[lizblackdog]

They need to be. They really need to be.

[wirenth]

i try to discourage stick-playing too... most of the time... but luce *loves* to chase sticks. it's the only thing she'll retrieve. so i find that more and more, i let her. and i wait for some kind of disaster to occur.

happy early birthday to spike! my dogs aren't allowed to get old. i tell them that regularly. even harv, who already is old ;)

[lizblackdog]

Luce always reminds me so much of Spike. I adore her.

I wonder if she'd go for a plastic replica stick?