Wednesday, January 10, 2024

 Wednesday, January 10, 2024  

    

   I was up well before 5; I was wide awake. There was no point in staying in bed. I would be cultivating bad sleep habits. I did my half-hour of sitting yoga following a YouTube video. I use the same one every morning. It's doing wonders for me. I was out for my morning walk at 5:30. I usually wait until first light. At 5:45, Elsa and I were attacked by two dogs. The dogs were after Elsa; my concern was keeping erect while three dogs circled my legs.

   I'd seen these dogs before. They wear Christmas light collars so they can be seen in the dark. One is black and the other black and white. They appear as floating lights at a distance. The woman was across the street from me. They were barking wildly at Elsa, and Elsa returned the compliment. I pulled her in tight and tried to get away from the scene while the woman attempted to go in the opposite direction.

    The next thing I knew, I heard the dogs barking behind me. Panicked that I would get knocked over, I crouched as close to the ground as possible and yelled, "No, no, no." I wasn't concerned for Elsa, who ran to greet the dogs. Yes, I released the button on her retractable leash. As I've said, my concern was for myself. Dogs often snarl at each other; I didn't expect an attack.

   When I realized the woman had regained control of the dogs. I quickly got up, pulled in Elsa's leash, and went home without turning around. I never knew what happened. Did the dogs escape her and run across the street, or did they drag her across with them?

    I only saw the blood on the side of her body when I got home. I assumed it was just a surface wound. I washed the area, picked her up, and let her wrap around my neck.

     I called Yvette to tell her to tell her what happened once I thought she was up. Later, I called her; I thought to invite her to come up and check on Elsa. I felt she would want to see for herself. She looked and recommended I call the vet for advice.

   At that hour of the morning, I got a tech. Yvette recommended I bring her in. She would tell reception to try to get me in. I got a call at 8:30; they had an appointment at 9. "I'll be right there," even though I thought it would be a waste of time.

   I got right in shortly after I arrived. A first. I usually have a long wait. I assumed I would see a tech. There was only one doctor on call, and he was booked. I wasn't with Elsa while they treated her. This clinic has a special examination room. I returned to the car to wait.

   The doctor came out to the car. He said it was a good thing I brought her on. She had two puncture wounds and bruised ribs. He shaved her around the wounds and prescribed an antibiotic and a painkiller. I was so grateful Yvette had persuaded me to go. My poor baby girl.

     Yvette was upset about the incident for Elsa, me, and her dogs. She told me to file a police report. While I had information on the incident, I didn't know where the woman lived.

    I made it to Ulu Wini. There were no spectacular changes in students today. It was all the continuous slog, looking for minuscule changes that promise more.