Peggy Zortman

Chase Here, Former Shelter Dog reporting.

Beware of squirrels!

It all started when Mister decided to go outside and invited me to go along. He opened the door and . . . but let me start at the beginning.

Life on my Summit has been wonderful. Nice weather has arrived and we (Mister and Missus and I) go outside often. I have a bed just inside the open door of our garage where I can lay and watch the birds at the feeder and daydream to my heart’s content. But now and then a squirrel invades (that means gets in the way of) our peaceful world.

Squirrels here on the Summit are chubby, gray critters with big bushy tails and a talent for stealing the birdseed. It’s my job to keep them away, and I’m good at what I do.

I’ve lost count of the number of furry thieves I’ve chased away and I’ve saved at least a ton (that’s a whole lot) of birdseed. I never thought of squirrels as being dangerous until that day when I was wounded.

When Mister opened the door, we walked outside and right away I spotted a squirrel at the feeder. I sprinted (that means I ran the short distance really fast) toward the bushy-tailed creature but about halfway up the small bank something serious happened — my leg quit working. 

I let out a loud yelp! It really, really hurt! I dropped to the ground and slid on my butt back to the feet of Mister. Missus was quickly there and between them, they got me inside.

I scooted, (again on my butt) to my man cave (my name for my crate), crawled to the back, and curled into a ball. They had to pull me out, pillow and all, to go out to do what I had to do later that day. I hopped on three legs falling a couple of times. I must have looked really pathetic (that means they were sad for me). I was afraid to let my wounded back leg touch the ground.

I ate my evening meal, then limped back to my man cave and didn’t come out until the next day. My leg was some better, but I couldn’t put any weight on it, it hurt too much. I didn’t complain though, I’m a tough pup!

My leg improved but my family insisted I go to see my doctor. They lifted me into the back of the Li’l Limo (the car Missus uses). When we got to the Animal Clinic Missus went in with me. 

Nurse Dani (Missus says she’s a Veterinarian Technician) took a lot of notes as Missus told her my story. Doctor Debra McClaine (Missus says she is a Veterinarian) arrived and both of them got down on the floor with me to check my wounded leg.

While Nurse Dani hugged me, Doctor Debra ran her hands over my leg. I flinched and whimpered when she found the spots that really hurt but didn’t bark or bite. I was very brave. My two new friends stood up, talked to Missus for a moment then took me to see Doctor Trofin. Doctor Debra explained that he is an Orthopedic Surgeon (I think that means he fixes broken stuff). 

When the three of us got back to the room where Missus waited I heard them report to her that the surgeon had agreed with the doctor’s diagnosis . . . I had a partial tear in my ACL and would need pain medication and rest “leash-only walks” for about 3 weeks. Then Missus was to bring me back to see the doctor.

The only thing I understood from all that was — they found out where I hurt and why I hurt and how to fix it. What I did not like was the “leash-only” walks for three weeks or more. That means no running! I consoled myself (that means made myself feel better) by thinking that Mister and Missus could use some exercise.

Time is moving right along, my leg is getting better and the medicine isn’t too bad at all. It comes with a treat. I long to run; but am still on a leash and my humans don’t move very fast.

I will soon be going back to the doctor. I know she will say my wound has healed and it’s okay to run again. I just know it! She just has to!

In the meantime, I can only lie on my pillow and bark when I see a squirrel.  That isn’t working. I think they’re laughing at me and that’s okay for now. But just you wait till the doctor says I can run you, little thieves!

Now that you’ve read my story, I’ll bet you agree. Squirrels are dangerous!

This is a temporarily wounded Chase signing out.

UPDATE:

I went back to see Doctor Debra. This time Nurse Stacy (Veterinarian Technician) hugged me while the doctor checked my sore leg. I’m not quite 100% healed but she reduced the amount of medicine I’m taking and said I have to be patient for at least a week – it takes time to heal a wound like mine. That means by the time you are reading this I will be running again, but I think I’ll let the squirrels alone . . . for now.