@nechbi

It all started off so nicely, a Sunday afternoon stroll with the dog…

The walk started by a nice stroll across the local farm fields, taking in the start of the new growing season and wondering what crops were slowly starting to show themselves as their small green leaves started to shoot. We have walked these fields for years, and watched their life-cycle from seedlings, to full crop, harvested and then empty field.

In the distance we could hear the toot-toot of the steam train and as we crossed another field, which had recently been spread with manure, we dodged the drying dung and made our way to the railway crossing just as the train steamed past us.

Over the other side of the railway line we stopped to look at a field of baby lambs and recalled some of the events featured on the recent BBC Lambing Live series.

Enjoying this afternoon stroll, taking in all the sights and sounds of spring we thought that instead of re-tracing our path back home, we’d go the long way around, through a small village and then back across some other fields.

Venturing into the village we passed a series of council houses. As we got to one particular house, we were greeted with two dogs who started to bark as we approached.

The owner who was in the front garden shouted to the dogs to be quiet, but they were having none of this. One particular dog was getting more irate as we passed and looked for a way to get out from behind the locked gate.

Slow motion

The next part was so surreal it kinda happened in slow motion.. As we walked past the property, the agitated dog had managed to get itself free from within it’s confinement and had it’s jaws locked firmly around Harvey, my Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

The dog was growling and shaking Harvey, who was still attached to his dog lead, like a ragdoll!

My mind was racing and I didn’t know what to do. Do I kick the dog away and risk the chance of getting attacked myself? Trying to pull Harvey away proved fruitless as the dog had such a tight hold around his neck.

After much shaking the dog’s owner raced over to prize their dog away, as this was happening, Harvey’s body was slumping to the ground, foaming at the mouth.

There he lay on his side at the side of the road motionless with the froth from his mouth on the road in front of him.

Time seemed to stand still for ages. My other-half bent down to check Harvey and move him to see if he was OK, but he just lay there motionless, unconscious in a limp lifeless state.

My heart sank, and I was in a daze. Could this really be the last moments of my lovable dog dying at the side of road?

What to do? Who to call?

After an exchange of words with the owner who then quickly disappeared back into the property, we tried to get our heads around what had just happened. One minute we were laughing and joking, the next we were looking in despair at our dog whose life seemed to be slipping away before our eyes.

What do you do? phone a vet? the police? I couldn’t think.

Thankfully after what seemed like forever Harvey’s still and lifeless body started to stir and after a few coughs he slowly staggered to his feet, looking somewhat shaken.

Amazingly on checking Harvey over, the attacking dog hadn’t actually broken the skin and there was no trace of blood. We were so lucky.

Shaken by the incident we headed home. Walking slowly to start, Harvey was soon back to his normal self and tail wagging frantically like nothing had happened.

That image of Harvey lying motionless is something that scares the life out of me. It reminds me how we all take life for granted and how easily it can be snatched away from us.

It also highlights the need for people to be more responsible for the actions of their dogs, and how the planned insurance for all dogs is much needed.