Our Hero

Last Tuesday, after visiting Daddy and Uncle Randy at the new house, Will and the girls and I decided to go for a walk around the neighborhood when we got home. How I wish we hadn't on this particular day...let me paint the setting. So I had Will in his stroller, which I drive with my left hand and both dogs on leashes, which I hold with my right. It's a handful, but totally manageable. Our dogs are so good and don't even bark back at dogs barking at them...they just mind their own business and enjoy getting to go for a walk. Our neighborhood (which we are moving out of in a few weeks, thank goodness) is really nice and I have always felt completely safe here. Until last Tuesday, which was officially our last walk at this locale. We got about halfway around the circle and as we were in front of a new house, the front door opened and out charged some variety of a pit bull (it all happened so fast, I'm not sure if it was a mix or full-breed or what). Within seconds it attacked Riley and then had her on the ground...I was screaming at the people to get their dog off of Riley, Will was crying because of my reaction and Macy was barking. I can't even tell you all of the thoughts that were going through my mind...what if the dog had attacked Will instead, that this dog was surely going to kill Riley, and then Macy would die of a broken heart...all the things I've seen about pit bulls on tv and that they go for the throat and lock their jaws and you can't get them to stop...it was terrifying. After what seemed like forever, two guys were able to pull the dog off. I couldn't believe it. So these two guys are holding onto the dog further down the street. Riley ran off and another guy looked her over to assess her injuries...which are AMAZINGLY minor. He tried to get Macy to come to him, but she would only bark and back away...and then she ran off. Atta girl, way to have your sister's back, Mace! Meanwhile, I am trying to calm Will down and get myself together, because internally, I am FREAKING OUT. The guys were very apologetic (who wouldn't be) and asked if I needed any help, but I was just ready to get the heck out of there...that dog was just down the street, and I didn't want to stick around to see what else might happen. The guy put Riley's collar and leash back on her (she had pulled out of it) and I grabbed it and Will's stroller and practically ran home. I figured Macy was already there, but wasn't sure...she is a scaredy cat and easily freaked. The thought of having to search her down only added to my panic level...but luckily, there she was on our front porch...still barking. I was never so glad to be in the safety of my own home. Will had calmed down and I gave the girls a treat...Riley inhaled hers and Macy wouldn't even touch hers...it took her the next couple of days to recover and she wasn't even the one that got attacked. Riley has two puncture wounds from where that dog bit her. (She went to the vet the next morning where they had to shave around the bite to clean it and she got some good doggie meds. And in Riley's mind, meds = sandwich cheese, so she's a happy dog;) I called Animal Control and since this happened after hours, they didn't go to that house until the next day, where the residents told them that dog doesn't live there...some friends were over and brought some other guy who the dog belonged to. Not sure if I buy that story...though, I have never seen that dog in our neighborhood before. Rest assured, I will be following up on it with Animal Control. What if Riley, our protector, hadn't been with us? It makes me sick to think of what could've happened to Will or any other child or adult. I know, without a doubt, that Riley stepped up to defend her family...and we are FOREVER grateful. So, a huge praise that this situation worked out the way it did...the Lord was definitely watching over us. WE LOVE YOU, RILES!