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The weather was gorgeous, and I figured the rest of the laundry could wait, so I happily said yes, and shortly after lunch we set out for the park.
We got there with no trouble, went through the gates, and let our respective dogs off the leash. Sylvester has gotten to run free a few times before. He has always loved the experience, and this time was no exception. I had a wonderful time watching him and Figaro scout back and forth, finding the bits of greenery that needed an extra dose of pee.
We made our way down through a nice patch of woods, then sat on a bench next to the water, idly talking, watching the other people and dogs, enjoying a quiet moment of just being.
Then, some new people came down to the water with their dogs, stopping 10-15 yards away. Sylvester trotted over to say hi. Shortly after that, I heard him yip, but wasn't alarmed. He can be a bit assertive, and I figured he'd been told what for.
A few moments later, he started crying in fright and pain. NO!
I ran over to find him pinned on his back, blood on his face, surrounded by a group of dogs. I dimly remembered hearing one should never get into a dog fight, but I didn't care. I couldn't just watch. He is my dog. So, I reached in and started grabbing collars, heaving dogs out of the fray. Most of the dogs were just there because, excitement, and quickly trotted off, which left just one dude who didn't understand the game was over, and the dog biting at Sylvester's neck.
As I reached to pull dumb dude back one more time, Sylvester's jaws caught my right hand. I knew better than to pull it back, so I left it alone while still yanking at the true attacking dog. He let go, Sylvester let go, I grabbed dumb dude's collar again because he was coming back in to play some more. By the time Sylvester had scrambled to his feet and I stood all the way up, the attacking dog and his owners were gone. Lily-livered cowards that they are.
Hilary and Figaro had arrived to help shortly after I did, and she managed to calm Sylvester down enough to get a leash on him so I could see how badly he was hurt. To my gratified amazement, the only real damage was a cut on the edge of his ear. He wears a fairly thick collar; it had protected his neck. *whew*
I was still holding dumb dude's collar, and yelled to see if his people would come get him, but everyone just stayed frozen, staring at me. He hadn't bitten anyone or anything, so I just let him go. I had bigger things to worry about. As soon as I turned loose of his collar he trotted quietly off.
About this time I realized my hand was bleeding pretty good. I asked if anyone had any sort of a clean cloth or napkins, and a woman quickly offered me a few. I held them over the cut, and our little crew wearily started making our way back to the car. Hilary had called the cops, and we knew they were waiting up top with a first aid kit.
The cop was more nervous than I was, and it took a bit to get him to calm down enough to put a field bandage on, let us know where the nearest urgent care clinic was, and to release us to get there. (In retrospect, I should have told him his papers would have to wait, but hindsight is 20-20.)
Hilary drove us to the clinic, and waited in the car with the pups while I waited just a few minutes before getting called in to get my wound cleaned and bandaged. Fifteen minutes later, tetanus shot in my arm, and antibiotics ordered from my local pharmacy, we were on our way home. (Fortunately, I knew it was Sylvester who had bitten me, and since he's up to date on his shots, I was able to avoid the painful rabies shot series.)
We stopped to pick up the drugs and more bandages, then went to my place where we let the dogs out of the car to see if they had any lasting ill effects. Sylvester's ear had already stopped bleeding before we got to the car, and a more careful check still found no other tender spots. Figaro was fine, just seemed disappointed that his time at the park had been cut short.
Hilary went to pick us up some dinner, and we swapped versions of the story over Chipotle burritos before she went on her way. If I had to get into trouble, I am glad she was there with me - she was amazing, making sure she'd done all she could to set me back on my feet before she left.
I will say this. It wasn't the distraction I'd anticipated, but it was certainly an effective one. I didn't think about cancer and operations for HOURS!
Good job, Hilary!
P.S. I sent a full disclosure message to my surgery team the next morning, to make sure the procedure wouldn't need to be cancelled, and quickly got a reply saying we were still good to go. *huge sigh of relief*
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