Could have been so much worse...let me just start off with that.
Today, Rocky, one of our 3 cats, found himself in the jaws of Buddy.
Somehow, Rocky got outside. My theory is this: The housekeepers were here today. While they are here, I put the dogs in the backyard with all the gates closed so they can't get into the front or the pool area or in the house. After the housekeepers left, it was probably about 30 or 45 minutes before I let the dogs free. During this time, Rocky likely found his way out the dog door to the garage. Or, perhaps he ran outside when the housekeepers were getting their stuff together to leave. I don't know.
What I do know is this: The dogs are now free to be whereever they want outside..front, back or their part of the gated house. All of of a sudden, I hear Heidi's distinct bark at the front door...like she had something cornered. She did. Then, all of a sudden (I could see out the front window)...all three dogs run around to the garage and into the gated area. This is where I find all three dogs head down on the cat. Buddy had Rocky in his jaws. Thankfully, Buddy dropped him when I told him too.
Rocky tried to squeeze himself through the gate but got stuck. Buddy tried again to grab the cat while he was stuck. Heidi then tried to get the cat. So, the cat is stuck; and I am trying to get all three dogs away from him. In this process, the cat bites my finger...so, I am punctured and bleeding all over the place. I was finally able to get all three dogs outside, behind closed doors.
Now I have to deal with a stuck cat. Forget that I'm bleeding. I have to get this cat out. I call Rick and ask him where the bolt cutters are (he just bought some recently, weird). He told me where they were and I ran out to the shed to get them. By the time I got back, Rocky had gotten out.
I go find him, and do a body check. No blood, no pain when I examine him. He seems to be ok. I can't believe it.
So, Buddy COULD have done some real damage, but he didn't. He COULD have chomped down on the cat, but instead had him in a soft hold. I've seen this dog kill cats before. I've seen firsthand the damage he could do. BUT HE DIDN'T.
When all three dogs had him cornered, they could have torn him apart. BUT THEY DIDN'T.
I called the vet and they told me what to watch out for. We made a tentative appt just in case.
So, after I examine the cat, I need to deal with my throbbing, bleeding finger. I doctor it up, ice it and bandage it. Call the doctor and he's called in some antibiotics for me. I need to go take some Advil. It hurts.
I'm watching Rocky like a hawk. He seems to be fine so far.
Very scary, but could have been so much worse.