Dog Community

Scary event just hitting me....(VM)

Posted : 3/23/2009 9:24:55 PM

This evening M&M and I were on our usual jaunt at the dog park when Monroe just disappeared. I called for him and he didn't come, which he normally does. I couldn't even hear his collar jingle. So Morrison and I walked down to the pond where I thought he might have headed and there he was, in the reeds on the far side. Without even thinking I called him (stupid, stupid me) and he took the most direct route towards me... across the pond. The problem was the ice.

While the edges are melted and the pond level has risen the ice is still in the middle of the pond, approximately 20 or 30 feet across. It has been warm and the ice is very melty and soft and Monroe swam right into it. I yelled for him to go around but a big chunk of ice had floated over and cut him off. He couldn't get up on the ice and he couldn't go any other way. There was nothng I could do but stand there, holding Morrison next to me and yell encouragement.

The ice in front of him kept on breaking as he tried to climb it and he kept on getting further and further towards the middle of the ice. Monroe was obviously getting more and more tired and he managed to take a couple of breaks as he hung on the edge. I kept calling to him and telling him what a strong boy he is. Slowly but surely he made it most of the way towards Morrison and I and then he just stopped. He looked at me and my heart stopped because it looked like he might give up and he just looked at me. I wasn't paying attention and let go of Morrison.

Morrison took off after Monroe, who only had a few more feet of ice to plow through. Morrison started swimming towards Monroe and I started freaking out even more, considering what clothes to take off before I got in there, what I would tell DH etc. Then Morrison, who doesn't swim much, got to the ice and started breaking through it to get to Monroe. Monroe started to fight again and, together, they broke through, came ashore and shook off. They just looked at me as if to say "Why are you yelling so much? Let's go home and eat.".

It's just hitting me now and I can't stop crying... I can't believe that I almost lost one or both of my sweet, big boys.

Thanks for reading this... you all may be the only ones that would understand the panic and DH is out of town.

sl2crmeg

Posted : 3/23/2009 9:29:49 PM

OH MY GOSH I would have totally panicked as well. That's very scary!! My heart was pounding just reading it.

Luckily the boys are both A-OK (I hope Morrison got some extra yummies for helping out his bro!) and as one of my favorite children's books says, all's well that ends well. Get a nice hot chocolate (Callie says hot tea but uuuh, ick!) in a pretty cup and cuddle up with your boys. That's what Callie says to do and it always makes me feel better.

JackieG

Posted : 3/23/2009 9:32:17 PM

I'm speechless with relief. You must be shaking still. Thank goodness Monroe is safe, I can only imagine how scary that was.

BEVOLASVEGAS

Posted : 3/23/2009 9:38:30 PM

OMG! How scary!

I'm so glad that both boys made it out safely.

Way to go Morrison for going to help his big brother!

luvmyfurbabys

Posted : 3/23/2009 9:45:28 PM

Man I was almost in tears reading your post. I would have freaked out to. I am glad it worked out ok and your big guys ok.

nymaureen

Posted : 3/23/2009 9:46:48 PM

I totally understand how terribly scary that is, as you've brought back a scary memory to me. It happened to me many, many years back, when I was only 15. My dog went out on the river and the ice broke through and all I could do was keep yelling encouragement just as you said. Fortunately, my dog made it out okay as well. It took some time though and I was feeling just awful for not keeping a better watch on him. Things can happen so quickly though. Happy to hear that all is okay.

Jewlieee

Posted : 3/23/2009 10:13:39 PM

Holy crap, you had me sitting on the edge of my seat. I couldn't read fast enough to find out if he made it! How scary.

willowchow

Posted : 3/23/2009 10:16:25 PM

VanMorrison
He looked at me and my heart stopped because it looked like he might give up and he just looked at me. I wasn't paying attention and let go of Morrison.

I felt panic and extreme sadness reading this line especially. Thank God they are OK!

BlackLabbie

Posted : 3/23/2009 10:20:54 PM

VanMorrison
Slowly but surely he made it most of the way towards Morrison and I and then he just stopped. He looked at me and my heart stopped because it looked like he might give up and he just looked at me.

My heart just sank with this line.

Thank doG Monroe is OK! And Morrison, too! What a brave boy to go in after his big brother! He must've known Monroe needed some help.

huskymom

Posted : 3/23/2009 10:50:44 PM

Wow! Big huge lump in my throat! I can only imagine how you must feel. Like my dad always says though, He'll never do that again, now will he? Lesson learned.

Jeez, my heart is pounding from just reading that. I hope you're ok.

And WAY TO GO Morrison!

tacran

Posted : 3/23/2009 11:06:40 PM

I can't believe the sick feeling in my stomach, how my heart is racing, and how close I was to tears just reading your account of what happened. I can't even imagine how you must be feeling after having actually experienced it. Unbelievably scary. And as others have posted, I almost lost it when I read the part about thinking he was about to give up. Oh my God - I'd be a basket case right now. I'm so incredibly glad everything turned out okay. It's going to take me a while to recover from reading -- I've got the images in my mind.

I'm sure you're just smothering them with hugs and kisses tonight. Hold on to each other!

Bullymom

Posted : 3/24/2009 2:06:07 AM

Oh My God. I am so happy to hear that they are both safe. I would have totally freaked out too.

kpwlee

Posted : 3/24/2009 6:30:30 AM

Sarah I know the boys and you all slept tight last night. What a horrifying experience - you know I love M&M from a far and I am so proud of both of them! They did a great job to ensure Monroe got out safely.

Monroe please don't do that again and Morrison you picked a fine time to swim!

aerial1313

Posted : 3/24/2009 6:44:28 AM

Oh my gosh! My heart stopped reading this, until I got to the end and could breathe again knowing they are both okay. I can't imagine how terrifying that must have been for you, and wow, Morrison!!! GOOD BOY for going to help your brother!! Thank goodness both of your sweet guys are alright now.

(((lots of hugs & scritches for the M&M boys and their mommy)))

CoBuHe

Posted : 3/24/2009 6:47:25 AM

VanMorrison
Monroe started to fight again and, together, they broke through, came ashore and shook off. They just looked at me as if to say "Why are you yelling so much? Let's go home and eat.".

This is when I finally took a breath, then the tears came. What a relief; and what a scary situation. And, your DH is out of town, which makes it that much worse. And, yes...definately understand the panic; and how the magnitude of the event sunk in after the fact. Adrenaline was at a peak during...so it hit afterwards, I'll bet it hit hard when you got home and knew you and they were safe.

So glad your boyz are ok. Very scary.