I was inside resting for a few minutes because I had a bad headache that day. Kids were playing in the back yard, and I had literally just checked on them as I sat down. A few minutes later Henry and Adrian came running in telling me that Vi had been bitten by a dog. I had no idea what was happening because everyone was screaming at me at once. Then Viola came running in crying and holding her butt, shaking violently too. She had indeed been bitten. I also wasn’t prepared for what I was going to find.
One of our neighbors have two dogs. At the time we thought it was three. Two of them are black and have come into our yard before and attacked Bru for no reason. They left puncture wounds on his leg. We didn’t pursue anything legal because it was the first time and the owner yelled at the dogs because he heard them fight. We’ve always told the kids that if they see those dogs coming towards our yard to either get up high on the swing set or run inside. Also, they’re part pit bull mixed with something else. I also later found out that the dogs had prior complaints filed with the city.
So this particular day the kids were playing outside and saw one of the black dogs. Knowing what they knew, they did the right thing and started to run. Not fast enough as Viola got bit hard on her butt. When she showed me the bite I kinda lost it. It could have been so much worse but to me in that moment it was bad. I called the sherif right away. Started calling Ryan, my mom and then Ryan’s mom. If you’re wondering, no I didn’t hold it together. I was sobbing right along with Viola. Trying to clean the wound. It was just hard. Ryan’s mom came over so I could take Vi to the urgent care to get evaluated and to make sure there was a file of her being seen.
I walked down to the neighbors house and let their kid know I had called the sherif. He said sorry-he had seen what happened too. Guys he is 11. I wasn’t upset with him. I felt bad because he was alone. I went back home and by then the sherif was there. I explained what had happened and off I took Vi to the clinic. Luckily she didn’t need a stitch. She had a hole in her butt, but just a bandage for a few days-it bled for a while. We got some Antibiotics and ibuprofen and we went home.
Because of covid-as I was told- the neighbors finally reached out to me via messenger a few days later. Trying to clarify with me what had happened and why their dog was considered vicious now and how to refund medical costs. They told me that the photo I shared with their son-in-law was a scratch. I sent them a photo of the bite. I didn’t address the vicious label because that is per city code in Milo. A dog attacks anything it’s automatically labeled that. We didn’t care about the money. We wanted action against the dog, but that didn’t happen. They did comply with the city and got a big giant enclosed cage type thing form them.
As you can see it’s more than a scratch. There’s a hole there.
I guess I’m sharing this finally because it’s constantly on my mind. The boys and their friends came barging inside today from playing out back because they did notice the dog was loose. They did exactly as they’ve been told. This is also why we’re in the process of getting our privacy fence up. Menards is out of pickets so it’s taking much longer, but our goal is to have a safe space. It bugs me that the kids get scared. I get nervous because if I’m not out there with them at all times that something bad will happen. It’s not ok to live in fear.
Viola is all healed up and has a nice heart shaped scar now. Or so she tells me. I’m not really into looking at her butt cheek! 😂. The best lesson anyone can teach their kid is to ALWAYS ask to pet their animal. Always. Obviously this situation was different, but my kids do know to always ask. Hopefully this will never happen again.
Until tomorrow
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