Friday, June 01, 2007

Friday night in Pittsburgh

It started out as a gorgeous Friday night in da 'burgh. So it was a bit on the warm side...I like it hot & muggy (typical Pittsburgh summer weather).

Lola was chasing her big blue tennis ball...


Sherman was digging up new cool spots to lay in...

Penny was chasing squirrels up the big Oak tree...

And the old folks rested when they got too hot.



(WARNING: Graphic pictures ahead. No joke.)


Scott & I were shooting the breeze on the patio, talking about work, enjoying a few end-of-the-week libations...

Penny & Lola were flying through the yard having a grand old time. Sherman was resting peacefully beside Scott. Penny flew onto the patio for cover and bumped Sherman at the same time Lola flung herself at Penny.

Sherman jumped up in a rage & went after Penny. Penny fought right back, with more force than Sherman could muster. Scott jumped up & tried to break it up (they were right behind him). I always do everything wrong in a fight (jump in & try to break it up by grabbing collars). I tried to get to Penny when she grabbed Sherman's head, locked on...and shook. Hard.

Back to my old habits, I reached for their collars. Scott had Penny & I tried to move Sherman out of the way, but then she broke his grasp & went after him again. I grabbed the loop on her martingale and lifted up. Her front feet were off the ground & she was still trying to get to Sherman. Penny is not a dog that will give up, ever. She never has been. She had a slight moment of clarity & looked at me dead on. I told her to get inside & marched her into the bathroom to check her out.

She had 2 big puncture wounds on her legs. She had bitten her tongue & blood was coming out of her mouth. I took her upstairs & cleaned her wounds and gave her ice cubes to lick. (I should mention that Lola was with Penny the whole time. She never tried to jump in to save her & never was part of the fight, but Penny is clearly her priority & Lola never left her side till bedtime.)

I went down to check on Sherman & asked Scott how he was. "He's suffered the worst of it, but he should be OK." I took him into the bathroom where the light was better to check him over. He had 2 puncture wounds, on either side of his mouth that were bleeding. He was licking at nothing & I thought he might be going into shock (I watch WAY too much Emergency Vet Interns!). He also had a dime sized hole, right between his eyes. I pushed the hair away & saw that it was very deep & you could see his skull. Hmmm. Is my Vet closed????

I am so lucky that my Vet is 1/2 a block from my house! They were open & know (and love) Sherman well. I told them what happened and they told me to bring him right back to be seen.

My little Bubba was so brave. They shaved the spot in between his eyes & both sides of his face. He didn't make a peep. They asked us to leave the exam room while they gave him a local anesthetic and stitched up his wound. We heard him squeal the whole time....broke my heart. But he suffered through like a champ & didn't complain about the pink stitches he received.

These are pics after his stitches! We're calling him Franken-Sherman (yes Tucker...we stole that from you!)


Don't show these pictures to Dot! Puh-lease??? She cannot see me like this!


And poor Penny's leg...she's not putting any weight on it and is taking antibiotics too.



She's very pissed at us & basically spent the night like this...ignoring her people. We did, after all...take Sherman to the Vet.



Oh, & let's not forget Scotty's wound breaking up the fight. Massive, huh?
1, 2, 3....Waaaaahhhhh!


Lola is just very confused & preferred the comfort of my lap.


If all of our blogging buddies could send us some positve thoughts, healing prayers and/or some optimstic outlooks...we'd really appreciate it!! We'll take all we can get here on Jackman Ave!



29 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh Jen...not the way you wanted to start the weekend huh? Poor Sherman & Penny...have they ever done that before? I don't know what I'd do in that situation...thank heavens Lola had the smarts to stay out.

Ruby and I are sending lots of good thoughts, warm hugs and from Ruby lots of licks!

Keep us posted...Michele

PS - we're glad Scott is ok too ;)

Anonymous said...

i'm so sorry to hear about all the injuries.

hope that sherman and penny recovers soon

Simba and Jazzi said...

I bet your still shaking after all that.I hope everyones poor poors get better soon. Nose licks to everyone.

Simba xx

Boo Casanova said...

oops! i'm so sorry to hear about the fight and sherman get hurt. in the video, penny looks absolutely not pleased! well, they'll get over it very quickly so don't worry.

sending hugs and licks!

Boo

Katherine and Pippa said...

We're sending lots of positive thoughts from sunny warm (but not muggy) Spain to you all in Pittsburgh.

Don't know who to feel the sorriest for, Sherman is tugging at our hearts a bit, probably closely followed by you.

We still think Penny is beautiful though. And very tough.

Thanks for the warning BTW. Sometimes I'm pleased I don't put my contacts in straightaway!

Kate and Pippa

Huskee's Maid said...

Oh dear, so sorry to hear about the fight.. it's really not the best way to start a weekend. Hope Sherman n Penny have made it up already. Huskee and his humans send lots of cuddles and smooches to Sherman, Penny and Lola. And of course not forgetting their traumatised parents too! Take care and get well soon!

Hammer said...

We're sending you all lots of healing and positive energy.

I hope Sherman and Penny never fight like that again. Sherman's wound on his head looks terrible.

Poor Lola looked frightened. I'd be too.

Love from Hammer

Jackson's J1 and J2 said...

Hey pals, hope you're all feeling better now. Poor Sherman and Penny (and Scott!). J x

wally said...

Oh guys--so sorry! I feel sorry for all of you. Ouch! I hope everyone gets better soon and that Scott did not lose too much blood from his gaping wound.

Have a nice RELAXING rest of the weekend, eh?

wally.

Gwyn Valentine said...

Hi Lola,
My Family & I are sending you the healing energy! Do you feel it???
Get well soon & hope they will not get into fights like this again!

Love,
Reina

Chilli the Dog said...

Oh Sherman! That looks like a very nasty wound on you. I hope you get better soon.

And dear Penny...I hope your leg is better too. I must have hurt!

Lola...you're a smart gal. Don't ever get into fights okay. It's not very nice.

I hope that all of you will have a better week ahead.

Licks

Chilli

Peanut said...

Wow that was some fight. Poor sherman his head looks awful. My poor Penny get better soon and don't go fighting anymore.

Lorenza said...

Hi, friends.
I am so sorry about you being hurt!
I am sure it was just a bad moment that made you get into that fight.
I send to Sherman, Penny and Scott good vibes and kisses to help you heal soon.
Poor Lola certainly looks confused.
I hope you can enjoy the rest of the weekend.
Besos
Lorenza

Duke and Gidget said...

Gosh guys, we're so sorry that had to happen. We sure hope those injuries get better real soon. We'll be thinking about you.

And please, cant we all just get along?

~Pug Hugs and Healing Licks~
Duke & Gidget

Oscar's mummy and daddy said...

Yikes, my mumis really squeamish, she really shouldn't have looked at those pics.

I'm with Lola, I'm a lover not a fighter.

Heal fast Penny, Sherman and Scott.

Licks
Oscar x

Joe Stains said...

oh no that is the worst story :( we are glad you were able to get sherman some stitches :( we hope everyone is feeling better soon!

Unknown said...

Ouch! Sure do hope you all heal up quickly.

Mary-Doug aka boxerpug

Anonymous said...

On no you guys!!! I hate that you got into a fight and got hurt. Poor Sherman. I hope your head gets better. Penny, I hope your leg gets better too. Are you still not wanting to put weight on it? Did the vet say it was normal for you not to want to put weight on it?
Hugs,
Sitka

The Brat Pack said...

Oh Jen - I'm behind checking and just saw this. You guys must have been totally freaking out (or maybe you're calmer than I am). I just can't believe how bad it ended up being.

If there's anything at all we can do please please don't hesitate to ask. Lots of love and well wishes from Texas are headed your way.

Maryann & The Brats

Amber-Mae said...

Oh my, a bad bad fight... Sherman, you feeling better? What about you Penny? Lola's such a good girl. Hope you both will have a speedy recovery even your mama's finger.

Love licks,
Solid Gold Dancer

Sophie Brador said...

What a nasty fight. Poor Sherman. He's going to have to take on a whole new punk rock personality until his hair grows back. I sure hope he and Penny can make up, and I sure hope Lola can come to terms with being the witness. The poor baby.

On the bright side, maybe they worked out some long standing doggie beef in the scuffle.

And we mustn't forget about Scott. Did he get a band aid?

Balboa said...

Karen, Balboa's Mom,

Jen, I am so sorry, Thankfully both you and Scott were there to handle the situation. At least they are ignoring each other and not fighting anymore.

Poor Lola, she just wants to play.

Poor Sherman, that cut, those stitches and they are pink with adds insult to injury.

We'll be checking back to see how you are all doing.

Karen & Balboa

Anonymous said...

Oh you guys, I'm so sorry! That had to be horrifying - for you and Scotty, Jen! Hope everything settles down (including heart rates) and gets back to normal soon! Sherman's little head just breaks my heart. And pretty Penny's leg too, of course. But those pink stiches are so sad...!

The Brat Pack said...

Sherman,

I hope you're feeling better today and your head doesn't hurt too much. I'm glad you had stitches and not those icky staples like Tucker.

You are always byootiful to me, always.

Kisses,
Dot-Spot

Anonymous said...

Wow, how scarey! I hope everyone is doing fine and getting better as I type.

Lots of licks to your ouchies.......

xxxooo
Orson

Deanna said...

Poor guys! That is terrible! I hope everyone is feeling better now, and getting along better.

:(

Stanley said...

Hey guys!

First, I'm happy to hear you are all okay! (Except for the pink stitches - that's got to hurt a little, huh Sherm?)

Second, do we need to get you guys into counseling? I know you love each other, that is obvious. Just wondering if you know why it happened?

Last, AireZen to all in the family ferndoggle! Scott, you deserve the Purple Paw for being wounded in battle.

Goob love & Zen,
Stanley

Marvin -The Hollow Hound said...

oooooh only just peeked in on your blog, I don't know, go away for a few days and the Third World War breaks out in Jackman Avenue!

Goodness me, so sorry to hear about your troubles.

and all the horrible injuries!

And poor Lola, she looked real shaken up in that picture too.

Healing licks to you all, and Scottie, that was a mighty wound he suffered too!

lovea and sad licks, and sending good Scottish Healing Vibes to you all, Marvin xxxxxx

thinking of you, Jeannie xxxxxx

Marvin -The Hollow Hound said...

ps Jeannie says Sherman is still handsome, even though he is wounded so bad. ;0(