Note: I came across this blog post I wrote in July 2013. The dog in the story is no longer around. Our sweet dog, Lady, died in 2017. I miss her so much. Hope you enjoy this fun story!
On a June day in 2013, Mother Nature threw one heck of a tantrum—wind, rain, thunder, lightning, even hailstones the size of jawbreakers. The storm raged long enough to snap a large limb off the tree in our backyard. The next day, we discovered a nest had fallen out, and the poor baby birds hadn’t survived the crash.
Now, I don’t know why, but dogs seem to think dead things are the Chanel No. 5 of the animal world. My golden retriever, Lady, rolled over those unfortunate birdies enough times to get the full benefit of the scent. The stench? Somewhere between “dumpster in hot July” and “something crawled in and gave up.” Naturally, I made a grooming appointment.
That’s when the real disaster began.
The moment Lady realized where we were, she panicked. I could practically read her mind: A bath? Clippers? Blow dryer? Oh, heck no. She bolted from the car and made a break for freedom—straight toward the street.
Since she weighs 65 pounds and I am a weakling and very petite, it wasn’t exactly a fair fight. She dragged me across the asphalt like a rag doll. I ended up with skinned hands, a bruised arm, and a shoulder that looked like it lost a bar fight. I somehow got her stopped and tried again to get her through the groomer’s door. Big mistake.
Round two: same drama, new landing. This time, I hit the pavement butt-first. Hard. Thankfully, a kind woman pulled up and helped me wrestle Lady inside before I lost any remaining dignity.
For two weeks, I was in pain—and not the emotional kind. I even drove four hours to Charleston and back sitting on an ice pack like it was a luxury cushion. Eventually, I gave in and saw a doctor. Six days of meds later, I was back to normal.
Over the years, I’ve had my butt chewed, acted like a butt, and yes, kissed a few. But this was the first time I’ve injured my butt. I’m happy to report I can now sit and type this without wincing. Sweet relief!
dog grooming, golden retrievers, walking the dog