Had to save a dog tonight...
Well that was the most exciting walk I've been on in a while. I wasn't actually going to go for a walk tonight, I mowed the lawn so I was going to count that as exercise ;) but the dogs wanted to go. I like to walk on a road next to a canal, there's a nice view of the valley and it's away from cars, etc.
I had been walking for a while when a lady came by on a bike with a dog chasing after her. It was a young springer spaniel, I'm familiar with the dog, I see it often on my way to the canal, its often running loose (not uncommon around here, many people let their dogs roam, it drives me crazy). :rolleyes: The first thing the dog did was run up to my dogs and try to bite Nebo, I chased him off a few times because he wouldn't leave my dogs alone. Finally he gave up bothering me and apparently decided to take a dip in the canal.
The problem was, once he got in, he couldn't get back out! Here's a picture of the canal to give you an idea...its pretty deep/swift right now and most of it has steep cement sides.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/U2Q/canal.jpg
I watched him for a minute to see if he'd get out--he kept clawing at the sides but he couldn't get a grip and the current was too fast. I knew then that I was going to have to get him out of there.
I tied up Nebo and Keva, I didn't think I would have to go far to grab the dog and I was afraid I might drop their leash trying to get him out. I couldn't just jump in, somebody would have to save me if I did :o I'm a terrible swimmer. I kept running ahead and reaching down trying to grab the dog but I couldn't get far enough down the side without falling in. I kept missing and he kept going further and further. Finally I saw a place with some metal rod steps (likely for people to grab if they fell in) and I ran far enough ahead and climbed down the steps. The dog was in the middle but I kept calling him and he swam toward me. Luckily I was able to grab his neck as he went past and pull him out. The minute he was out he took off running in the other direction like nothing had happened. I couldn't go after him, I had to run back and grab my own dogs, I had ran so far ahead I could no longer see them and I was worried...obviously I wasn't thinking when I did that, but they were ok nobody bothered them.
I walked back (with one soggy shoe) and I saw the dogs owner outside as I passed their house. I asked her if she knew her dog was running loose by the canal. She said she did, and that she tried calling him but he kept running. I told her what happened and she was just like "Oh thanks, I guess I should go look for him." (It was almost dark by this time too). :rolleyes: So hopefully the dog stayed out of the canal and he'll make it back home. :( Why can't people just keep their dogs in their yards? :confused:
