Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Millie and Me

Raking leaves was on the agenda for this morning, since the cottonwood didn't finish dropping its foliage until December, and since I still don't have a job. Still.

I raked. Then I noticed it: silence. Millie had stayed alongside until she pulled one of her amazing sneak-away routines and left me alone with the leaves. I had to run down the street after her, hollering for her to come, Millie! And she did. As we trotted back to the rake, I asked her if she'd like to go to the neighbor's to see her best dog friends Cornbread and Okra. (Yup, the neighbor's dogs are named Cornbread and Okra. I do live in Texas, y'all.)

Millie's tail wagged as I pushed open the neighbor's picket fence gate and eased it open so Millie could join the other dogs. Playing and jumping and running ensued. Sweet sounds. I went back to raking leaves. Millie, I noticed, came back to the gate and stared at me. Then she began whining. Play with your friends and enjoy the sunshine, I called to her. She barked.

I'd just finished the leaves and sat down on the steps with a cup of tea when I heard Millie whining again. Then... silence. Then the most horrible dog noise I'd ever heard - a snarl and a shriek in one. My eyes darted back to that gate and my hands went slack. The cup of tea hit the steps. I was up immediately, running. Millie's head was wedged between two pickets. She was hanging from the gate.

I screamed. There was spit flying and Millie was still struggling and I tried to pull the pickets apart - or off! - but I couldn't. I screamed louder, hoping - I don't know - that someone would show up with the jaws of life or an axe or a tub of Vaseline or - something. Someone! Help! I tried to pull Millie's head up but it was stuck. I tried to force it back but it was stuck. I tried to pull on the right picket. Then the left. Nothing. And Millie got quiet. I climbed over the gate and tried to pick up her body... would it help her breathe?... but I worried it might break her neck. Would it break her neck? I didn't know. I screamed.

Millie was silent, hanging from that blasted gate. I kept screaming. It echoed in my ears, that awful noise. And I heard myself, hysterical, yelling, Someone? God? GOD?! HELP! HELP! HELP US! HELLLLP US!"

I grabbed Millie again, and planting my left foot on the gate, I pulled on up on that collar as hard as I could. Millie's tail moved and then her head. I quit worrying whether it would hurt her further and just... pulled. And then we were both on the ground and the screaming had stopped. And Millie lay there a moment and then - a breath. Then another. Sweet sounds. I bent over her and those chocolate brown eyes looked back into mine. She wagged her tail.

Think she's going to be okay. She's sleeping now. I'm still shaking, but at least my screaming has stopped. I'm sure all that racket interrupted an otherwise peaceful morning in heaven.

I'm sure my guardian angel is thrilled I have a dog. Talk about overtime and extra assignments.

The LORD is with me; He is my helper.
-Psalm 118:7

22 comments:

paisley penguin said...

So glad Millie is OK. I have a dog too and I would absolutely hate it if something happened to him!

Susan said...

Holy (very bad word) !!! my heart was pounding along with you two. Thank God, goodness and the Guardian angel that she's OK.

Michelle said...

Oh, I'm so glad Millie is okay!!

Cathy said...

Oh my, Brin! I must admit that after reading your post I scolled to the bottom just to be sure everything would be ok. ..whew..

Being a dog lover and a puppy mama, I understand your feelings.

Sadly enough, I opened my town newspaper this morning only to read about a precious dog who was dropped off at the Humane Society...it was covered in burns (apparently some kind of liquid)...and starving... He has a blister over his right eye and his skin is falling off, but they said he's going to make it.

Stories like that make me sick. Especially when there are those of us who treat our dogs as children. Actually, I never call my Charlie a dog. She's a person with fur :)

I'm glad your story has a happy ending. May your day be calm and blessed.

~Cathy, and Charlie, too!

Shelley in SC said...

Oh . . . my . . . word! I'm horrified. Thank goodness we can't go anywhere where He is not present---even in the neighbor's backyard---even between two pickets.

Patsy from Illinois said...

Millie, dear Millie. Is she forever going to have "adventures"? So glad she is okay.

Mia said...

scary for sure! Glad everything is ok :)

Donna said...

Now I have to catch my breath. That was so scary and I can't imagine being in your place. Bless your soul, you have been through it here lately.

cathleen said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Rosa said...

My heart stopped as I read this!
Then it started pounding.
I am so thankful everything is alright!
Sending up prayers. . .
:)

Unknown said...

How scary, I think I would of kicked the fence in with all my might! So happy to hear Millie is alright! Now rest some...

Kathi D said...

I guess I was supposed to be here today because I found your blog in a most unusual way.

Your story gave me a chill for many reasons, and I am so grateful for the outcome. I hope you and Millie are both OK!

Terri Steffes said...

My heart is racing from just your WRITING of this event. What a powerful moment.

Michelle said...

Oh my gosh, poor, poor Millie! I think we should name your blog "the Adventures of Millie and Me". Still, I am so glad she was okay. I would have screamed too!

Elenka said...

I'm like everyone else, my heart was pounding and still is!! Yikes. What a story !! Whew.
I'm so glad she is ok, you give that girl an extra hug, altho you probably haven't let her go since.
As I said, yikes !!!

wanderingbtrfly said...

I'm so glad Millie is okay. Your guardian angel comment had me laughing :)

tara said...

Wow, Brin I'm so sorry you and Millie went through that this morning! so so scary! I know you're probably sleeping with her tonight. :) I'm so glad she is okay!!! You have an incredible gift for writing and making me feel like i'm there seeing all of it happen. Thank God Millie is okay. Hugs,
Tara

Anna said...

This post has made me cry. I was panicking. My little brown lab is always getting stuck under fences. But not trapped that badly (yet).

No work for me here either, Brin. And I've just eaten the very last of the green chard from the vegetable patch! Hope something turns up before we both run out of greens. :)

Tiffany said...

Oh my gosh, how scary!!!!!!!!! Glad she, and you, are okay.

Old Centennial Farmhouse said...

Here's some doggie kisses and hugs for Millie, and you, her rescuer!

Kelly said...

How scary! So glad Millie is ok. I was thinking of her last night as I was cleaning out the ears of my chocolate lab. He's got a bit of a problem and it's bothering him pretty badly (hmmm... TMI? I could go further, but I won't ha). That alone brought tears to my eyes as he wiggled around under my cleaning. I can't imagine watching him struggle while caught in a fence!! My heart bled a little more for you and Millie as I thought of that last night!

Debe said...

My sweet Lord, I am so glad Millie is ok. I held my breathe reading your post. So glad that she is ok. We just couldn't stand anything happening to your baby. And since I was reading backwards from earlier posts, your Tuesday idea is just fine!! So people can be so judgemental!!