Very Unhappy Mother's Day :(

[tripperfunster]

Two of my dogs were hit by a car today.

We live in the country, near a highway, and as much as my dogs like to chase cars when they drive down our dirt road (a behaviour which we discourage, of course) they have never really paid much attention to the highway. There is an access road, then a big ditch, then the highway.

Well, today, me and the kids were noodling around in the yard, raking leaves and getting the toroise enclosure ready, when a car pulled up in our driveway. A woman got out and asked if we had dogs, because they had hit them.

She really hesitated before she said anything (I'm sure she was horrified, poor thing) and when she did speak, it was so quiet that I barely heard it. When I finally gathered that TWO of my three dogs were hit and probably dead, I sprinted to the highway and sure enough, two little brown lumps were laying there. (still on the road, no less).

I ran over, and Spencer lifted his head up and looked at me, blood coming out of his mouth, and I wasn't sure if I should be relieved or mortified that he was alive, but suffering. Harley looked dead, but was sort of barely breathing, so I dragged them both off the road, to the side of the ditch, then asked the man and woman (who had come over to where I was) to make sure they didn't move and to keep my kids off the highway while I went to grab the truck.

I pulled up, put the dogs in, put the kids in and we raced to the closest vet. Somewhere in the hubub I forgot my purse, and I DIDN'T HAVE MY CELLPHONE TO CALL THE VET to see if they were there! Urg! It was like a fuckin' nightmare when stoopid things like that go wrong.

Of course the vet WASN'T THERE (it's a country vet, and he lives beside the clinic, but I guess he was out) so of course, we wasted valuable time driving to the wrong place, THEN I FOUND MY PURSE (which I must have grabbed at some point, but I don't remember) so I called the next closest vet and miracle of miracles, they were open.

They rushed both dogs in, and sadly, Harley was pretty much DOA. I could tell that, and had warned the kids that it didn't look good for him. Lucky for us, Spencer (so far) seems okay. He's pretty bruised up, and had a couple of lacerations that they sewed up, but so far he's still alive, and we are eternally grateful for that.

He's not out of the woods yet, depending on internal injuries, but the vet let us take him home tonight (there's no one at the clinic all night, so he's better off at our house) but we have to take him back in the morning for a check up.

Harrison (my seven year old) is pretty devestated. Quincey goes between not giving a shit, and being pretty damn sad. I assume he is more the latter, but is having trouble expressing it. We've lost dogs before, but not for a couple of years, and that's a long time when you're a kid. Plus, those dogs were old, it wasn't a tramatic dash to the animal hospital on those occasions.

We buried Harley out by the pond, beside a big willow tree. Harry wrote the sweetest note for him, basically saying that we loved him and we'll miss him, and thank you for saving Spencer's life. (we had a theory that Harley took the brunt of the car, so that Spencer wouldn't get hurt as much.) I think it helped the kids to think that Harley didn't die in vain.

Any hoo. Sorry to bum everyone out. Everyone cross your fingers for Spencer!

Comments

[gnatkip.livejournal.com]

I am so very sorry.

I'm thinking of Spencer.

[euclase.livejournal.com]

I don't think your kids are ever going to forget this Mother's Day--or how awesome their mom was for dashing into action like you did. <3333

[bethbethbeth.livejournal.com]

Oh my dear...I'm so very, very sorry for you all.

*sends good thoughts in the direction of Spencer*

{{hugs you}}

[1scout.livejournal.com]

I feel horrible for you. Our dog, that we had for thirteen years, died last July. It was devastating for us, she was our first baby before Zack came along. He's still upset about it, even now.
I'm sorry about Harley, and I'm hoping Spencer comes through ok.

[chocolate-frapp.livejournal.com]

awww, no. poor doggies. (hugs you and the kids)

[coffee-n-cocoa.livejournal.com]

RIP Harley.

I hope Spencer pulls through!

*hugs you tight*

[schemingreader.livejournal.com]

Oy. I'm so sorry.

[amand-r.livejournal.com]

Oh Jesus. I am so sorry.

[twillery.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm so sorry. I hope Spencer pulls through, and remembers his brave friend.

[hadeschild.livejournal.com]

Wow, that's really horrible. I'm so so sorry to hear about that. My cat died just a couple of months ago and I still miss him so much. I've got all of my fingers crossed for Spencer and I hope that your kids manage to move on and remember Harley well.

Kudos for thinking on your feet, too.

[drcjsnider.livejournal.com]

Oh man... what a nerve wracking/horrible experience. At least the woman stopped... I can't imagine most people pulling off the highway for that...

[xenafox.livejournal.com]

Awww no! Your poor dogs! How did they manage to hit BOTH of them (yea, I jump right to blaming the people despite the fact they probably feel awful...)?

I'm so sorry about Harley. God losing a dog is hard (I'm still not over mine). I hope Spencer pulls through!!

*Hugs* Do you have a picture of Harley?

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

Thanks hon!
Needless to say, I won't be over at peenlulz tonight.

Give my love to everyone there.

[xenafox.livejournal.com]

We ended early, no one was feeling it tonight :/ I could barely pay attention.

Anyways, please keep us updated on Spencer!

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

Thanks hon.

So far, spencer seems very alert, but he has no interest in food or water (strange for him, he can be a real hog) and he still refuses to stand up.

The vet told us to 'rotate' him ;) so the blood doesn't pool in his lungs, so we've be flipping him over every hour or so.

He doesn't seem to be in pain when we move him, but he IS on pain meds, so who knows?

I guess we'll have to see what the morning brings.

<3

[xenafox.livejournal.com]

Loss of appetite and not standing up..sounds kinda like shock but I'm not sure. At least he's alert and has you on watch! SO we can only hope for the best.

*Sends him many pettings and BACON for when he's better!*

[ziasudra-fic.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry. I hope Spencer will be okay.

[joanwilder.livejournal.com]

Oh GOD, tripp.

You're right; it's one thing to lose them when they're old--damn, even then it's hard. But this way, all of a sudden. I'm so very sorry about Harley.

I'll be thinking about Spencer, and you and your family. It's not the same as losing your kids, but sort of close to it.

*hugs*

[thebrandytook.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry to hear this news. I really hope that Spencer will be alright.

[kerosinkanister.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry.

[venturous1.livejournal.com]

awwww, big fuzzy hugs for being Mom the Hero. Love and angel kisses to Harley for his next great adventure, and I send healing vibes to Spencer.

[djin7.livejournal.com]

Oh god, how awful, I'm so sorry. I remember losing my first cat to a car, seems so long ago now, but my dad had to get her off the road with a fucking shovel, and you never forget. :( I hope your other one gets well soon! ♥

[snegurochka_lee]

Oh, God, I'm so sorry. I live in daily fear of this happening to my little guy. *hugs him hard* What a tragedy. {{{HUGS}}}

[clayangel.livejournal.com]

*hugs* God, I'm so, so sorry. I'll keep you and Spencer in my thoughts. I relayed this to my girlfriend, and she also sends her condolences.

[drusillas-rain.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry for you and your kids :(

I lost my first dog when she was still a puppy when she got hit by a car.

I hope Spencer recovers - my DH's dog from when he was a kid got hit by a few cars and he recovered each time (although there were few times it was close) and eventually died of old age.

*huge hugs*

[partie-carree.livejournal.com]

Wow, I am so sorry for the loss of part of your family. I have lost a dog before, he died in my arms, and it took me weeks to recover. Even now, a good decade later, I still get misty-eyed when I think about Nixon. I hope your kids will be okay.

[midnitemaraud-r.livejournal.com]

Oh god, Tripp - I'm so sorry! And just so you know, I was in tears when I got to the part about the theory of Harley saving Spencer. And I'm sending good thoughts for Spencer. Hang in there, little guy!

*HUGS*

[dementordelta.livejournal.com]

oh god, honey, I'm just so sorry for your whole family! Sending the best possible healing thoughts your way! *hugs and hugs*

[beatnikspinster.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry for your loss. *hugs*

[gaycrow.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's awful news.

I remember jumping in the car without my handbag, or even thinking about what I was wearing, when my cat was hit. You just go.

Sending lots of love and hugs your way.

[emila-wan.livejournal.com]

*crying*

So terrible! I remember going through this as a kid. You never forget.

[r-grayjoy.livejournal.com]

Oh man, that's so horrible. I've lost beloved pets that way (although it's been a long while, thankfully) and I know how sudden and traumatic it is. I hope Spencer will be all right...

[gestaltrose.livejournal.com]

aw honey... *loves you* *hugs and cuddles*

I've got my fingers crossed for Spencer.

[archea2.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry for you and the kids (and for those car people actually, because they must have felt a bit like hell, too, and they could just have rushed on instead of stopping to warn you).

Fingers crossed for Spencer. And a big transcontinental hug for you.

[tessisamess.livejournal.com]

Oh God.. That's so sad. =(

Best of luck with Spencer. I'm rootin' for him.

[majmunka.livejournal.com]

OMG, I'm so sorry... *hugsandlove*

[cyane-snape.livejournal.com]

My deepest sympathies. Our pets are family and it's always a huge loss. Be strong for the kids.

[kate-tur.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry. Hopefully, Spencer will get better in no time. *hugs*

[florence-craye.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm so sorry to hear this! I am sending get well thoughts to Spencer! *hugs you all*

[recrudescence.livejournal.com]

*hugs* Thinking good thoughts at you all. Keep us posted!

[outofthisplace.livejournal.com]

Oh, Im sorry, that's awful. Fingers are crossed to the point of overextension!

[antisocial-nerd.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry hun *hugs* Poor things