Treachery–Dog-Style
After Hayley’s game last night ( a valiant effort in a disappointing setting), I brought Mombo back to the Valley since it was after dark. We had quite the Clan contingent at the game (me, Mom, Jerry R., John, Dana, James, Susan, and of course all the Hellyers). This morning I took her back to Danville to get her car and dropped her at Clete’s game. That Mombo sure gets around! Then Greg and I headed to Richmond so that I could get my seller’s kit for the baby stuff sale in March. I hope to help Janet, Jerusha and Jeanne sell toys, baby clothes, etc. I stopped by 4th Street to put back trash cans and check on things. I got Greg out of the car and walked him around the block. He seemed fine, although getting into the car has been really difficult for him lately. I coaxed him back in, and we went to Sharon’s house. She treated me to a wonderful tea of English breakfast and lemon scones with marmalade and raspberry curd. We has a nice visit, and I returned to the car to get Greg out and walk him around a little before we headed back to Kelley Ridge. I was hoping to get firewood in and to begin taking down the Christmas tree. Well, he wouldn’t get out of the car, but I just decided he would wait until we got to the Ridge.
Usually Greg gets out at the gate and runs in front of me to the house when we get to Kelley Ridge, but lately he seems not as interested. Today was no different. But since he hadn’t eaten, I thought he would be anxious to get out once we reached the house. Instead he lay sideways on the seat and didn’t even raise his head. I pulled a little on his leash, and he growled. Well, I thought. I unloaded the car, leaving the door open so he could get out in his own good time. But after nearly an hour, he hadn’t moved, hadn’t even raised his head. I got some food and offered it to him. He just looked at me. And then I noticed that he was bleeding slightly from the nose. That scared me. I called Jim Brown, and he said it sounded like I needed to take him to the vet. My vet had closed at noon, but I found him by cell phone, and he referred me to a vet in Berea who was open until 5:30. I called and they agreed to see me if I drove there as quickly as I could. So I drove to Berea with Greg still lying on his side on the back seat. I was convinced that he had had some kind of a stroke and that I might have to have him put down. With tear-filled eyes, I realized that while he’s kind of a burden now, he still is my bud who keeps me company at the Ridge. I was going to be even more lonely without him. When I got there, I coaxed his face into a muzzle. He did growl a little, but still didn’t lift his head. The helpers at the vet clinic came out with a stretcher-like thing that they were going to put under him so that they could lift him out. As they eased it under him, he suddenly became very animated, growled and barked at them and jumped out of the car!! I picked up his leash and tried to walk him in, and he sat down in the parking lot and would not move–like a mule! “You Booger!” I drug him up and pulled him into the office. The vet checked him over thoroughly–she couldn’t find anything wrong. She said he might have suffered a small stroke, but she could find no evidence of it.
So after all that, I put the treacherous, tantrum-throwing dog back into the car, drove him to the Valley, and dragged him back out of the car. I really think he just didn’t want to get out of the car all day and was showing me who was boss. He’s become like most old men–a grumpy old grouch potato. Butt-Head!