Friday, May 11, 2012

Hooked on Fishing


The water is calm except for the lure skimming the surface of the canal. Repeatedly it's cast outward then reeled towards me in an effort to entice the fish lurking below to strike but on this morning the only thing biting are the gnats. Erin has wandered off in pursuit of squirrels and other pleasures as she often does when we go fishing and before long I notice her heading in my direction. "Been exploring good girl?" With a wag of her tail she makes her way over to my side and it's at that point I notice something isn't right; there's a splash of vibrant color in a patch of brown fur. Upon closer examination I realize a yellow fishing lure has penetrated her flesh and is swinging like a pendulum upon movement. Concern and anger consume me as removal is attempted but it's much too deep to get out thus a flurry of profanity is unleashed on the world.

On cue my cousin emerges from an overgrown pathway with his head down and "guilty" clearly written across his forehead. All I desired was the truth and the incident would be forgotten but Matthew vowed innocence like a typical teenager when pressed on the issue. Sheepishly he stated Erin didn't wander down to his fishing hole, had no idea how Erin got injured and we both knew that was an outright lie so a barrage of questions and accusations were heaped upon him. With my disappointment made clear a call was placed to the vets office to inform them that I would be there shortly with Erin...Something tells me they were snickering when the conversation ended.

The bright yellow lure was quite an attraction for the vet's staff and folks in the waiting area...Guess it isn't everyday that a dog gets snagged by a fisherman. We were led to a small room where Erin was hoisted onto a stainless steel examination table for a closer look by Dr. H whom remarked that the hook would be out in a few minutes. An injection for pain plus a few snips was all it took to remove the embedded barb then he placed it in a medicine vial so I'd have a memento of the eventful day. Along the way he cracked a few jokes to lighten the mood which was helpful as I was stressed which was in contrast to Erin whom was happy-go-lucky as always.

Matthew saw the light with help from his mom and offered a tearful apology which was gladly accepted. The following day and many many days after we went fishing and thankfully something other than my girl was caught....It was an unfortunate incident but I'll always remember the day Erin got hooked.








16 comments:

  1. What a cute, little story...although I could relate to your frustration. But, I'm happy to hear that in the end it all worked out for the best. And along the way...you may have found out a little more about Erin. I see a fishing pole in the future??? ☺

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Everything was okay in the end...things could have been so much worse if Erin was hooked in the face or head. We certainly learn something when a bump in the road occurs and this was another example of Erin's unflappable demeanor and courage. My fishing gear is gathering dust though maybe someday Cody can accompany me. Thanks for visiting Mary!!

      Delete
  2. Fantastic story, David, and so glad it had a happy ending for Erin and for you. Thank you for sharing!
    Blessings!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Martha A happy ending is all any of us can hope for...All's well that ends well :) Thanks for visiting!!

      Delete
  3. My gosh, I would have panicked if that happened to my dog. But I find it amazing how dogs remain cheerful even if they get hurt or injured, as if nothing happened. I enjoyed your story, David. God bless you and Cody :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've found out over the years that dogs are so tolerant to pain and conditions that would reduce humans to tears. Dogs know how to survive and I have much respect for them as a whole...Glad you enjoyed thus post!! Blessings to you and cute little Dave!!

      Delete
  4. Yeah, I would have lost it if it were my pet and yes, these mute animals do have a lot of tolerance and lot of love. Nice memorable story here.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Janu It's easy to freak out when a beloved pet gets injured or sick...I have a tendency to worry so when Erin got hooked everything looked bleak but it turned out to be a small deal in the scheme of things. Thanks my friend for stopping by!!

      Delete
  5. It is sweet that animals can walk up to you and wag after getting snagged. I really enjoyed your story. I also love the picture at the top right of your page... she is an angel in fur. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rachel Animals are remarkable in that aspect...Still capable of giving love and providing support even though they're hurt. Glad you like the shot, it's one of my favorites. Take care!!

      Delete
  6. David it is amazing she was not yelping in pain as those hooks are usually barbed and would really dig into her flesh. Hopefully her thick fur coat helped to minimize the damage. I can understand why you were so angry...and happy for all that the truth finally came out. It sounds like Erin held no grudges and came straight to the one person she knew who could help her...many an adventure this sweet girl had...loved this addition to her many stories...Always dear friend...xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The hooks were certainly barbed and that's the reason I couldn't remove it. It's understandable that accidents happen but I must mainly pissed that Matthew lied to me...My feelings for Erin was pure concern. She had many adventures for sure, guess that happens when you get out and lead a full life. Thanks as always for visiting, commenting, and sharing!! Take care!!

      Delete
  7. I am so glad your cousin came through with the truth...for you and for himself, it is these little guilt's that can eat us up. It is hard to admit when you hurt someone you love, and I am certain he loved Erin as everyone did...Wonderful story.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Matthew spent lots of time hanging out with us thus it hurt when he lied to me after so many years of friendship. Glad he came clean so we could move on woth life. Erin was loved by all and because she was so well-behaved went everywhere I did. Thanks for stopping by Jan!!

      Delete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.