I took my 11 year old dog to the groomers today.   He’s getting on in years … but he’s still full of energy and life.  He may sleep a little more than he used to, he might be a little more needy in his old age, but he’s a good dog.

Winston has been a gentle doggie since we first adopted him  He was taken away from his mother at 6 weeks of age – he had a hernia that need surgery – and it couldn’t wait any longer.  He was just 8 weeks when we adopted him .. and since I’ve been his surrogate mother .. there are times Winston thinks he’s human.  He certainly acts that way most of the time!

I was surprised when I received a phone call from Pet Smart .. the groomer was telling me that while she was bathing Winston, the toes on all four of his paws got caught on the grid that lines their bathing sinks.  He was panicking – she was trying to help release him – and he bit her.  Hard.  He broke the skin.

Winston has NEVER been aggressive in his entire little doggie life.  He is afraid of the cat.  He’s afraid of water.  He’s afraid of other dogs.  He LOVES people .. and he would NOT hurt anyone out of aggression.  He was defending himself in a time of panic.  Pet Smart’s policy on bites is to send the employee to the Doctor for treatment.  So, I decided to take Winston to the vet to make sure the groomer hadn’t broken his toes.  And to make sure he had a clean bill of health in the event Pet Smart called back to say the groomer had an exotic disease only obtained from dog bites.  Winston is old .. he has a bad knee .. but he’s otherwise perfectly wonderful health wise.

About half an hour ago … maybe it was an hour .. I don’t know because I’ve been in a panic ever since.  I got a call from Orange County Animal Control.  They are coming over tonight to “evaluate the dog”.  He’ll have to be put on “house quarantine” – because he bit someone.  It’s “all standard procedure ma’am – you have nothing to worry about.”

Well – as soon as I hung up the phone I started to hyperventilate.  I could tell a full fledged panic attack was coming on.  All I could think of was getting the house perfectly spotless before Animal Control shows up.  They need to see that I’m a good pet owner .. and that Winston is a good dog.  Because I swear to god if they try to take my dog away from me there is going to be HIGH DRAMA in the Willo Keays household.  I very rarely get angry .. when I do .. watch out.

I flew around the house.  I vacuumed, I cleaned toilets, I picked up dog toys, I cleaned the cat litter box, I even :: gasp:: made my bed!  I feel like Child Services is coming over to judge me.  I feel like my doggie is being marched to his death sentence.  Did I mention HE’S ELEVEN YEARS OLD!  He wouldn’t survive being put in a cage.  I know what happens to doggies when they go to Animal Control … they kill them.  They kill innocent doggies every single day.  Hundreds of them.

They’re not going to get my dog.   They’re going to have to take me away with him.

Update:

Animal Control just left – well – shes sitting in my driveway taking notes. Winston {my dog} is quarantined to home for 10 days – no leaving the house – even to go in our fenced back yard unless he is on a leash. He’s not to have contact with anyone outside the family.

I had her note that I’m on-call for Federal Jury Duty this week and next – and if I get called up I’ll have to have SOMEONE watch him .. either a boarder or a pet sitter.

I mentioned my concerns with PetSmarts grid system in their bathing area – and asked what I could do to prevent others dogs from injury. She is going to stop by there tomorrow and inspect the area. Winston at one point got up – whined loudly and started limping. {he has an old knee injury}. The AC officer noted the limp in her notes.

What was noteworthy is – the person in the AC report has a different name. The AC officer called her “York” and the name on her name badge – and what the others were calling her – is “Montana.” It might be that Montana is her nickname? I just found it interesting.

In 10 days Health Services will come out and look at Winston. If he looks healthy they’ll sign off on the quarantine and we’re good to go.