Wednesday, December 26, 2012

The apparently thin line between foolish and fun.


I took Wendy and Trey for a walk at Rainbow Haven today.  The large parking lot there, which is inaccessible to cars at this time of year, was partly covered in ice.

To amuse myself, I lazily slid the ball across the ice.  I didn't even throw it.  I just rolled it gently, maliciously thinking how amusing it would be to watch the dogs slip and slide after the ball.  The lack of friction meant the ball just rolled and rolled.  As I expected, Wendy and Trey skidded across the slick surface after it.

What I did not expect was for the ice to break, and them to be trapped, chest-deep, floundering to get out of the frigid water.

It's is a freakin' parking lot -- not a lake !

Both dogs have broken through at this point.  

Wendy, being taller than Trey, managed to get out pretty quickly, retrieve the ball, and make her way to the grass, where she happily trotted around in a "nyah, nyah" sorta way.   "I have the ball and Tre-ey doesn't".  Trey was too preoccupied with his current situation to even care about the ball.

The ice kept breaking under him as he tried to climb out.   

I quickly regretted my foolishness as I watched him struggle.


I watched as the ice kept breaking under him, as he valiantly tried to climb out.  Even though he wasn't getting out, he was inching forward through the broken ice.  But I could see him shivering, and the look of worry on his face is evident in these pictures. I moved to a spot on the grass that was closest to where he was and sized up the situation, and considered how I could get to him, without falling ass-over-tea-kettle myself.  Before I went for the big rescue, and I urged him to try one more time.  He was shivery and barked at me in frustration.   And then, he tried.  He tried one more time, and


he found that the ice was able to hold him.  Gingerly he hauled himself out, and oh-so-carefully, spread-eagled like Bambi on the ice, made his way to shore.


He was soaked and trembling, but very relieved and happy to be on dry ground.  Suddenly, all he wanted was the ball.  "Throw the ball !   Throw the ball", he barked.  I didn't even tell him off for barking.  I gave him a quick rub-down with my mitts and heaved the ball into the grass.  

I wanted to keep him and Wendy running until we made it back to the car.


And I did.  By the time we got back to the car they had warmed up. I gave them each a good rub down  with the blankets and towels that I keep in the car, started the engine, and got the heat blasting.

No harm done.

But gosh, I can be stupid sometimes.

18 comments:

  1. Not stupid. Who would suspect a lake in a parking lot. Very glad Trey and Wendy have a smart momma who keeps blankets and towels in the car, for unscheduled swim adventures. I started to shiver, just reading this.

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  2. Oh the look on his face Bonnie. I just kept imagining myself slip-sliding and falling into the water myself. No real danger, but frikkin' freezing.

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  3. As a fellow doggy-mama I can only imagine how you must have been feeling! Luckily dogs are forgiving and resilient creatures. How could you possibly guessed there would be such deep water in a parking lot! All is well that ends well.

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    1. They sure are Karma. He and Wendy are curled up happily on my bed right now.

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  4. Thank goodness that was not an actual lake. We learn lessons the hard way sometimes at the expense of others or our animals. You are not alone in this category.

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    1. I would never have done that on a real lake. Actually I steer clear of them as Trey might blunder out on his own.

      Thanks.

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  5. I can't believe you had the presence of mind to document this scary event! When you first talked of throwing the ball over the ice, I thought of me taunting my cat with a laser light on the hardwood floor. I laugh myself silly as she skates around the living room. But this story took a frightening turn. I think the land where you live is decidedly unforgiving of foolish moments. I'm glad it turned out well.

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    1. Who knew a parking lot could present such a peril ? I'm glad they aren't smaller dogs.

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  6. Wow, scary moments. Neither of my dogs have body fat or thick fur, they would have frozen quickly, but then again, they are both very wary around water and don't chase balls. There are plenty of other things for them to get in trouble with though. I am glad it worked out for you.

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    1. Thanks Les. What sort of dogs do you have ? Non ball chasers !!!

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  7. That lake is just a carpark? sheesh.
    That takes the prize for the scariest fetch the ball game. The pictures are wonderful - we can really see the poor dog struggling to get out.
    I'm so impressed how you managed to keep taking pictures - you're a true loyal blogger Sybil. Glad to hear doggie's OK!

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    1. I was already taking photos before they went through the ice and just didn't stop, even though I had moved and gotten down on my belly in the snow to try to figure out my rescue plan. BTW it's just a tiny pocket camera.

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  8. How scary is that? I was almost crying, just reading. We can all be foolish sometimes. The trouble is, sometimes we don't know when something fun can turn foolish. A tall tub of buttered popcorn at the movies turned foolish the other night when a tummy ache ensued. We have to be very wide awake to determine what's going to be fun and foolish, methinks. Glad everyone was OK here.

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    1. Thanks Kathy. You got poisoned at the movies ?!!

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  9. Glad it all worked out and especially glad you didn't wade in there. The driver needs to stay dry!

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    1. Luckily Flora, this driver always has loads of blankets and towels in the car ...

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  10. What a (mis)adventure! Happily, it turned out well.
    Thank you for your kind wishes and your visit.

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    1. And thanks to you too Arija for stopping by. My apologies for the delay in responding to your comment.

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Thanks for stopping by. I really do love to read your comments.