Intentional TonicA Timber & Scarlett Story (11-2008) Part Two
When we left off, Scarlett had just polished off JR’s “desperation” chicken legs, bones and all…
Who, me?
JR emerged from the store. I explained what had transpired and he was furious. He grabbed the last lone chicken leg, shoved it in Scarlett’s face, and said, “here, is THIS what you want? Do you want to eat THIS??!!” Here’s where I really had to stifle my laughter. Scarlett, looking as innocent as a babe, backed slowly away and turned her head as if to say, “no thank you, I’m full.”
We were ticked off but also worried. The nearest emergency vet was an hour and a half away. Knowing from previous experience the capability of Scarlett’s digestive system, we decided to try and wait it out until morning. If she made it, we could take her to the local vet we were familiar with from a previous trip. So, we forged ahead. We struggled to locate our cabin in the pitch black darkness but finally found it. As we turned into the driveway, our headlights illuminated the steep wooden staircase leading up to the front door, and we realized our troubles were not yet over. We had requested a one-story cabin because Timber has a hard time with stairs (and at 95 pounds is difficult to coax or carry up them). And Scarlett, at three years old, has lived her entire life in our one-story ranch house. So, tired, worried, and completely fed up, we spent another thirty minutes coaxing 170 pounds of dog up rain-slicked stairs to our one-story cabin! My husband and I pouted on the couch for two hours while two happy, excited dogs explored the cabin.
At the vet the next morning, the doctor asked us if we were sure Timber didn’t eat any bones. Oh yes, we were certain. Two hundred dollars in x-rays later, Scarlett was the proven culprit. Luckily, our “vigorous chewer” had done a good job on the bones. Add another hundred dollars for seeing the Doc and a bag of food for dogs with digestive issues, we spent what it would have cost us to board them and have the relaxing weekend we had hoped for.
Lessons we learned:
1. At least one human should always remain in a car containing both labs and groceries.
2. No matter how old she is, never trust Scarlett.
Four warm, fresh, bone-in fried chicken legs, $3.00; X-rays showing said legs in your dog’s stomach, $300.00; Life with labs, priceless!
I remember that story when it happened! Too funny! Hope y’all are well. Xoxoxo.