A Near Disaster Yesterday Whilst Walking The Dogs.

[mally]

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I was walking my dogs on there usual walk yesterday down the side of the chesterfield canal on land i have permission on. Vixen was on the lead with a coat on, Fern was off the lead walking to heal (as she always does) and Mojito was also off the lead walking at my side nibbling on ferns ears as she always does. Everything was fine and i noticed a lady walking along the towpath on the other side of the canal walking towards us. She was walking a boxer. When we got level i heard her calling puppy and obviously thought she was shouting her puppy... She wasn't, she was shouting Mojito i turned around to see Mojito half way across the canal and the stupid woman was still shouting her!!!!. I shouted to the woman to shut up. Mojito took one more step and fell through the ice. I just threw my jacket on the floor and went straight in to get her.

As soon as i entered the water it was a massive shock how cold it was, i broke the ice with my stick and got to Mojito in what seemed like seconds, she was struggling to get back on the ice. On my way back i thought my heart was going to burst through my chest it was beating that fast. I got out and shouted to the woman who was now crying what she thought she was doing shouting my pup across the ice. She said her dog was walking on it yesterday and she thought it would be ok. I told the woman to get out of my sight or i wouldnt be responsible for my actions.. I was absolutely fuming. I took the jacket off vixen and put it on mojito i also wraped my dry jacket around her, put her over my shoulder and began jogging the mile back to the car. I was absoulutely frozen to the bone, the water had come up to my ribs. On the way back to the car i had to stop a couple of times as the pain was too bad. When i got back to the car i dried mojito the best i could with an old towel i keep in the car. I drove the 3 miles back home put, vix and fern in the run and put mojito in her cage next to the radiator and gave her a warm feed. I got changed and sat down with a cup of coffee. Then it hit me how stupid i had been. Even though i knew the canal wasn't deep, i shouldn't have gone in to save Mojito. It was very selfish of me. I know if i hadn't have gone in Mojito would have certainly died she would never have got out of the canal on her own.

Fortunately Mojito is fine this morning, but it looks like i've caught a chill.. It's knocked me for six to be honest, i was in shock last night and couldn't think about anything else.

I just wanted to put this up to highlight the dangers, i've been on the same walk for the past week without any of my dogs going anywhere near the canal. They do as there told, however it just goes to show how easy it is for disasters to strike. I don't know what that stupid woman was thinking i know her actions could have well cost me my life as well as my dog

 

[J.T.]

What on earth was she thinking of :blink:

So glad it all ended well. We were just talking about this yesterday, I said it would be impossible to just stand by & watch your dog if it was in difficulty & other people said they wouldn't even try to save their dog

I hope you've thawed out a bit by now & have got over the shock

 

[FeeFee]

What a horrible incident, I'm really glad you and Mojito are both OK (ish), but it could so easily have been a tragedy.

Please take care, apart from the physical effects of being plunged into icy water an incident like this is a horrible shock, you and your dog were both in real danger, all the 'what ifs' are bound to prey on your mind :huggles:

I just can't believe anyone would be so stupid as to encourage a dog to walk across a frozen canal, I have absolutely no words for the stupid b**** :rant:

 

[jinnyfizz]

Mally, I am absolutely horrified at what has happened

I would have done the same, you don't stop to think when a child or animal's life is at risk, so I find what you did perfectly normal.

Thank God you and Mojito are safe and sound (even if you are a little chilled) :sweating:

Just a word on the woman with the boxer ........... she shouldn't be calling other people's dogs whatever the weather conditions!!!! Words fail me :rant:

 

[boothros]

What on earth was she thinking of :blink: So glad it all ended well. We were just talking about this yesterday, I said it would be impossible to just stand by & watch your dog if it was in difficulty & other people said they wouldn't even try to save their dog

Totally agree, if I was walking my two and one went under the ice I would go after it EVEN THOUGH if I drowned it might mean the other might wander off and be run over and killed. I think in this instance of extreme panic, you just CAN'T think, you just act on pure adrenaline and instinct. I totally applaud your bravery and success Mally though I expect you think that bravery didn't really come into it, you did what you had to do at the time. I expect the shock may well last for a few days. I recommend a few well earned hot toddies

 

[Eleanor Gibbins]

It is all very well knowing what common sense says you should or should not do - I know I could not stand by and watch my dog drown - or one of my children or grandchildren for that matter.

Thank goodness you and Mojito came through the ordeal OK. Try not to dwell on the 'what ifs', and just be grateful for a lucky escape.

 

[pepa]

I carnt say how brave I think you are.

hope you are feeling better soon and ther are no ill affects with mojito after this horific incident.

 

[oakmoorehill]

Glad to hear you are both OK what a stupid woman what on earth did she think she was doing calling your dog across the ice.

I think I would have done the same. I was talking to a friend the other day and she said her dog was walking on the cannel when it was frozen. I told her to keep hm off.

I know of a person whose dog drowned when it ran onto a frozen cannel chasing a squirrel. Unfortunalety it went under the ice before anyone could save it it drowned. Since then I always keep my dogs well away from water in the weather we have been having.

 

[mally]

Thanks for your comments, as you have said i did what i had to do. I never actually thought twice about going into the water. I know i was quite stupid in doing so and things could well have ended in tragedy but thankfully they didn't.

My dogs mean the world to me, and they give me alot of pleasure watching them work. anyone who cares about there dogs would have done exactly the same...

I have ended up with a chest infection though, i was due to be picking up on a shoot with fern tomorrow but i've had to cancel. (it's the first time i've let the Gamekeeper down in 3 years and i feel dreadful for doing so) However i know it would make me worse if i went. So i'm going to stay at home and try and get better for the weekend when hopefully i will be out ferreting with Vixen.

 

[haycroft]

So glad that both you and little Mo ares ok...could of been alot worse, or fatel

Theres some stupid folk out there...hope this has taught that women a lesson..keeping her month shut!!

i stay clear away from canals and any other waters, as some dogs just dont see the dangers esp when on search for prey and like Bow and when i had peggy, they loved water

Peggy fell in a pond when she was a wee pup but that certainly didnt stop her from loving the water

on twf another owner had experiance the same as you, when her older whippy had gone on the frozen ice and fell in and it was the OH who went in and saved him, the whippy had to go the vets for treatment but both are fine now

give Mo cuddle from us lot

 

[wilfred]

I'm so glad you and Mo survived, there could have been a very different outcome and I can completely understand that you would want to save your puppy, that being your first thought. Very very lucky it all ended well but what a shock for you and an awful experience.

Do you know, it would never have occurred to me that anyone could do what that woman did (call your pup, to HER, across the ice) - I'm not sure what goes through some people's minds.

Very glad you are both now OK.