Oh, What A Run

This morning, well, this mid-morning, I took Brinkley on our daily run, which we have not been on in about 5 days, but today even my Under Armour couldn’t save me.  The disaster that was this morning’s run started slowly.  I took some Tylenol to numb my aching neck (which is much better by the way), then strapped the leash around my waist and started jogging.  About 1/4 of mile down the road we were approached by a dog off leash who ran directly behind us to smell Brinkley properly.  Not two seconds later another dog off leash approached.  A lady was calling them from across the street, but was trying to hold onto a Great Dane, so she we wasn’t very convincing.  Thankfully, they soon scurried back to her.  She yelled an apology, so I politely said, “It’s okay.”  However, Brinkley was now pulling me trying to follow them.  During this entire fiasco I never stopped running, so as I was trying to get her back on track I turned to look in front of me just in time to see a HUGE water puddle that covered the entire sidewalk, and before I could do anything about it I felt my foot land right in the middle of it.  Now, I am not a yeller or a curser, but when I do yell curse words are generally what come out.  In this moment I happened to yell.  It was like slow motion as the dreaded water seeped through my shoe and soaked my sock.  For a split second I thought about turning around, going home, changing socks and shoes and starting our run all over again.  But, I decided against it and we kept on chugging.  Big mistake!  After about another 1/4 mile another dog approached us off leash, well, sort of off leash.  He was dragging a rather large chain.  And this was not just any dog, this was Marley on steroids.  The gigantic black lab, who really looked more like a black American Bulldog went straight to Brinkley’s rear, but she was not having it.  She was fighting me tooth and nail to keep her face to his.  I couldn’t deal with him.  He was entirely too big and entirely too hyper.  We ran about 3 blocks trying to shake him, but finally I took his chain, tied him to a light pole and went on my way. 

When I was far enough away that Brinkley had stopped obsessing on his presence I called then Norman Animal Shelter.  I told them what happened.  The lady said, “You chained him to a light pole?”  I said “yes”, then answered the remaining questions and hung up.  I called back less than two seconds later and explained, “I didn’t go find a chain to tie this dog to a pole.  He was dragging a chain and I couldn’t handle him.”  She very unconvincingly replied, “I know”.  Then less than 60 seconds later she called me.  She said that they can’t pick up a contained dog, and that I would have to go and unchain the dog so that Animal Control could pick it up.  

So, my wet sock and I put Brinkley back on her leash and we headed that way.  Now, Brinkley is not usually on a leash during this part of our run because it’s a vacant field.  When I went to get her she walked to the middle of a mud puddled tire track and sat down.  Then once on the leash, being accustomed to freedom, she bolted toward the grass in an attempt to miss the street drain.  When she did she wrapped the short leash around a pole and before I even knew what was happening I was face planted on the ground.  I yelled again. 

When we got back to the massive dog I tied Brinkley to a pole and went to wait by him.  The dog weighs at least 100 pounds.  Brinkley weighs 60lbs and the top of her head comes to my mid thigh.  The top of this dog’s head came to my belly button, and he was solid muscle.  I had to wait about 10 minutes for animal control to get there, but when the guy finally came the first thing he said was, “Wow, that is a big’n.”  I unhooked the chain, gathered it up and handed it all to the animal man.  I said, “He’s really nice, I just couldn’t handle him.”  He mumbled thanks and took the dog.  I finally asked if that was all he needed from me.  He said yes and started trying to get the dog to jump onto the back of the truck.  The dog was not having it.  He tried to tear away and and the chain ended up cutting the guy’s hand.  I felt really bad for him, but I would be lying if I didn’t say that I felt a little bit justified for chaining him up and leaving him before calling animal control.  After this, Brinkley and I ran home.  I must say, in spite of everything.  I think it might have been our best run.  We probably ran a total of 3.5 miles by the time it was all said and done.  A record for me.

Just to give you an idea, I have posted this picture of our friend’s American Bulldog, Rufus.  He weighs about 25lbs more than I do, and as you can see he also sits as tall as me.  This dog was not quite as large as Rufus, but very close.  When I said he probably weighs about 100lbs I was not trying to exaggerate, I was trying to be conservative.

Better luck tomorrow, I hope.