Sad, sad week at Hillbilly Hill.
Our dog Bagel, the smaller male dog, Hazel’s brother and best buddy, was killed Tuesday night by the neighbor’s pit bull.
That’s Bagel last spring. And in case there’s any doubt whose brother he is … here’s Hazel!
Tuesday night my kids were with Jay, and the rest of us were at Calen’s choir concert and then dinner, so we missed the attack. But we know which dog did it — the same big black pit bull with a red collar came over last Saturday and attacked Bagel in front of Chip, who chased it off with an ax, only to have it circle back and try to attack Chip. We’ve lived here six years and never had a problem with neighborhood dogs or fights until now; the chances some other random dog attacked Bagel seem negligible.
We didn’t see the dogs when we came home around 9:30 or 10, but they run in the woods a lot so that didn’t seem out of the ordinary. Then we awoke to Hazel whining loudly at 2 a.m. (out of character for her) so Chip went outside to check it out. Didn’t see Bagel and started to get worried.
He and the kids left before dawn in the morning so they weren’t able to go looking for him, but when I got up and looked out the window, I saw him lying in the leaves in the backyard. I pulled on my boots and coat and walked out to find a grisly, sad scene. The dog had mauled him to death. His worst wounds were in the exact place where the pit bull tried to attack him before.
I called Chip and then Animal Control, who have been understanding but can’t put the pit bull down because none of us witnessed the second attack. After suspecting that it lived down the street on the other side of the woods, we discovered that it lives right next door. Right next door. Animal Control came over again today because the people weren’t home the first time. I wish they could do something about it, but all they can is talk to the owners about keeping the dogs contained.
Anyway, we’re missing Bagel, Hazel more than anyone. She’s clearly grieving — it’s amazing the depth of emotion dogs can have. Bagel was a goofy dog and barked at every squirrel that ever dared set foot in our yard, which drove us crazy at 3 a.m., but he was also sweet and good-natured and loved getting attention when Hazel wasn’t hogging it. They were good together and played like puppies every day. They slept together curled up in their doggie apartment (the garage) or sprawled in the sunny yard. We know she misses him.
The kids have been sad but are handling it well. It helps that they’re old enough to understand what happened and ask questions. Chip buried bagel in the back yard by the woods, next to Sunny, his golden retriever who died of old age a few years ago. We’ll probably make Bagel a nice grave marker too, and plant flowers down there in spring.
Life lessons, right?
Update: Chip just talked to Animal Control – they took the black pit bull and a puppy pit bull that had been coming over here too. No one was home when AC got there, but the two dogs were running loose and the puppy was aggressive toward them. The black one had scars all over it like it had seen its share of fights. So they confiscated both dogs and they’re charging the people with animal neglect and something about owning a vicious animal.
If they want them back they have to go to court and Chip would have the opportunity to testify against them. They’re renters though, and the landlord (who knows about what happened) doesn’t want the dogs back on the property. If they don’t get the dogs back they will be put down. Sad all around, but at least we feel safer now about Hazel and the kids being outside.
