What a title for a blog post right?
Well before I get into that story let me share how my day went and thank all the women that came to my rescue.
We are in New Orleans visiting our daughter who is a student at Tulane University.
We started the morning with a run and ended up at our favorite breakfast spot, Mollie’s Rise and Shine. I didn’t bring my wallet but they take Apple Pay. But it didn’t work after trying multiple times. As I was about to give up, this nice young women who was eating her breakfast outside comes up to the counter, takes out her credit card and offers to buy us breakfast. I was so moved by her gesture. I ended up paying her back on Venmo and we were on way. Touched by kindness and our hot breakfast sandwiches in hand.
Later that afternoon we took a walk down Magazine Street. At one point my wife and daughter were a few blocks ahead of me as I was making some photographs. Shortly thereafter, I noticed a pit bull on a leash about 10 yards ahead of me. A few seconds later the dog leaps at me and escapes from the owners grasp of the leash. I suffered four bites, one was fairly deep before the owner was able to grab the leash again. I think the whole intense affair lasted less than sixty seconds.
I have never been attacked by a dog before. It was pretty scary. As I picked myself up and examined myself I could feel blood dripping from my leg, hip, hand and elbow. Two women came up to me right away to check on me. One of them had alcohol wipes and band aids. I thanked them for their kindness. The dog owner and his dog left the scene quickly without a word and before I could stand up.
My film camera took a beating when I fell but my phone still worked. I called my wife who found my location a few minutes later and helped me clean up my wounds and stop the bleeding. As we were about to get into the car another women came up to me with my AirPods that dropped during the whole encounter. Her mom took photos of the whole thing and offered them to me. I think I was was still in shock so I just said thanks so much for the AirPods but I politely declined the photos. I guess I didn’t want to relive the experience although I wish I had in retrospect. I would feel horrible if that dog bites another person, or god forbid a child.
We went to the emergency room and was treated by a doctor and nurse. Thankfully I didn’t need stitches but discovered another bite. I left with a tetanus shot and an antibiotic prescription.
My wife brought me back to our airbnb and I found myself reflecting on my day. While my wounds still hurt, and my mind has reoccurring flashes of the dog attack — I feel immense gratitude to all eight women that helped me yesterday.
I also feel so lucky. It could have been way worse.
Wow, scary Bijan. Glad you are OK considering. That could have gone another way.
Thanks. Yeah it could have been so much worse
About 10 years ago, I did some dog walking gig for neighbors, since I have an enormous affection for all animals. One day a Mastif dog I was going to walk forgot about knowing me and cornered me with deafening barks into my face. I sneakingly reached for the leash, and all of a sudden he was like a puppy. This encounter left me with a PTSD that completely scrambled my hormone activity and my Hypothyroidism became a Hyperthyroidism in one day. I kept getting panic attacks and it took me few years to recover. I just wanted to say although you experienced the horror and the trauma, but I’m glad you did not experience what I had, since I lived through panic attacks for at least couple of years. Thank you for your wonderful stories
* Glad it was not worse.
* Hope the recovery is quick and full!
* Disgusting that the owner left the scene. Brutal.
* But I’m glad you are choosing to focus on those that helped.
* Women! 💪
I wish I had the ability at the time to stop the owner. I really hope that dog doesn’t attack someone else
Definitely. Very worrying. Someone else could be a small child :(