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Bad Doggie
      Ponk Vonsydow
        ponkvonsydow@gmail.com

Sixty-seven-year-old Wanda Harrison was inside her rundown trailer when her dog Gretchen came running through the doggie door and was foaming at the mouth! The dog began to growl and bark at Wanda and the old woman got scared. When Gretchen started nipping at Wanda, she panicked and ran down the hall as Gretchen chased after her. Fortunately, Wanda managed to make it to her bedroom and slammed the door shut, locking Gretchen out of the room. Wanda realized she was then stuck in her bedroom with a rabid dog just outside the door.  Luckily her cell phone was on its charger on the nightstand, so she was able to dial 911. Soon enough emergency personnel answered the line.

"911. What is the nature of your emergency?"

Wanda tried to stay calm.

"I need help! My dog Gretchen might have rabies because she's foaming at the mouth and she's inside my trailer and she chased me into my bedroom. I managed to get the door shut, locking Gretchen out in the hall, but now I'm trapped in here.  This is all my fault because I neglected to get Gretchen her rabies shot this year, and she's overdue! Now it's too late!"

The responder replied:

"Okay, Ma’am, please give me your name."

Wanda quickly answered: 

"Wanda Harrison."

The responder had a question and instructions.

"We show your address as 5145 Rustic Trail. Is that correct?"

Wanda knew it was.

"Correct."

The responder continued.

"Since you live outside city limits, I have notified the country sheriff, and I am notifying Madison County Animal Control. Emergency personnel will arrive at your location shortly. Is there anything else we can help you with?"

Wanda responded with a concern.

"Well, my front door is locked. Your men will have to break it down to get in to rescue me."

The responder replied:

"I'll notify the officer. Sit tight, remain calm, and wait inside your room until the officer arrives."

Officer Lindros soon arrived at the 5145 Rustic Trail address. He waited 15 minutes for the animal control man to get there. When Bob Green drove up and got out of his truck, the two men made introductions.  Lindros explained their situation.

"It's just as the woman told the dispatcher.  She is trapped in her bedroom and her front door is locked. Let's see if we can jimmy the lock or use a credit card.  If not I'll get the battering ram out of my cruiser, then we will pair-up to knock down the door."

Green added:

"Okay, but the rabid dog will hear the commotion and it will most likely run into the room by the front door where we'll be standing. Stay behind me with this can of animal repellant ready in your hand. Spray the dog in the face if it charges you. Meanwhile I'll be ready with my lasso and will get it around the dog's neck."

Lindros and Green ended up having to use the battering ram to break down the door. They both expected to hear a big rabid dog barking and to come running into the room where they stood, but when the two men saw Gretchen, they both laughed out loud.

Wanda Harrison's so-called big rabid dog was actually a tiny teacup Chihuahua! Green easily snared the little dog with his lasso and put Gretchen in a cage.  In the meantime, Wanda Harrison was let out of her bedroom by Officer Lindros. Soon, the three were standing in Wanda's living room. Lindros offered an obvious comment.  

"We weren't prepared for such a little dog, Ms. Harrison. We thought we would have a full size animal on our hands. I am surprised you were so afraid of her."

Wanda smiled.

"Gretchen can be very aggressive when she wants to be. Will she be okay?"

Officer Green answered.

"She'll be headed to a county vet who’s trained to deal with animals who are possibly infected. Gretchen will go through a battery of tests for rabies, and if she has it, she'll get a series of rabies shots and be quarantined until she's better. She may not actually have rabies though; some animals eat insects or get into something they are allergic to.  The vet will let you know."

Wanda was pleased.

"Thanks for coming to my rescue, you guys!”

It was then Officer Green noticed a torn open packet of Alka-Seltzer lying on the living room floor.  He was curious about it after he picked it up showing it to Officer Lindros.

"Ms. Harrison, did you recently take some Alka- Seltzer?"

Wanda replied:

"Why no, why do you ask?"

Green replied.

"See here what I have in my hand. It’s a torn open packet for an Alka-Seltzer. If you didn't just take some, there's a good chance your little dog ate the tablets and that's why he was foaming at the mouth!"

Wanda was relieved it was possible her dog didn't actually have rabies.

"Well that's a huge relief. So now we know what Gretchen’s troubles were about. She ate something she shouldn't have!" 

 Officer Green agreed but there was another matter.

"We'll still need to take her to our vet to make absolutely sure it's not rabies. That's standard protocol anytime someone reports a possible rabies infection. Here's the vet's card. You can pick up Gretchen tomorrow afternoon after they have her in observation for 24 hours."

Wanda was sad her little doggie had to go to the vet anyway.

"Very well I guess. Well, sorry I put you fellas to all this trouble."

Officer Lindros and Officer Green bid Wanda Harrison farewell. Outside, Green made a little joke.

"Wait till the boys in the office hear about today's big rabid dog that only turned out to be a little yip-yap ankle-biter that ate an Alka-Seltzer! 

Both men could only laugh. 
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