Louie tried to commit suicide!!!

[Jaime&Louie]

A scary thing happened to us on Sunday. I was taking Louie up the canyon for a rollerblade. I have to cross a bridge that goes over a river to get to the bike trail. Well, we're moving along, and the next thing I know, Louie JUMPED over the cement guard rail, and into the river. It's about a 15-20 foot drop. I know he didn't know that the river was down there. He was on his retractable leash, and I didn't have it locked up (who would think he would jump off the bridge?), so I couldn't stop him. Luckily, he was wearing his gentle leader, and the leash snapped. Otherwise, I'm sure he would have hung himself. Anyway, he lands in the freezing, rushing river. I ran down the hill, and threw my rollerblades off, and jumped in after him. I caught him just in the nick of time before the river swept him down stream.
I thought my little guy was a gonner!!! It's a good thing I can lift all 65 pounds of him, or else we both would have been sent down stream. Thank GOD he's alive!

 

[ljnash]

:eek: :eek: :eek:
OMG!! What a frightening thing to have happen to both you and Louie!! I'm so glad both of you are okay!

Your quick thinking saved him!

 

[Silverstar]

That is such a scary story! My mouth was dropped the whole time reading it. Poor baby. I'm glad he is ok.

 

[bustermom]

Holy cow! Poor Louie!! That's quite enough exercise for one day, young man! An unexpected swim and giving mom a heart attack like that!

Glad all is well, although he's probably going to have quite a crick in his neck from when the leash hit its limit and snapped - ouch! I bet you've just now come down off your adrenaline rush - I'd probably still be shaking... :o

 

[Jaime&Louie]

Yes, I had quite the adrenaline rush, that is for sure. Not to mention..... after I took him home, I still wanted to rollerblade. So, I went back up the canyon, and I got FLASHED by some naked guy. Twice!!! Boy, what a day....

 

[LeedsDevil]

I'm sure that this thought has occured to you and maybe others since this happened. But I am very much against those retractable leashes. They are not as dependable as a regular leash and can allow an animal to much freedom at the wrong time. Many of them are also not designed for a larger breed such as our Boxer's and can't take a sudden burst of speed even if the lock is in place and working.

I live near Philly and drive into town almost every day. I can't tell you how many times I see dogs running across the street 15'-20' in FRONT of the owner and almost get hit by cars turning the corner.

I don't have a fenced yard and have to walk Cookie on a leash at all times, but I have a 20' training lead that I use. It is stonger then a "flexi" lead and if I want her close to me all I do is hold it closer to her, but it also allows her enough room when appropriate to run and explore the bushes. Perhaps I'm just a worry wart, but she is my baby and I don't want anything to happen to her!

 

[adeinert]

They say the way someone attempts suicide tells a lot about them. My Jilly had an attempt a year ago Valentine's Day. She got up on the counter while I was in the other room, grabbed a present, ripped it open, and ate as many chocolate kisses as she could in a few minutes. It was a horrible experience! I had no idea chocolate was in the gift and had a moment of panic also. After some hydrogen peroxide the chocolate was no longer a threat and Jilly was a bit worse for the wear.

It's funny that you refered to it that way because we always refer to it as her suicide attempt also!

Glad your baby had angels watching over him also!
Ashlie

 

[Nicole510]

Yikes!! The path I walk also has a bridge with a river underneath it and have often thought 'what if they jump'. I guess I just figured it's in their nature not to. Guess I figured wrong!!

So was the naked guy hot? LOL!!

 

[LeedsDevil]

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origanly posted by Jaime&Louie--

He was on his retractable leash, and I didn't have it locked up (who would think he would jump off the bridge?), so I couldn't stop him. Luckily, he was wearing his gentle leader, and the leash snapped.
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origanly posted by Mike99TA--

In this case it was VERY good she had a retractable leash else her dog would have been hung (or her arm would have been snapped off) when the Louie reached the end of his leash on the way down

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My point was that if the leash had been shorter or the dog held closer this would not have happened. Also if it had been able to leap over the wall on a regular leash just letting it go could have prevented an accidental hanging.Also a leash hanging behind the dog could have helped to "fish" him out of the water.

I also want to state that this is "My Opinion" and not necessarily one shared by all persons

 

[Rowdy's Dad]

I would invest in a harness. That way, if he takes another dive, you can haul him back up without choking him.