[Dan Stryffeler]

I had a terrible experience a week ago Sunday... was over at the girlfriends apartment for an early dinner and we were just going out for some ice cream when we heard this dog howling in pain.

We went outside and the owner was sitting next to his 110lb Chocolate Lab - they had been playing fetch and the dog twisted his rear end somehow and had no use of his back legs... I have a hatchback so I voluntered to drive the dog to the vet if the owner could get him in the car - at this point the dog was in such pain that he bit the owner pretty badly when he tried to move him.

We found an emergency vet close by, but they could not send out somebody to sedate the dog, (the local pet warden was also unavailable as they are closed on Sundays), the vet suggested that they could lend us a muzzle for the dog and then we could get him in the car. We tried that and the owner got bit badly again. They also suggested trying to get a heavy blanket around the dogs head, but the dog thrashed around too much and was in too much pain.

They then suggested if the dog would take a treat, that we could get some pills from them, hide them in the treat and it would sedate the dog, although much slower than an injection. The dog would not eat... but the owner was finally able to get the muzzle on. Three of us got the dog onto a blanket and were able to get him in the car. The owner was bit again when he went to pat the dog on the head, (the muzzle left about a 1/2" opening at the front).

We get the dog to the vet, they throw a blanket over the dogs head and sedate him... after about 15 minutes, the dog is sleeping and they get him on a gurney for x-rays. I stuck around to give the owner a ride back home as I figured they would keep the dog overnight. Finally, they call him in... when he comes out he tells me that the dog has a ruptured disc and we are going to take him home. They gurney the dog out to the car, get him in and take off the muzzle!!!

Frankly, I don't know this guy and I don't know if he is telling the truth or not,(I thought the dog either broke his back or hips), but the reason I wrote this is that I look at my dog and wonder what would happen in a situation like this... the dog is in tremendous pain, would like to think that he wouldn't snap at me, but I don't have a muzzle - never thought I would need one, (and I hope I don't). But there doesn't seem to be any type of ambulance service for dogs, the police couldn't do anything, the warden and animal shelter were closed, and on and on... kinda scary.

The owner dragged this poor dog down the stairs to his basement apartment, and got bit again, a couple days later he put the dog down.

At first I felt sorry for the dog, then for the owner as he had no phone, car, etc. then later on I felt like calling the ASPCA and reporting him. The dog was also overweight, so I'm sure there was a lot of unnecessary weight on those hips, (he was only 8 years old). My dog went on a diet the next day.

Anyway, just wanted to get it off my chest and also warn about the biting - these dogs are fast and can inflict nasty wounds. It would be an awful way to end a relationship with a great friend, sorry...

- Dan