Fear of death / Diary of an expedition dog

Germany

Place:

Behringersdorf

Latitude N:

49°30’264”

Longitude E:
011°04’453′

Ajaci and friend Diego in their forest.

8:15 a.m., my friend Diego is standing in front of the door as if I had never been away. A little inhibited, I romp through the forest with him. I remember our experience together a few weeks ago. I call this day Black Friday. I thought I was going to die! It’s one of those 8:15 a.m. days. We romp through the forest together and suddenly I can’t breathe. Diego is attached to me and won’t let go. I get angry and want to bite at him so that he lets go of me. He also gets angry and snaps at me. I’m scared to death and realize my friend isn’t feeling any better. We are desperate and bite wildly. By the time I realize what has happened, I already have circles in my eyes and think I’m about to fall over. Diego got his lower jaw under my collar. It rolls over once, causing the neck strap to press my larynx into my throat and I can’t breathe at all. My buddy Diego is not doing much better. He hangs with his long tongue in the stranglehold of my collar. It can only take seconds before it not only twists off his tongue but also his jaw. He was so sick with fear, he told me later. As if by a miracle, we detach ourselves from each other and are dazed for a while. Our humans examine us and, “thank heavens” as they say, can’t find anything at first. We walk our usual route. Tanja keeps looking at me very closely all morning. Then asks Denis if he doesn’t notice that my eyes are bulging out a bit. “Yes, he does look a little strange”. At 12:00, Tanja grabs me and we drive straight to the vet. I know best the door to the outside and I don’t like being there. I have to admit at this point that I am helped quickly. A penicillin injection prevents further swelling of my eyes, relieves the pain and relaxes me. The same goes for my Tanja, who has been badly affected by the incident… Fortunately, that’s in the past and my friend Diego is doing well again. I caught him a little on the eye. But that has now healed again. Now we walk through the forest together and I’m happy to be able to spend time with my friend again…