#2485 walks with Mac

Today is cold. The temperature this evening is in the low 30s, with a wind blowing out of the west that makes the temperature feel about 10 degrees colder. I decided to take Mac on a quick walk through the neighborhood. I was bundled up, so I was warm, except for my face.

We were walking south toward the last cul de sac in the neighborhood, after having gone around the block and around the first cul de sac. Mac was stopping to smell everything and I was getting a little impatient from all the stops since it was so cold. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a little golden retriever came running over to us, snarling and barking and looking like it wanted to rip Mac's face off. I was holding onto Mac's leash and yelling for the dog to go home. A teenage boy, without shoes or a coat, came running over to get the dog. He said he had been carrying in groceries and the dog had run out of the house. He kept saying how sorry he was as he tried to tackle his dog and I tried to keep Mac away.

The golden headed to the cul de sac we had just walked around and the boy took off after it. Mac and I started walking quickly to the last cul de sac, trying to put distance between the dog's house and us. We didn't get very far before the dog came running back to us, the boy following and yelling at his dog, me yelling at my dog. Our yelling was not conducive to calming the dogs, I realize now, but adrenaline was flowing and my heart rate was elevated. Suddenly Mac stopped, backed up and slipped right out of her collar. I yelled some more. Mac went running over to the golden, hackles raised and tail wagging. The golden was snarling and lunging. The next thing I knew, Mac was on her back and the golden was sniffing Mac's hoo-hoo.

Did I mention Mac is in heat? Yeah.

When the golden began the sniffing, Mac starting howling like she was being stabbed. Fortunately, since Mac was laying down, I was able to get a good grip on her. The boy was able to get a good grip on his dog, too, and pulled it away back to their house. I got Mac's collar back on and managed to get her back up and resumed our walk. We were about as far from our house as we could be in our neighborhood, but we got home pretty quick.

The good news is that the rest of the walk was uneventful. My heart rate returned to normal. Mac doesn't seem to be too traumatized, although she did give a serious side eye to the golden's house. 

Never a dull moment with this pupper.