Close Encounters

The best thing to come out of 6 months of therapy last year, was my firm and unapologetic stance on the need for an expert security escort when I travel into Detroit for work. More than once I've felt silly for having one of those guys accompany me, but if I don't take them, and something bad happens, I can't take it back. In my mind, I'm better off safe, than sorry. I've long since stopped feeling guilt about the added expense to my employer. This is the cost of providing service to the poor and unfortunately goes with the territory.

Tonight I had just such an encounter that made me thankful my driver was with me. We pulled up to the house that's in a high crime area of town and shares an alley with an apartment building with multiple residences. As I was about to enter the dwelling, my driver pushed the door shut and said, "look down." There was a large, and recently mauled Pitbull in the house. The dog hadn't barked when we knocked. She just was. There. We had the family lock her up and then went indoors.

About half way through my visit, the family let the dog back indoors. While her presence made me nervous, she pretty much ignored us, and I felt sorry for her. Her teats were hanging low and her back was swayed as though she'd had to endure one too many litters at way too young an age. She had suspicious lacerations all over her body and I think I know why. I've no doubt in my mind that not only is this dog expected to breed, she's expected to fight. Annoyed, I couldn't wait to leave this house of canine torture.

As we made our way out the door, down the stairs and were about half way to the car, four men standing across the street in the alley yelled at us, "watch the dog, watch the dog!" From the corner of my eye, I caught movement and stopped dead in my tracks. My driver, needing to free his hands, shoved my briefcase back into mine, and pushed me gently toward the car, one hand on his hip while the dog followed. He was going to shoot that dog if need be. At that moment, with us moving slowly toward the car, the group of men across the street decided to make a run for it, and the dog, sensing greater sport from them, gave chase. I've never seen grown men scale fences so fast and efficiently.

The dog, a massive Pitbull with no collar, was the largest dog of that breed that I've ever seen. Slightly shorter than my Leo, this dog had to weigh twice as much, a good 140 pounds, and he was incredibly aggressive. I was so thankful to have someone who had my back and grateful he didn't have to shoot that dog, though I wouldn't have faulted him if he had.

Now that I'm home, and my hands have stopped shaking, I'm even more resolved to take an escort with me at all times. This is the second such wild dog related incident this week for our little hospice agency and in pretty much the same area of town.

I have a feeling it's going to be a long week.