How to know when it is time to stop driving.
Posted on 08/31/2011 1:58:38 PM PDT by null and void
JUNEAU, Alaska — Black bears in residential neighborhoods aren’t exactly unheard of in Juneau. While many people stay inside when bears are about, one local woman says she had a different instinct when she saw her dog was in trouble.
It started out as a typical evening for 22-year-old Brooke Collins. She let her dogs out as usual but this time, she said there was a black bear outside who took hold of her dachshund Fudge. She said she feared for her pet’s life and, in an instant, ran over and punched the bear right in the face to make it let go.
"It was all so fast. All I could think about was my dog was going to die," said Collins.
"It was a stupid thing but I couldn’t help it," she said. "I know you’re not supposed to do that but I didn’t want my dog to be killed."
Collins said she didn’t see the bear outside when she let the dogs out around 7:30 p.m. Sunday. She said Fudge just darted out and the barking could be heard almost instantly. She said that barking was "the most horrible sound in the world."
Collins said when she looked outside she saw a bear was crouching down with Fudge in its paws and was biting the back of the dog’s neck.
"That bear was carrying her like a salmon," she said. She said she almost instinctively went up and did the first thing she thought of. She punched the bear’s face and scooped away her dog when it let go.
It all happened too fast to really think about but she had flashes of hearing about how some animals will back off from a punch to the nose, she said.
She said her boyfriend Regan O’Toole came out upon hearing the screaming. O’Toole said the bear already looked startled from being punched at that point. He said the animal went down the driveway and into the bushes to the mountain as he ran toward it.
Her dog suffered some claw and bite marks but they weren’t deep so she said she decided not to take Fudge to the vet. She said the dog appeared to be more shocked than injured. She said she will get Fudge checked out if they appear infected.
Collins said she’s very close to her dogs, which is why she reacted this way. She said after this experience, however, she’ll keep a closer eye on them outside, as she fears an encounter with her other canine, a Pomeranian named Toki.
Collins lives in a neighborhood tucked up against Mount Juneau. She said black bear sightings are a regular occurrence there. She believes this same one has been around her house many times and is not afraid of people.
She said if this is that bear, it’s definitely used to people and keeps coming back and may even know what days the trash will be out. She said she’s even followed it to take pictures before.
O’Toole said he’s seen five bears in the area this year, including a sow with two cubs.
"We haven’t had any attacks over the years and they’re around all the time," he said.
Collins said one scary thing in hindsight was the bear’s size, which she said was very large even when it was crouching. O’Toole said it was definitely a large one.
Collins said the whole experience of a physical encounter shook her up, calling the whole thing an eye-opener. She said she’ll be taking a lot more caution from now on and definitely won’t be approaching neighborhood bears.
"It’s definitely changed my opinion because I never thought one would attack my dog," she said. "I wasn’t in my right mind at the moment but I would never think of doing it again."
How to know when it is time to stop driving.
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Clever.
Back from library, Walmart is next.
I wanna go! I’ve been good! I even cleaned my room!
Only Tom and Frank got to go. Later we had a few families from the homeschool association over for prayers and mayhem. Looked like about 15 children in addition to mine, but they were moving around pretty fast, so it might have been fewer. Ash was thrilled by all the attention and people dropping food.
When DP and Bill get back from the gym, they can make supper.
After our days, and the fall of man
One day this will heal again
Beasts crawl forth over desert clay
And mankind will be nature's prey
Ruined towns break forth in vines;
Trees, leaves, fleet combine
Humankind will have lost its sway--
The world again will be theirs one day!
Ooh-ee-eh ooh ah
Skeletons of rust reach for the sky
Ruined empires of days gone by
Dreams of lives buried in the sand
The end of days will have been long planned
Our children's children have passed away
Their auspicious lives lost in the fray
Carrion birds are all at play--
The world again will be theirs one day!
Ooh-ee-eh ooh ah
Nomadic tribes of the last of man
Pull their caravans across the sand
Gypsy wives hold their children tight
As the new superpower howls through the night
Gods watch from above and wonder what went wrong
The entropy of what once was strong
Now the survivors of man stay up late to pray
That the world will again be theirs one day!
Now THAT sounds like a really fun day! (To me...)
It was, other than the trip to Walmart, which featured discouraging Tom from selecting every possible dessert item. (And not a bit is left, either!)
Two of the ladies who came this afternoon were people I don’t remember meeting, so that was fun.
The girls are going to a birthday party/sleepover tomorrow evening, and Tom is going to Bingo at St. John’s with the Youth. I got him a ride there and back, so I can Recline from about 6:00!
Oooohhh! that sounds MUCH better! Good for you! And hoist a glass for me. I'm on the wagon until Monday. *sigh*
I have Pink Drink.
Off to figure out where Frank is, and then cut up some potatoes.
The city is putting a slurry seal on the streets that lead into this place, but most residents don’t realize they are city-owned streets; they look like driveways into any complex. So some of them played Musical Cars. I’m sure there were a lot of tows...
I can still hear the heavy equipment out there. (I miss my Ms. Daisy...)
DP and Bill just got home from the gym. I don’t know why Bill is playing the guitar instead of taking a shower, or putting his clothes in the wash and coming down to help with supper. Oh, well.
Nice afternoon here. It got a little warm, but the temperature is down to 75 now.
We’re actually headed into Fall. Next week, we will have days in the 80’s and nights in the 60’s...ohmy!
Who can figure the mind of a 17 year old?
Now it’s 73 ;-). We’re supposed to get some daytime temps in the 60s in the next few days. I hope we do!
Mom says they’re getting some days under 90 in Florida!
Hidey-ho, Neighbors!
It’s break time at the Conference, so I’m taking a few minutes to see wassup.
During this intermission, they are doing a segment on the Church Welfare System, which was started in 1936. It’s an interesting story!
I’ll see you in a few more hours.
Reminds me of a joke, but I'll tell you about it later.
LOL! Deal!
Glad you’re having fun. I’ve been outside with the byos a good part of the day. Now the girls are off to a birthday party and Tom to bingo ... and the byos have vanished, which is bad.
Temperature is in the 50s now. It should be nice for sleeping tonight.
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