This will be short, but I wanted to share it.
I have a friend, a co-worker by the name of Martha.
Her perpetual cheerfulness is contagions and we discuss everything from our families to our pets.
Childless in her early forties, her dog, Bronco, was the light of her life. I am not sure of his breed but he was a large dog and was only 4 or 5 years old
Last weekend, Martha was playing with Bronco. Tossing him a ball in the backyard as she often did when the most tragic thing happened.
The ball somehow got stuck in the dog’s throat. Martha tried to help him, breaking a finger and cutting up her hands as she struggled to dislodge the ball. Sadly, her beloved Bronco suffocated to death before her eyes.
She didn’t come to work all week and I’m not sure if I will see her tomorrow. She’s got her phone off and has not responded to text messages. I can only imagine the depth of her grief.
She developed a fever (infection?) and was in the hospital for a day or two for observation.
I feel like I knew that wonderful dog through all of the stories she told. I sent her a planter and a sympathy card. I told her to please remember that Bronco was a lucky dog to have been loved by her.
One person at work told me that after hearing about this, she went home and discarded all of the small balls that her dog played with.
I realize that this was what’s called a “freak” accident but if I had a dog (which I look forward to having when I retire) I would not have any small playthings for it.
I just wanted to give a warning to all of the many dog lovers here. Take an inventory of the playthings your pet has. Get rid of anything that is small enough to get stuck in their throats.
And please, send some good thoughts my friend’s way.