Smokey and his new silver cheek. Our vet stapled Smokey back together: his cheek and upper jaw were mended and several more staples were used to patch up his throat after a couple of attack dogs wandered into our yard on Friday. Read on, in today's story column just below.
une plaie (play) noun, feminine
: wound
une plaie béante = open/gaping/wide open wound
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Please help translate the following quote (in the comments box). Merci!
Le trafic de faux médicaments dans les pays en voie de développement est une plaie béante planétaire. –Bloob
A Day in a French Life… by Kristin Espinasse
(Dear Friends, I will spare you of unnecessary heartbreak and share with you, now, the bright ending to today's story: our puppy is home, safe, and recuperating. As the veterinarian said, on Friday, "normalement, il doit s'en sortir." ("It looks like he's going to make it.")
* * *
It feels as if weeks have passed since the accident; in reality, only three days ago our puppy was mauled by two attack dogs.
It happened on Friday, just before five in the afternoon. I was on my way out the door when Jean-Marc called down, from his office upstairs.
"Fais rentrer Braise et Smokey avant de partir*…." he said. My brain processed the bits of information: Braise, Smokey… outside? I had not realized our dogs were déhors.*
We had had an unexpected visit from a friend, just minutes before… the dogs must have slipped out then. During the brief moment of inattention, Mother dog and son wandered over to the edge of the property, where two stocky chiens* were roaming — having escaped, we would later learn, from their fenced yard some five kilometers away….
I had been upstairs folding clothes when I heard the excited aboiements*… which I thought to be coming from the field, where hunting season is underway; of the barking, I remember thinking: "les chiens de chasse ont dû trouver leur proie".*
Little did I know that the prey was our two-month old golden retriever and that these were not the hunters' dogs.
Just as soon as Jean-Marc had spoken, I ran out the door, calling after our dogs.
Braise! Smokey! B R A I S E: il est où Smokey?!*
I quickly ran over to the field and saw Braise excitedly pacing back and forth, barking and crying. I followed her over to the edge of our property, to where the land drops off a few feet — level with the brook below. That is when my eyes locked on our lifeless pup.
I automatically turned away, horrified, having seen our young dog lying on his side, stiff as death.
"Il est mort!"* I screamed, seeing blood streaming.
Innocence Downed
Our playful puppy had been brought down by something savage. Was it the pack of dogs that I had heard earlier? Or was it a hunter's bullet? Could a wild boar or a renard* have attacked? What — or who — did this to our sweet puppy?
I ran toward the house screaming for my husband, but the Mistral wind muffled my cries.
Not long after, Jean-Marc, having heard shouting, was by my side.
"Qu'est-ce qui se passe! Il est où?! Il est où Smokey?!"*
"Il est mort!"*
I pointed to the edge of the property line and Jean-Marc took off, following les taches de sang* which began at the end of our arrière-cour.*
"Non!" He shouted, on seeing our pup. "Ce n'est pas possible. Ce n'est pas possible!"*
I watched, heartsick and immobile, as Jean-Marc reached down to collect our puppy off the ground.
"I can't look. I don't want to see!" I said as my husband approached.
"Il est toujours vivant!"* Jean-Marc said — for at that very moment… a soft beating could be felt from within the little furry body that hung in my husband's arms.
At that point I could bring myself to look… beyond the crimson jaw and neck where the dogs had aimed to kill.
Smokey's tongue hung from the side of his mouth, which was full of fresh blood. Along with his tongue, he was entirely immobile…
…except, we soon discovered, for his lovely chocolate brown eyes, which followed, calmly, the figures hovering above him. Smokey's chocolate eyes looked left, then right. As he lay cradled in solid arms, there, above him, two frightened faces released tears of hope as they looked down at their lucky dog.
* * *
Read an update of the story, here. More updates continue in the archives.
Comments & messages to Smokey welcome. Our puppy loves to hear our voices read your messages. It does seem to comfort him! Meantime, I'll continue to sing him Amazing Grace… "that saved *an amazing dog* like me!" (he loves that one too!)
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My thoughts are with you Kristin and hope for a complete recovery for poor, little Smokey. What a traumatic experience it must have been for the little guy, and you also. Keep us posted, we are pulling for you.
Ah, Smokey, Smokey, I’m so glad you are still with us! I know the little guy is resilient, Kristin. My good thoughts go out to you all as you heal from this scary episode. Thank goodness for the happy ending. You just go on singing to that Lucky Fella – I’m humming along with you! Amazing Grace…
Dearest, sweetest Smokey,
What you have been through, I can’t even imagine. You are very brave and strong. If you weren’t, we would not still have you here with us. Please rest and heal. Your mother, your family and your friends want to see you back on your paws real soon. Even though this event will haunt you, remember that the world has much more love in it than hate. Most of that love goes out to you and your family today.
Without researching a translation for:
“Le trafic de faux médicaments dans les pays en voie de développement est une plaie béante planétaire.”
I’d guess it says:
“The traffic of false medicine in the country (countries?) shows the development of a wound that is out of this world.”
Dear Smokey and family,
You poor sweet thing. Just about two weeks ago when we were there, I cuddled one of your sisters. I am sending you a big cuddle too. You are a brave little boy and your loving mother (canine and human) will nurse you back to health. I am looking forward to pictures of you romping through the vineyards.
I am so happy to hear that Smokey is on the road to recovery. He’s a tough little guy with a big heart and you were fortunate to have a vet that is taking such good care of him. With your love, in time, I know Smokey will get over this traumatic experience.
Renée Lerner
Poor Smokey, hang in there, guy. We need you in this world.
This brought bad the terrible memories of losing pet rabbits to dogs running loose and to a wild raccoon. They didn’t make it, but you will, Smokey!
Thank you, everyone, for your warmth and kind words! Smokey is sleeping (under our bed) at the moment, but when he wakes up I will give him his messages!
Bill: you mentionned losing pet rabbits to dogs. This was one of my first thoughts: that the hunters, or dogs, took him for a rabbit (he is so fluffy — and currently the same size!). Like you, I’ve had the misfortune and shock of finding a pet rabbit dead in the back yard. Smokey, when I found him, looked the same. This is why I feared the worst.
When I read the news this morning I was deeply saddened. An innocent pup against such a horror…. Goldens are loving and trusting dogs, and I hope that will not lessen his trust for other dogs. And, poor Briese…watching that all unfold. My sister just had to put her Golden Boy Boomer to rest last night. He was such a great soul…..So sad today for losing him….but, so happy for Smokey to be so very fortunate.
Wishing Smokey a speedy and thorough recovery…
Warmest Regards,
Marianne Giordano
Thank goodness he is ok:)
I’m so sorry to hear about Smokey and the trauma your family experienced. I am so glad that he’s doing much better and as another dog lover, Cinnamon, my 3 year old Pembroke Welsh Corgi and I wish Smokey all the best with his recovery.
Oh, little Smokey! I’m so sorry you had to go through what you have. I am a dog lover and your kind (golden) is my favorite of all! 🙂 I hope that God’s gracious hand will heal your sweet little face and that this will just make you even stronger!
I just lost my baby girl, Daisy, (also a golden) in June and I can’t even express how bad my heart still hurts. I really enjoy receiving the word-of-the-day, and especially now since I get to see yours and your mommy’s sweet faces! 🙂 Many blessings to you and your family!
Adrienne from Indiana
My Darling Kristi & all of her friends at FWAD,
I received “the phone call” from Kristi a couple of days ago when this unfortunate accident happened. Kristi was the child that never opened her heart to animals, when we had our little orphan dog Benji I believe Kristi was jealous because he was always on my lap. I remember only a few years ago when I was visiting that I approached Kristi about letting the kids have a dog – Max must have been around eleven at the time and Max and I would secretly plan our strategy (sp?) each night on how to overcome Kristi’s resistance. I used guilt, “How could you let a boy grow up and not know the companionship of having a dog for a best friend.” As you all know we won the battle and shortly after I left that autumn Braise came into their lives. Kristi soon experienced the joy of unconditional love that dogs are famous for, and her heart began to open. The lessons learned on Kristi’s journey have enriched all of us, this has been a difficult time for Kristi. When she told me she was lying in bed with Smokey on her chest singing “Amazing Grace” to him … I was instantly with her in my heart. How brave of you Kristi to open your intermost thoughts and feelings to all of us, to let us share in your true circumstances as life touches you in all of it’s greatness.
As always, I am so proud of you…
XOXO
MOM – Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
What brutes! How dreadful for you all! But a secret revealed: Dogs have nine lives, too. They don’t know it because the cats, sly things, won’t tell. But I heard my two felines whispering this very thing the other day when they thought no one was listening:-)
I am happy that Smokey is ok. I lost a kitty to a pack of dogs, I was heartbroken.
My heart goes out to little Smokey, such sweet playfulness and tail-wagging innocence brought down by an unprovoked attack. It’s very sad indeed that he came to experience such horror, albeit brief, in his tender little life. Not to mention the heart-crushing sadness this must have been for you and your family.
1000 healing kisses for the little bundle, I hope that he pulls through okay.
And lastly, if the dogs that made the attack are not classed as Category 1 then I would be interested to know what breed they are, juste pour savoir.
Warm wishes.
What a relief Smokey is okay and recovering!!! He’s such a cute little guy. I’m sure he’ll be as right as rain sooner than you know it!
Smokey – I’m sending you all sorts of loving vibes and a gentle pat on the head from across the ocean. 🙂 Get better soon! 🙂
Everyone has already, so eloquently said what is in my heart. Jules inspirational LOVE story is so dear. As mother’s, (yes – even to puppies & kitties it seems), we are a nurturing group. Braise, especially knows what to do and when to do it. So obviously do you Kristin. Sweet Smokey is healing in every way! And quickly. God bless! Hugs and kisses all around.
The important thing is il doit s’en sortir! He will, I am sure. : ) Please don’t forget to keep us posted of his progress. We’ll love to see pictures of him as he gets better.
As for the translation, here is my try:
The trafficking of fake medicine in developing countries is an open wound for the world.
I am typing through tears. So glad the puppy prognosis is good. I’ll just add my sincere but slightly off key voice to the chorus of Amazing Grace for Smokey. And just as an aside how do you hide those great big antibiotic pills for a French puppy to swallow? Our goldens have liked them in bread and peanut butter, but rumour has it that PB isn’t such a common commodity there. Best wishes to you all,
Bev
Oh Kristin, what a frightening experience. As a member of a Greyhound rescue group (with 2 greyhounds of our own) we periodically hear about an attack upon greys on our Group Chatboard. Greyhounds by nature are very docile, skittish & thin skinned and, although large in size, they are easy prey for more agressive dogs. Your mother, as always, is correct, tho. My mother-in-law has frequently reminded us over the years that ‘dogs are animals, after all’and “do not think like us” no matter how well we think we understand their motivations. I am so glad to hear the happy ending to little Smokey’s story and will send up a little prayer to St. Francis that he continues to improve and is safe from harm. Our loving bisous to Smokey!
I am so glad to hear Smokey is OK now. Wishing him lots of love and a speedy recovery.
Elizabeth
When I first started to read this, tears were instantly forming, but then I remembered the picture of Smokey’s silver patch from the staples. I read on through those tears. Everyone has already, so eloquently said what is in my heart. Jules inspirational LOVE story is so dear. As mother’s, (yes – even to puppies & kittiens it seems), we are a nurturing group. Braise, especially knows what to do and when to do it. So obviously do you Kristin. Sweet Smokey is healing in every way! And quickly. God bless! Hugs and kisses all around.
Dear Kristin,
Please smother sweet little Smokey in slobbery kisses for me. Love heals all and he has no shortage of that – in him or embracing him.
xox Jeanne LaCasse
Dearest Smokey and Braise,
I know that the attack will add to your list of instinctual threats you will now always be concerned about.
However, the pain really does go away since you have a family, like I do, that loves you and gives you lots of kisses, hugs, and snuggles.
Wishing a quick recovery and lots of good play and runs,
Dixie (I was rescued as a wandering puppy 2 weeks after Katrina in New Orleans)
Querida Kristi,
Now I want to double thank you for answering my email in the middle of all this situation… OMG! What a terrible feeling! But I am happy we are looking at a happy end. What a brave puppy Smokey is!
Sending healing thoughts to Smokey and all of your family to recover from such an intense experience.
Besitos,
Andrea
Oh, Kristi, how frightening! I’m so glad Smokey is okay and recouping. Give the little guy a big pet on the head from us!!
Oh, le pauvre petit! How horrifying! The idea of a defenseless little pup being attacked is so upsetting. I can’t even imagine how you must have felt seeing him lying there…
Wishing the poor baby a speedy recovery! I know you will be giving him lots of TLC.
Of course I and all your other readers will be waiting anxiously for continued news of his “rétablissement”.
L’art de la médecine consiste à distraire le malade pendant que la nature le guérit. (Voltaire)
(The art of medicine consists of amusing the patient while nature heals him.)
Oh, Smokey and family! What a horrifying experience. I’m praying to the Lord for healing and that this incident will not affect the little guy in the future. It’s an awful, helpless situation, but he’s been spared for a reason. There are plans for your little life, Smokey! Grand plans. 🙂
Darling little Smokey- I was so worried about you. I cried when reading the story of your attack. I am relieved to learn that you will recover, and am glad you have such a great dogmom and a warm and loving peoplemom.
Sending all the healing vibes we can muster
I do not normally comment but have enjoyed your posts for quite some time now. I am so glad the puppy is okay and doing well.
I love the comments you have received – just wonderful! Reading your post, we all felt horrified and then relieved. Again, so very glad he is on the mends. I can only imagine the love this puppy must be getting but, from all the comments, the love we are all sending him from around the world! A neat thought!
Cat
Thanks Kristi for telling us that Smokey is okay first. How is Braise? Where was she during the attack? So very glad that Smokey is going to be all right, what a terrible adventure for him. I’m glad that everyone is okay. P.S. I love your Mom-she sends the sweetest comments to your writing!
Smokey,
We are so very glad you are going to be all right! Ooh how you must ache all over.
Be careful around all other dogs. Kristin is right that any breed can attack. Even standard poodles-however we are very friendly and only want to play or nap. Our person wishes she could send you a get well package, but postage from the U.S. to your home is expensive.
Thank heavens Smokey will be OK. My heart goes out to him as well as his mother, and you and your husband, his “other” parents. As with other children, puppies require constant attention. You were forunate to have seen that with a happy ending. I hope to return to France before too long and see a grown up Smokey. Thank you for sharing your escapades with us.
Maxine Mueller-Houston
Merci encore for all the love and kindness! Smokey and family… we’re drinking it up!
To answer a couple of questions:
Bev: re the antibiotics — ours are tiny. That said, after mixing them into the puppy pâté (the kind that comes in a can)… I am not sure Smokey is getting the right dose. He doesn’t eat all of the food (his mouth is still swollen and he can feel what he’s eating… a lot of it drivels out of his mouth. So, no–we don’t have those big pills to worry about (just the worry that he is taking in the small ones!).
Martina: thanks for asking about Braise. She is the only one that knows exactly what happened. I remember looking into her big brown eyes and telling her that it must have been an awful thing to witness, but that she was a brave mama for chasing away the dogs!
Now that Smokey has replaced his puppy breath with “dried blood breath”, Braise is acting a little strange around him. I would have expected her to be more of a mother hen. Instead, it is best to sympathize with her reaction and, again, remember that she has her own instincts.
How terrifying for all of you! Such things should not happen to the sweetest among us! I love your daily emails which arrive promptly each morning, the beautiful pictures and your enchanting commentary on life in France. Best wishes for a full recovery for you all~mentally and physically.
Be brave little Smokey, the world loves you and is cheering you on to good health and a long and loving life!
I was so sorry to read about Smokey’s awful ordeal but am relieved for you all that he is on the mend. He is such a brave little chap and I wish him a speedy recovery. Hugs to sweet Braise too.
Praise God, and Braise, that it was not worse. I am so glad to know the healing has begun. Please give lots of kisses and pats to Smokey and Mama Braise.
I write with tears in my eyes to wish you all a speedy recovery. My heart seems to stop whenever I read or hear something like this, even though it is 38 years since I faced a similar event. We had a complete and speedy recovery then, and I’m sure with all the love and prayers and various renditions of Amazing Grace, Smokey will soom be frolicking with you again.
Smokey, I wish you a speedy recovery. Braise, I hope the nightmare of watching your son being mauled will fade with time.
To everyone: Be aware that dogs who will attack other dogs might also attack humans, especially children. Do whatever you can to protect people/children from animals. In our town, fences aren’t allowed (regarded as un-neighborly), but dogs must be leashed. So if you notice or hear any unleashed dogs, make sure everyone is inside or somewhere out of harm’s way.
So glad this story had a happy ending.
Make that “soon be”. Blame the typo on the watery eyes.
Hi FWAD FRIENDS,
I just received another phone call from Kristi, giving me more detail of exactly what was going on while she had SMOKEY lying on her her heart while she was singing and praying away for him. I told her to go directly to her computer and open a new file on BRAISE, SMOKEY AND THE GANG, because she refused my suggestion to write in more detail what she was sharing with me on the phone…on FWAD…she doesn’t want to be too dramatic with her readers. But you all know me well enough to know I can’t keep a little snippet of her story from you. Appartently she had on her VICTORY PAJAMAS which she gifted to herself after her coo (sp) in Paris at the American Library. As you who have been following her for awhile must know – Kristi used to have all kinds of phobia’s (sp?) about everything, God forbid a dog in the bed!!! To hear her on the phone a moment ago going on and on about the smells of a ravished dog, the dirt, dare I mention caked blood on his little paws and cheek—-add to all of that Kristi’s feelings of joy as you glanced down to the trail of tears on her new p.j.’s. Then she told me she held on to that moment, knowing she was witnessing her own strenght. I know all of this may sound a little dramatic, but I am hoping Kristi will open that new ‘file’ and start recording some of her more private feelings concerning “THE GANG” that we may all share in someday in the future. You know MOM, always trying to direct my kids lives aft3er all of there years.
XOXO
JULES in PUERTO, VALLARTA, MEXICO
Oh le pauvre bebe, Smokey! Oh Mumma Braise! Kristi and J-M – what a horrible thing. I am so, so glad Smokey is on the mend and will recover. I, too, would probably not have been able to look at Smokey while he was down.
Kristi, Braise will come around. Smokey will recover, and then Braise will be back. Slightly different, peut-etre, but back.
I knew something was amiss. I am so glad you are all on the road to recovery.
Cheers!
Best wishes and sighs of relief from me and my Pomeranian Sunflower to brave little Smokey and Braise! What a terrible ordeal–he must be a strong pup who has every intention in the world of sticking around for a very long time!
P.S. My previous Pom had to have a gigantic cancerous tumor removed from her back and was stapled from neck to tail. We called her FrankenPom for a while…
I was crying when I read your story, not just because Smokey was hurt but also because he is okay. I know it was a hard ordeal, but so happy it turned out well. Cuddling him and singing to him will help him heal so much faster, Braise needs some cuddling too. Just think of the ordeal of seeing her baby attacked. Love to all!
If Smokey is having trouble eating, you may need to acquire a syringe (without any needle of course), suck up the mushy food and help little Smokey eat by gently inserting the syringe into his mouth, towards the back of the tongue, with little bits of food. Consult your vet on this, but it is a way to be sure he has his nourishment. I will keep him, Braise and all of you in my prayers for a complete recovery, physical and psychological. May God Bless you and give you Strength to do what is necessary.
Love to all, Simonette from Michigan
Important words left out of last comment–
gently PUSH the food through the syringe into his mouth. Sorry.
Smokey,
You are a very lucky dog. It may not seem that way now as you recover, but Braise stood by you and Kristin and Jean-Marc came to your rescue. Having visited you in late September I could see the entire scene play out when reading Kristin’s post! My parents had a Springer Spaniel named Maggie who survived a Javelina (wild boar) attack in Prescott, AZ. It took a lot of loving care but she pulled through as I know you will.
Suzanne
The traffic in counterfeit medicines in developing countries is a worldwide gaping wound.