Warning: Don't look at the pics if you're squeemish!

This was taken while we were waiting at the vet's office. One of the reason's we love Far Country Clinic is because it's the only valley vet office open 24/7.

Our poor little franken-sammy

On Feb 28 we had a little scare. Sammy dog got attacked by a baby moose who has been hanging out around our neck of the woods basically all winter long. There's actually a family of moose (a mom and her 2 yearlings). It was in the evening I had just got home with the pooches. Now, you have to understand that we have a  thick giant hedge and a grouping of trees right in front of where we park in the driveway, up next to the house. Also, it being a particularly good year for heavy snowfall, there is also a giant snow burm in front of that. So add those together with it being dark and the moose being dark, how was I supposed to have seen it hiding behind the snow burm and trees? So I let the dogs out of the car like normal and I don't even think they saw/smelled it until they got in front of the car. I was getting my things out of the car when I heard the growl/barks. I got out of the car and saw them run off--right into the moose. So I called them back, but they being the great listeners they are decided they didn't need to listen this time. So I went in the house and told David he was about to find out how the dogs will react to a moose and that they had run off with it. So David gets the shot gun out, loads it and goes after his dogs. By the time he gets out there, Carly came running into the house, so it was just Sammy out there with the beast. I don't know when or where he got stomped on, but David saw the moose and Sam, who was sitting behind a tree( the best place he could be) along our property fence line, in the front yard, so he had chased the moose for a bit anyway. Sam got smart and decided to listen to his daddy and walked with him to the house. It was there we discovered his wound. The good thing was that is wasn't bleeding out, Sam was able to walk and even jump as we later discovered at the vet's office, and he wasn't whimpering in pain and let us touch him and love on him. So Sam probably just got hooved once and ran off. We're lucky it didn't break any bones, or hit any organs or cause internal bleeding. The reality of it is, Sam could have died that night, so we are counting our blessings. Because it was later in the evening and they had more urgent matters at hand and since Sam wasn't in shock and doing rather well, they kept him overnight and did the surgery sometime in the wee hours of the night. I picked him up the next morning and got him situated in his new living space until Monday. He has 13 stitches and a drain. The drain is why he has to be baby gated off in the dining room. The drain leaks blood, so we can't have that on the carpet. He gets it our on Monday though, at which time he can also start going on walks again. So for now, he's in solitary confinement and only able to go outside to potty and it's right back inside. He also has to wear the cone of shame at night when we go to bed and can't supervise. So far he's been really good and has mostly slept and hasn't bothered the stitches or drain. I imagine as it's starts to heal that will be a different story. I have to wash the skin around the drain and keep it clear of fluid and scabbing (usually 2-3 times a day). He's been really good to let me touch things and I discovered he'll eat his meds when I wrap them in lunch meat (he gets 2 pills twice a day and a pain killer every 8 hours). He's been taking things like a champ though and hasn't once been snippy or mean. He does like to snuggle his momma and I'd like to think he appreciates me sitting in his pen with him for little bits throughout the day. The drain comes out on Monday and the stitches come out in a couple weeks. It will be nice to have things return to somewhat normal around here. Between his special needs, the puppies and Carly all needing my attention, I have a greater appreciation for parents of multiple small children and those with disabled children. It's a lot of work meeting their individual needs and keeping them happy!
  It has been pretty bad as far as winters go here in Alaska and a lot of the moose have been hanging out in the cities where it's easier to get around and where there's more food. I think just under 500 moose have been hit and killed by cars this winter. It's so much that fish and game is calling off moose hunting in the mat-valley for this coming fall season. While at the vet clinic Sam's doctor said that they've gotten at least 1 dog in a week with injuries due to moose. So moral of the story is walk your dogs on a leash, even while in your own yard and keep your eye out for the moose. It's a pain in the butt and it's cold, so I know I would much rather let them out and watch from inside, but I also know I would rather have a live dog and that thousand dollars back in my bank account!