Sunday morning I hopped on the tractor to try to finish mowing the big pasture in preparation to move the horses out there this week. It’s been hard going to mow it between the raging storms every evening and the insane growth rate.
I was heading up the hill when I saw a flash of yellow out of the corner of my eye and turned to see Wyatt coming up the hill. I stopped and turned the tractor off to see what he wanted and next thing I knew both dogs and Wyatt were all on the tractor with me.
Now I’m a tractor nazi. I hate Wyatt being on there with me and am very paranoid about the high level of risk involved with a tractor and the addition of a running bush hog being pulled behind. I kicked the dogs off as they know they aren’t allowed on it and generally aren’t supposed to be near it. They had followed Wyatt out from the house.
Both dogs jumped down and I was talking to Wyatt and turned the tractor back on to go up the hill before kicking him off too. Thankfully I didn’t turn the bush hog on. I’m counting all my lucky stars and thanking every possible higher being for that one. I pulled forward slowly and immediately felt a bump followed by hearing the gut wrenching sound of a dog screaming in pain.
I slammed on the brakes and looked around. Waggy Tails was trapped under the bush hog. I froze. I didn’t want to raise it with Wyatt around fearing the worst and wanting to spare him that sight. Instead I screamed for Dusty who was out mending fences. I wasn’t thinking and poor Dusty heard me and immediately thought it was Wyatt who was in trouble.
He made it to the tractor at a dead sprint and I told him “I just killed Waggy”. Wyatt was sobbing. I was sobbing. Dusty told me to take Wyatt to the house and as I was walking down the hill he raised the bush hog.
Much to everyone’s surprise Waggy came hobbling out without a scratch on her. She was holding her back left leg off the ground but otherwise was in perfect condition.
Lucky doesn’t even begin to describe it.
We rushed her off to Dusty’s clinic and got her filled with pain meds while he got the X-ray machine turned on and ready. The radiographs showed a broken femur and that was all. I feared she broke her pelvis but that was fine as was all the internal organs he could see. Her heart and lungs sounded fine and her abdomen palpated normal.
Again. Lucky doesn’t even begin to describe it.
Dusty texted the ortho specialist in town and set Waggy up for surgery this morning. She will be getting a plate and screws in her leg to hold the femur back together. Poor girl. She will be on cage rest for at least 6 weeks. I’m so glad that I have a husband who cares for the animals like he does and didn’t even hesitate to call the specialist to set up surgery.
I’m glad the bush hog wasn’t on.
I’m glad I hit her leg only and not her abdomen or chest.
I’m glad it wasn’t Einstein as he is so small it would have killed him.
I’m glad it wasn’t Wyatt.
I’m pissed that I didn’t realize she had laid down in the shade of the tire and assumed she had walked off.
I’m pissed I ran my dog over.
But she should be ok. It’s a clean break and not shattered. It could have been so much worse.
Keep her in your thoughts today guys, please.
The Roaming Rider 
Omg Sara I am so sorry, that is terrifying!!! Don’t beat yourself up – farm accidents happen esp when animals don’t always understand the danger. But ugh how awful. Hopefully Waggy heals ASAP!! 😦
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It was terrible 😦 She is going into surgery soon and hopefully comes out the other side much better.
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Thinking of all of you and holding you close in my thoughts this morning. Hope to hear nothing but positive news following surgery! ❤ ❤ ❤
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Thinking of you too with Kenai!!!
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So scary! Hoping surgery goes well and everyone heals quickly! Accidents happen, forgive yourself!
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Its hard to forgive myself, but it could have been so much worse.
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OMG, my heart stopped reading that! I am glad that she’s going to be okay. Poor Wyatt, he must be so upset. Poor Waggy! Poor you and Dusty too. (((hugs for everyone)))
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He is pretty angry with me. He told me I need to buy 100 dogs so when I run the next one over he will still have puppies to play with. Sigh.
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He’s a child so he doesn’t know where to direct his anger. He will learn that these things happen and it’s okay to be angry about the event but not the person.
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Omg that’s so scary! Accidents like that can happen so fast. I’m glad she’s going to be just fine in the long run!
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They really can. It is so hard to see everything on the big tractor.
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Oh man I’m so sorry, but glad she’s ok. The barn kitty got run over right in front of me last week, and I swear even though it wasn’t my cat, that was one of the most traumatic experiences of my life. Hope surgery goes well! Don’t beat yourself up too bad – shit happens, especially on a farm.
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Oh no!! That would be heart breaking to witness. I was convinced I killed her and was so relieved to see her three legged and alive
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I wish the kitty had been as lucky. 😦
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Oh, how scary! I am so glad Waggy will be ok, and that nothing happened to Wyatt, though I’m sure he’s a bit traumatized!
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He is but knowing she will be ok in the end has made it better for him
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Oh man, that must have been horrifying. Like others said – don’t blame or beat yourself up. Things happen, especially on a farm, and it’s so wonderful that she’s going to be all right. Healing, positive thoughts for her and you all today!
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Farm life is not for the faint of heart
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Omg, i totally teared up reading this, wrong time to sneak a blog read in at work. Hope surgery goes well. Very glad it wasnt Wyatt, but maybe good he saw a bit so he always remembers to respect the heavy machinery.
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That is what the hubby said and I hope it helps because he does worry me around it.
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Poor Waggy! I’m glad she will be ok 😦
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Crossing my fingers. She should be out of surgery by now and I’m waiting for an update
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i ran over a friend’s dog while house sitting for her and killed the dog (I was going slow but they had like 8 dogs and let them run loose which drove me INSANE and for reason). She died immediately before I even called Mark. UGH. HORRIBLE HORRIBLE.
I am so paranoid with my tractor too. But shit happens and dogs will be dogs. I am so glad the same as you are that the bush hog wasnt on etc. WHEW.
Keep us posted on Waggy. I am sure she will be fine dogs are so resilient but you will be beating yourself up for weeks if not months I am sure!!
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PS thank goodness Dusty is a vet and knows vets!! YIKES
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oh no!!! That would be horrible 😦 The hubby let a friend’s cat die while they went on their honeymoon. The cat ate the rose flowers left over from the wedding and got poisoned. It was the last time he agreed to pet sit.
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Oh my goodness, I can only imagine the gut-wrenching feeling! This stuff happens, unfortunately, even when we are careful, so don’t beat yourself up over it. There were so many things working in your favor. I hope she does well with surgery and heals up quickly!! *hugs* to all of you!!
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It was sickening and I really thought I had killed her until she walked out from under the bush hog
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I’m so glad she’s going to be OK. Fingers crossed the surgery goes without any complications!
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Waggy is out and recovering
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I am so sorry. That’s just terrible… and terrifying. I hope she’s okay.
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Thank you. It was awful but had the best possible outcome
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I’m keeping all of you in my thoughts. It was a terrible accident that luckily isn’t going to have a terrible end. Hopefully, the lesson learned will be for Wyatt and Waggy to stay away from the tractor.
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That’s my hope too
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OMG, I’m so sorry, I got nauseated just reading this, I can’t even imagine how you feel. I am so constantly terrified of this exact same thing while driving around the barn. Accidents happen, and I’m so glad you’re able to get her to the right people to fix her up. ❤
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We were lucky in so many ways
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I know that you’re feeling guilty and upset, but this was an innocent mistake. I am glad it wasn’t worse and that the stars aligned for a best case outcome. Lots of healing vibes for Waggy. Such a scary thing to have happen!
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Thank you Dom
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so glad it wasn’t worse and that your hubby can fix him up nicely!! Praying all goes well!!
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Oh my goodness!! Thankfully she’s okay!! Sending lots of hugs to you all!!
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I’m SO sorry. Accidents happen and while it was a shitty day, you’re right, it was incredibly lucky. The best case scenario given the circumstances.
I’ll be thinking good thoughts for Waggy’s surgery. And all the hugs for you and your family.
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Best case is right. She was discharged this afternoon back to my husband’s work for the next several weeks to heal
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