Westside Messenger - May 2nd, 2021

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PAGE 4 - WESTSIDE MESSENGER - May 2, 2021 Opinion Page www.columbusmessenger.com Vigilance required when walking your furry friend As emotionally draining as the drawn out pandemic days have been, there have been a few bright spots. But being harpooned by my second Covid vaccine needle and the myriad of reactions I got from it most certainly does not qualify as one of them. No, not complaining, it does beat the risk of the alternative. I haven’t had chills like that since I got stuck in a sub-zero North Dakota blizzard many years ago. One bright spot does stand out for me. I rarely watch the PBS channel, just too much culture for my crude existence to absorb. About the only thing I’ve watched over the years are some of the old music specials and groups they bring back, the ones I grew up listening to. They always get the fond memories bouncing, once I get over how old they look and must remind myself I look just as old. I stumbled upon “Masterpiece” on PBS and was excited to see its new adaptation of the 1978-1990 series, “All Creatures Great and Small,” the story of a 1930s veterinarian, James Herriot, set in Yorkshire, a historic county in England. Loved reading the JEFFREY P. COMPTON ATTORNEY AT LAW General Practice Personal Injury • Domestic Probate • Wills Power of Attorney Healthcare Documents FREE CONSULT & PARKING 614-875-7233 Fax: 929-474-9475 1665 London-Groveport Rd., Grove City www.jeffreypcompton.com Email: jcompton@jeffreypcompton.com BIRTHDAY • ENGAGEMENT • WEDDING • ANNIVERSARY • GRADUATION • RETIREMENT IN MEMORIUM • ARMED FORCES Say it with an announcement ad in the Messenger and spread the word. You can download the appropriate form from our Web site or stop by our office Monday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Columbus Messenger 3500 Sullivant Ave. 614-272-5422 www.columbusmessenger.com books it was based upon years ago. The new series was truly excellent, better than the original, and I was glad to see it will be back for another season. Watching it turned back the pages many years to my college days when I lived and worked at a veterinary clinic, much like the one portrayed in the books and TV series. Watching the show sent my mind back in time. The veterinarian I worked for was very much like James Herriot. His practice was split about 80 percent small and 20 percent large animal. His life was his work, he was totally dedicated to it as many vets were in those days. He lived to work, not worked to live. There were no after-hour emergency clinics in those days. He or the associate he brought in, was on call 24/7/365. It was not unusual for me to get a middle of the night call in my downstairs clinic apartment to assist with an emergency ranging from going out with him to a dairy farm for a calving or milk fever case, to surgeries in the clinic for dogs hit by cars or removing quills from a dog that tangled with a porcupine. A recent dog walk triggered a flashback to one specific emergency. We’d just locked up the clinic after a long day. I was back in my tiny apartment, just gotten through de-doggyfying myself with a long shower. The clinic intercom phone rang. “Dave, got a dog emergency coming in, going to need you.” His house was attached to the clinic, just like Herriot’s was. Within minutes we were back in the clinic and the dog arrived. I went out to the car to assist carrying it in. It was a very heavy, full grown Saint Bernard. He was bleeding profusely from multiple areas. The owner said another dog was being walked by his house and he lunged after it through his big living room window, shattering the glass and sustaining several severed veins and arteries and tissue injury from the sharp glass. He was in bad shape and I could see the concern in the doctor’s eyes when we set him down inside. Surgery lasted for quite some time, but the doctor got him sewn back together and the bleeding stopped. His loyal clinic resident dog, a docile Chesapeake Bay retriever named Lancer, graciously chipped in by donating some much needed blood as he’d been called upon to do a few previous times while I lived there. The dog beat the odds and went on to recover after many initial doubts. Memories of that night came back as I walked my dog and went by a house that always worries me. It has two large breed dogs that stand on top of the living room couch and literally lunge repeatedly at the big window with their front feet clawing, barking like guard dogs as we walk by. When there’s full sunlight, you can see the glass move. I always take a deep breath with a sigh of relief when we get by. So far, the window has held. But who knows, both lunging with all their weight hitting the window at the exact same time a certain way…..? They’re needlessly tempting fate. I can’t understand why the owners continue to ignore the obvious ominous risk. That situation happens more than you’d think. But it’s usually the smaller breeds, so I don’t worry as much. Many dogs (and a few neighbors) let us know we’re not welcome as we walk by, that’s natural and fine, so long as they’re contained. Some even wag their tails in friendship and whine at the front door. A few others have managed to burst out the front door and come at us, not in friendship. Years ago, one came at my dog and I got tangled in the leash and pulled down. Luckily, we were able to get things under control without any damage to me or the dogs. It all comes down to responsibility and anticipation. If you’re a responsible dog owner, you anticipate and assess situations and react accordingly to prevent obvious risks. If you’re not and do neither, things can happen, sometimes bad things. I’m still having to live remembering a 1987 jury I sat on, where we had to listen to the case of a little girl being mauled by two dogs who found a way to escape from their poorly secured apartment back porch area. It was a senseless tragedy that a littler forethought could have prevented. When I walk about the area, I keep my eyes far ahead. If I see a situation that might present a problem, often a loose dog, I try to avoid it by either waiting or changing my route. There are times I can’t avoid it and try to prepare myself. Controlling my large dog can be difficult. Sometimes I must yell at a loose rapidly approaching aggressive dog at the top of my lungs and at the same time drag my large dog with all my might to keep moving until we get away, leaving me exhausted and my dog puffing and panting. Dogs have Houdini genes in them and can be incredible escape artists. It’s natural for some to answer the distant call of the wild, especially if they’re bored or not regularly exercised. They find ways to get out of their fenced, too often insecure, enclosures. The owners sometimes don’t even realize they’re gone for hours as the dog runs precariously about, dodging cars, not always successfully, creating havoc and chaos with other dogs in its own neighborhood or farther away. When the owners hopefully get them back, they ignore taking time to fix the escape route and the jail break scenario soon happens all over again. Sometimes it’s the same dogs that are seen galavanting about and you read a response on the website from a concerned poster for a dog spotted wandering down a major road, “Oh, Guest Column Dave Burton that’s my neighbor’s dog, it’s always out loose.” A popular neighborhood website is always filled with dog notice postings: lost, found, two large dogs seen running down… Has anyone seen.., etc. It’s disconcerting how many active posts there are, but also encouraging how fast helpful responses come in from concerned neighbors. They often result in happy endings that leave you smiling. But sometimes the posts remain unresolved and sometimes resolved, but on a sad note. Situations arise with dogs, things happen, and they will get loose. That’s understandable and acceptable under the assumption the owner recognizes it shouldn’t and deals with it. Maybe that’s the root of the problem. Perhaps a few just don’t realize things can happen or refuse to deal with it. We’ve all asked the question before, “why do they even have a dog.” Some folks just shouldn’t have one. They just aren’t prepared to accept the responsibilities and apparently just aren’t able to comprehend the far-ranging risks. Dave Burton is a guest columnist for the Columbus Messenger Newspapers. He lives in Grove City. Letters policy The Westside Messenger welcomes letters to the editor. Letters can be of any topic as long as they are not libelous. Letters that do not have a signature, address, and telephone number, or are signed with a pseudonym, will be rejected. The Messenger reserves the right to edit or refuse publication of any letter for any reason. Email letters to westside@columbusmessenger.com westside Messenger (Distribution: 14,998) Andrea Cordle...................................Westside Editor westside@ columbusmessenger.com Published every other Sunday by the The Columbus Messenger Co. 3500 Sullivant Ave., Columbus, Ohio 43204-1887 (614) 272-5422 The Columbus Messenger Co. reserves the right to edit, reject or cancel any advertisement or editorial copy at any time. The company is not responsible for checking accuracy of items submitted for publication. Errors in advertising copy must be called to the attention of the company after first insertion and prior to a second insertion of the same advertising copy.
www.columbusmessenger.com May 2, 2021 - WESTSIDE MESSENGER - PAGE 5 Happy Mother’s Day MAY 9, 2021 MOTHER’S DAY FAMILY BUFFET e Friendliest Little Jewelry Store in Grove City Sunday, May 9 www.jpsbbq.com ORDER BY 5-5-2021 (Serves Approx. 4-6) $ 99 95 Pick Up Cold to Reheat or Hot and Ready To Eat! 614-878-7422 (Ask For Carol) INCLUDES: * 3 BLEND SALAD * * AWARD WINNING RIBS * * BBQ CHICKEN * * 3 SIDE SELECTIONS * * SWEET DESSERT TREAT PLATTER * (Slaw / Potato Salad / Au Gratin Potatoes / Bake Beans Chunky Apple Sauce / Macaroni Salad / Green Beans) Rolls & Butter • Weather Permitting Patio Service Available or Reserve a Table in our Event Space 2000 Norton Rd. Phone: 614-878-7422 Fax: 614-878-7429 Can You Take a Good Ribbing? Want to give Mom a break from cooking? Take her out to eat for her special day. JP’s BBQ at Bolton Field offers a wide variety of mouth-watering starters. They are known for their award-winning barbecue ribs. The Mother’s Day Family Buffet will be a Mother’s Day experience she won’t soon forget! Looking for that perfect Mother’s Day gift? Show your mom how much you appreciate her with jewelry. Precision Jewelers started in 2001. This family-owned and operated business is a full-service jewelry store that takes pride in precision quality done in a timely manner by one of our master goldsmiths. If you have your eye on a special item in the store, but aren’t quite ready to buy, we offer a wish list. When you’re ready to make the purchase, Precision Jewelers will be there to help. Our friendly, knowledgeable staff will be attentive to help with all your shopping needs, including preparing your wish list. For more information or for gift ideas for Mother’s Day, contact Precision Jewelers at 614-317-7755 or visit www.precisionjewelersllc.com. Mother’s Birthsto ne ne Family On Sale e Give The The Perfect G ift ift For For The Perf ec ec ct ct MOM 4 4 5033 5754 One low price for up up to to 55 Synthetic Stones! Availabl lable in in Gold & Silver. 5288 5288 by by Aamari ® 2752 London-Groveport 2752 London-Groveport Rd., City, Rd. Ohio 43123 Grove City, Ohio 43123 614-317-7755 614-317-7755 Tues.-Fri. 10am - 6pm Sat. 10am - 3pm Sun. -Mon. Closed www.precisionjewelersllc.com www.precisionjewelersllc.com
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