My husband just got caught in a wildfire

at Lake Clinton. He was out with our 3 dogs and a friend with his 2 dogs when they became surrounded by a grass fire. They went down to the lake to the rocky shore to get away and while they were looking back our Lab went out on the ice and got about 20 feet out and broke through. He could not get back and then went under the ice. Bill went out until he broke through and managed to get our Lab in time by smashing through the ice but our Golden went out after them and fell through. He got her by the collar then his friend went out as far as he could and held out his walking stick to drag them back to shore. They are home now and poor Bill is covered in cuts and bruises from smashing the ice. Damn, it is so dry out there. Please all, be very careful until we get some rain and never take your eyes off your dogs around the ice. I think I will take a nap now, I wasn't there but damn, I feel all shaky inside.

:scared:

I am glad they are are all safe and sound now.

smells like a fire right now and I don't have the time to scrub down 3 dogs. I guess that is better than wet dog smell.

Bill said all he could think about when he saw dear Mingus go under the ice was that he had better get out there because I would kill him if "Mommy's Boy" didn't survive. Bill is just a mess of cuts on his arms, he said the ice was about 2 inches think all around where Mingus fell through. Poor dog is worn out and the Golden who ran out to help them did OK, she did not go under but spent the time back to the car rolling in the ashes from the fire so she is now a Grey Retriever.

The firemen who were there when they got back to the cars said that they are having a real scare right now as dry as it is and that these fires are starting to crop up here and there. I better go make certain my farm insurance is paid up.

I'm glad everyone is safe now. I don't blame you for being shaky. I'd be treating my husband like a king right now especially if he had save one of my puppies. Then again, he always gets treated like a king.

Were they out at the dog park? I know we love taking ours out there to romp around. I really didn't have any idea that it was that dry around here. :eyes: Thanks for the warning.

that he has found and enjoys. Woodridge maybe? They can walk through the woods and through the fields and down to the lake there, about 5 or 6 miles I think. They love it there and my dogs have made a few local buddies who tag along for the romp. They were down as far as one of the campsites when they noticed the fire as it was blasting through. He was planning on staying away from the lake to avoid such a situation.

He is out telescoping now with some first graders so he is OK. Dogs are fine but stinky. I am a wreck thinking about losing any of them.

Be careful out there until it rains a bit.

Back in the day I spent a lot of time out at Clinton Lake. It seemed everyone I knew had a special trail or spot around the lake. Ah, I miss those days of hanging out near the lake, drinking a few beers and letting the day go by. I think it was called being a college student. Why, oh why did I graduate? :banghead:


Our buddy Rex is also a telescope enthusiast. He set them up across the street from the South Park Gazebo this past summer while you and the city band were playing.

We haven't had time to go out the Clinton Lake dog park. We've taken the pups up to the Riverfront Park dog area but most recently we've been taking them out by a friend's house to run in the woods with his dog. They seem to love exploring the trails down to this little pond. They're going to hate it when spring comes and we start going back to the park populated with other dogs.

I know how you feel about the thought of losing one your of the dogs. I've already told everyone that the day the first of these dogs goes I am going to be a no-holds barred basketcase. I'm so used to waking up in the morning nestled in the middle of my pack that it feels strange when one of them isn't in their spot on the bed. Worse, I'm used to all the snoring. The dogs all snore and my husband snores. In fact, one of the dogs snores louder than my husband. I've got this little 12 pound dog whose snoring has been known to wake people up. I think he sounds like a creaky old ship and he compliments the "ocean wave" setting on my sound machine very nicely. Besides, I've gotten so used to my nightly symphony that I have trouble getting to sleep when my private quartet isn't fully gathered.

Mine all sleep on their backs and snore too and as in your case, the littlest is the loudest. She chased off a Newfie the other day, she is beagle sized. She is small but she does not know it. The mighty Scully.

I have been through so many dogs since we always seem to have 3 at a time. Thankfully every single one has died of old age or complications due to old age. Not that that makes it any easier. It sucks that they don't live all that long but I can't for the life of me imagine not having them around.

If something happens you just let me know. I will come and get you, take you out and feed you beers and let you tell me all his/her stories. Not many things hurt worse.

We're up to three at the moment. If you ever need a shoulder to cry on or someone to share a laugh with I'm here for you.

LOL. The little ones always seem to torment the big ones. They also seem to enjoy it. We call our little snorer "the grey missile" because of the way he launches himself into the haunches of much larger dogs. Unfortunately his pre-emptive attacks are about as effective of Bush's and he always retreats to me so I can pick him up before he gets a counter attack.

The little ones are interesting aren't they? My husband hated little dogs until we got this one from the Humane Society. She was supposed to be big, looked like she would be big but she never grew. She is such a character that he is totally smitten with her.

Hey friend, anytime. The Dog Mourning Society. I can't think of a more needed group than that.

It cracks me up to watch my big lab with the little one. They are great pals but when she has a toy or a chew or she is getting attention he walks around her very slowly and quietly with his worried eyes always on her and if she growls he tucks his tail and scoots. He is about 90 pounds and she is about 30, what a funny sight.

I saw a story in the paper about the fire there. I HATE it when it is this dry. I can't wait to get the house built so I can at least be on the farm with my animals just in case. I worry so much about them.

that I took to a cook out one time. Everyone was so concerned because she was so small and all the other dogs were so large. To make a long story short I got distracted and wasn't paying attention to her. We were standing around the fire, watching the food cook, when we heard a commotion in the nearby tree line. We heard this Great Dane and my little dog barking and my heart dropped. All of a sudden here comes the Great Dane running like its tail was on fire out of the trees with my little dog hot in its tracks. The GD jumped on the picnic table to get away from my little dog. Everyone hurt their sides laughing at the sight of this full grown Great Dane hiding on the table with its tail between its legs with my little dog running around the table barking trying to jump on the seat portion of the table.

This evening we're invited to a bonfire-basketball party east of town. I've already told our host about the dryness and he's rethinking the size of the bonfire. Thanks for the head's up.

That is hysterical! Great big dogs can be such weenies when the little ones take after them.

Please do tell them. I read in the paper that Woodridge started up again this morning. It must have been a pretty good fire.

and had the area around it well cleared before starting it. Our host even took the precaution of watering around the perimeter of the area and keeping the hose handy. We made sure the fire was out before we left the area.

LOL, big dogs can be completely vexed by their smaller counterparts alright. I really need to get a video camera and record a National Geographic Special on how my three (two little, one big) interact around the house. All three of them seem to spend most of their days playing mind games with each other. They do everything from hiding (yes, hiding, I've found toys under the pillows) another one's favorite toy to stealing each other's bones. Every night at the end of their evening walk the two females compete with each other to see who can be the first one in the house. All three of them are a constant source of amusement for us.

Although, the funniest thing I've ever seen was shortly after my husband and I moved into together. The little male dog became fascinated with my husband. He followed my husband around constantly and slept with his discarded socks. The dog would only eat when my husband was eating. That little dog worshipped my husband and went everywhere he went. One night I was sitting up late reading a book in the living room when my husband got up and went to the bathroom. Right behind him was that little dog. As my husband relieved himself the little dog stood in the doorway watching him. My husband finished up, washed his hands and stumbled back to bed. The dog looked at me and walked into the bathroom. I got up to see what he was doing and he was standing there with his leg up pissing on the toilet. I started laughing because he was, one more time, doing what my husband was doing. Finally the dog finished, looked at me, walked out of the bathroom, stretched, went back to bed and was snoring along with my husband.

Our male, the lab who went ice diving, really relates to my husband too but the bathroom dog is our little female who must attend every time I do. She does not "use" the bathroom but must be in attendence. I always thought it was for special attention but perhaps it is something else entirely.

My husband is the fun one who takes them on their daily walks and swims. I am the lovey one without the outside fun time. I am more inside game person. I am uncomfortable taking them places without a leash.

That is a really funny story, I do hope he got over peeing in the bathroom though. I guess if not your husband will have to start peeing in the back yard!

I've heard that there are feral hogs in and around the Clinton Wildlife Area. Ever seen them? Best be careful out there.

They look like feral hogs but they're actually just overgrown unkempt mildcats.

Wish I were close enough to offer you a beer!

We are now calling Mingus our lab, Jacques Coustou.

I think he knows exactly what happened to him, he seems a little more sweet and clingy. As if a lab could ever be more sweet than they normally are and clingy means 90 pounds in your lap at any given time.

You are sweet, thanks.

I am glad that everyone is all right!

How are you? I miss the two of you.

I hope all is well. :hi: