Dangerous Dunk

I had a horrible accident with Mabel on Thursday. I took her to my physical therapy because the arroyo that we love is nearby. I thought it would be a nice midday break to go to the doc and have a nice hike.

Except, it's been really raining a lot here. Lots of visible snow in our mountains too! Mabel was so happy to be there, she leaped out of the car and dashed off into the woods! I caught up with her and started shooting some pics with my new camera that I'm trying desperately to learn how to use.

We took one of our favorite trails and quickly found the road washed out. I was sort of amazed and shooting some photos of the flood as Mabel just mucked about trying to figure out why the water was there. Note that the road is a good foot above the stream bed behind Mabel.

Mabel stepped into the shallow water...we could see the bottom here. Mabel is always very cautious around fast moving water. I've only had one incident with her as a puppy. I assumed she would sniff the shallow water a bit and we would choose another trail. 

At that moment, I decided to put my lens cap on and look for a long stick to see how deep the water was. I looked down for a second and heard frantic splashing! I screamed in horror to see Mabel Lou going under and being washed down the stream! And just as fast, she found a foothold on the far shore. Her front was on land...but she struggled and struggled for what felt like eternity to get her hind footing. 

Feeling utterly helpless, I took the lens cap off and started documenting her struggle as I knew she would make it. 

As she fought to get her hind legs under her, I kept yelling encouragement...something I've always done whenever she was unsure or fearful. "YOU CAN DO IT BABY! KEEP GOING...YOU'LL GET THERE!!" She kept trying and finally made it onshore for a good shake.

She let out a loud cry as she surveyed the whole four foot chasm between the island I was now on and where she was. 

There is nothing I hate worse than to hear my baby cry. She whimpered as she looked around. She came to the edge sizing up that water as I shouted, "NO! NO!" Knowing that she had figured this out on her own before, I decided she must need a little Mama help this time. 

Just to my left, the stream was much slower but it was maybe 20 feet wide instead of four. There was lots of underbrush...which meant two different things to me. Either it would give her safety to climb or the water could pin her against them and suck her under.  

I frantically started shouting and pointed about 30 feet in where the water was wider still and super calm. "Go! Go!! Go up there! There, Girl! GO! She cried some more but took off into the brush. I held my breath as I realize she didn't go as far in as I wanted her to. But she was coming to me!

The brush was so thick...I had to point her out!  She continued to cry the whole time she was working her way back to me. I was so happy when I could finally see her!

Still crying, I could see she was shaking too! She wanted to get to me as bad as I wanted to get to her! 

I kept yelling encouragement and telling her how good she was. And she kept whining and plodding closer.

Finally, I could grab my girl. Check out her nose! And the fur on her head is soaked. 

She let me hold her and she cried and complained. I headed in the direction of the car for towels and blankets. And what did our heroine do? Was she ready for home and a long nap? Noooo! She took off chasing a rabbit. We had just arrived after all! She kept me running around after her for a good hour and a half!