Scary morning

[nootka]

We had a little scare, here, today!

My son's girlfriend rolled her car, while driving from our house to hers this morning before going to work.

She has a broken hand and a sore neck from the seat belt. She also had her little Jack Russel/Rat Terrier mix doggle with her and she (Dotty) was thrown out of the car during the wreck and ran away. LUCKILY Katie's mom found Dottie and brought her back to her mama. She has a cut around her eye and is going to the vet in the a.m. for a check-over.

The road was wet, the first rain we've had in a long time, so I think she lost control going a little fast (40 mph though posted speed is 55) for the long, sweeping curve, hit a telephone pole after sliding off the road, then rolled it over.

This little car, a Ford Escort first belonged to my stepmom, she and my dad bought it new in West Chester, PA in 1991 with 3 miles on it. They gave it to my oldest son in 2004, it was transported on a truck across country, and he used it to get his license in 2005. Here is a pic of him with the license in front of the car. The vanity plate "KNAW" was for his nickname given him by his toddler brother, Brandon.

Kenny recently sold it to his girlfriend, and she's been using it to drive to work. Feels a little like a member of the family is gone, but at least all the living ones are fine.

This was the last time I saw it, and the first msg I saw when I turned on my cell phone, today!

I was pretty scared for a while, since I saw the pic and could not get ahold of ANYONE by phone...could have been so bad.

Thanks for listening,

Liz

 

[Mona]

WOW, so glad she and her dog escaped with minimal injuries! Pretty scary stuff!

 

[nootka]

Yeah, it is.

In a way it's a relief. This car doesn't have airbags and it has the auto-seatbelts that are notorious for sometimes releasing during a wreck. The car ran GREAT and got 33 mpg, so it was tough to let go of. We always worried how it would fare in an accident, but the car really did right by her, keeping her in her seat and not collapsing as it rolled.

Dotty, on the other hand, may need a seatbelt/harness! Little stunt-doggie, poor girl is pretty upset. She was adopted about four months ago by Katie from an abusive home, is about 6 years old and very tentative about her surroundings, anyway. This was over the top for the doggle (one of her nicknames).

Now the job will be to find a safer car that Katie can afford to replace her totalled one. Luckily she has a great mechanic for a boyfriend (my son

) to assist.

Liz

 

[REO]

OMG Liz! Katie must have had an ANGEL watching over her and doggle Dotty!

Thank God they were not hurt as bad as they could have been.

Sorry the family member didn't make it.

 

[Jill]

Liz --

Thank goodness everyone is going to be okay! You had a very scary morning

Jill

 

[Sterling]

Oh that pic of the car is a nightmare, Liz!!!! Thank God no one was injured badly. Take bumps and bruises anyday to what it could have been.....such a scarey thing! Seems to me like that little Ford was worth it's weight in gold.

 

[Laura]

I'm so glad everyone is OK! Wow, that is scary! As far as the brave little car, when we had our wreck last year I said our valiant Rhona The Honda gave her life to save ours...and she did

 

[Hosscrazy]

I had chills ready your post, Liz. I am so glad everyone is okay... Such a wake up call to all of us, reminding us how fragile life is and how things can change in one split second. Again, glad everyone is okay.

Liz R.

 

[hobbyhorse23]

Oh man Liz, how scary!! OH! I'm so glad Katie is okay. Tell Kenny to hug her for me and I too will salute the Brave Little Car for dying in such a heroic fashion to keep its owner safe.

Leia

 

[mininik]

Scary! I'm glad the girl and her dog are okay. I'm going to suggest some Bach's Rescue Remedy for them both, plus some D.A.P. for the doggle...

 

[nootka]

miniik, what's D.A.P.? Dotty got a good checkup and a shot for her itchiness (a situation that's been brewing, maybe the wreck made it worse), a good bath and nail trim.

So far, everyone seems not overly sore.

The engine of the little car is probably going to be harvested for the next car, so it's not quite dead, yet, apparently That little car still runs and drives. Amazing.

I'm so glad it held together in that wreck, though!

Thanks, everyone.

Liz

 

[Shari]

I am glad they will both be ok!

 

[ThreeCFarm]

OMG, how scary!!!!! And so lucky that Dotty survived being thrown from the car, I was so afraid you were going to say she didn't make it.

 

[nootka]

No, we were very lucky, and both are still with us and none the worse for wear, really.

I gave 'em both a hug when we were back in each other's presence (at the same time!). Dotty's still shaken up and very reluctant to let Katie out of her sight for any reason. She was lost for over 4 hours along the road and farmlands. We're so lucky she didn't get run over by another car, picked up by someone else, etc. She had been heading back the five or six miles to our house when found, and had made it about a half-mile.

Her checkup was good, though, and looks like the insurance will cover most of it except replacing the car. They may have found another newer escort that the engine could go in if need be.

Hard to believe it still drives (the car).

Thanks for listening, we're all very relieved.

Liz

 

[mininik]

Here's some info. on D.A.P., Liz: http://www.cal.net/~pamgreen/dog_appeasement.html

Bach's Rescue Remedy is also very good stuff - I use it myself!

Neither suggestion had to do with being physically banged up. Both products should help ease the mental trauma, especially with little doggle who sounds like she could really use something more than hugs and kisses, even without the car wreck. Good luck.

 

[user 488]

Wow! So glad everything turned out OK! That is the one BIG reason my animals are crated with crate attached with seat belt in the cars.

 

[mininik]

Excellent point, Carol. Secured crating during car rides is something I have started doing recently, too.

 

[nootka]

Thanks, nik, yes, she needs a little soothing all the time. Thanks for the info!

You know, I had mentioned about the crate b/c we had a little problem with her peeing in the upstairs when Katie would leave her up there for whatever reason. I think I'll mention it again for that reason, too.

Great idea!

Liz

 

[mininik]

No problem. Also mention soothing music (actually made for pets) and TTouch massage for the little dog, plus plenty of mental and physical exercise. You'll be surprised how she'll turn around with the right stuff.

 

[nootka]

Hm. Yes, she is a sedentary little thing. Adorable, going to try and get some pics of her. She took a "shine" to me fairly early on in her new life with "us."

I think it's because I snuck her a treat now and then, but she does seem to prefer females and the little boys make her particularly nervous but she likes them all the same.

Thanks for the advice!

Liz