Kairi bites back

Kairi would of course never bite. A dog fight isn't something she'd ever get involved in. A snap at an annoying puppy. A yelp and run away from a big boi. A fight? No. A "ferocious" grr with a foot moving under a blanket. Definitely.

It is with a heavy heart I share that Kairi was involved a very serious dog fight. One where she did not and could not fight back. Even if she did have an aggressive spirit, a pomeranian could no way take on a pit bull. It was a very one-sided dog attack.

 

Kairi is a soft potato. A loaf of bread. She borks at inanimate objects with a muffled bark that makes her sound like she's in a box. She rolls over wanting tummy rubs, wagging her pig pig tail to everyone, even other dogs. Yet, right now she is left shaking and unable to play with her friends and restricted to one room. This is all because of an uncontrolled dog was left off lead and unmuzzled in a dog walking and children playing field, locally known as 'the meadows' during prime walking time. It was just a typical after work walk that has turned into a never ending nightmare.

Kairi loves running in big fields. After I finish work, it's Kairi's time. She loves going to the local field, Bridgehouse Meadows, to meet her pals. Sniffing each blade of grass, borking at the bushes and rolling around with friends old and new. She sometimes gets overwhelmed by big dogs she meets there. Kairi rolls over, submitting to a dog when she's nervous. Usually this leads to a lot of tentative tail wagging and butt sniffing. I tell her to stop being silly and they usually become friends. This time Kairi got bit. It shocked us both. No words came.

Kairi is usually so fast and her cries causes the dogs to back off or the owner to recall the dog. This owner clearly had no say in what the dog was about to do next. Whilst running away after the first bite, Kairi got caught by this dog again. Her cries were not of anxiety, it was of pain. I never run, but my god did I run to her cries as the big dog carried her by her leg further away. My heart sank.

One of the hardest thoughts running through my mind is knowing that in that split second, she could have very easily died in my arms whilst I was trying to take her weight off that dog's teeth. LUNA NO. She was held suspended with most of her body engulfed. STOP. I knew that the mouth my baby was in could snap her bones in an instant. LUNA DROP. My hand got locked in the dogs mouth along with Kairi's little tiny body. LUNA LET GO. As we both yelped in pain, I remember wishing it was more of me in that massive strong jaw so that less of Kairi's body would have the to take the impact. I'VE ONLY HAD HER 5 DAYS. Why is she off the lead? BAD DOG What felt like an eternity passed until the dog let us go. SHE'S GOING TO ESCAPE. Through shaky bleeding hands gripping onto baby, I helped the owner leash her dog.

Later, I would find out that the punctures actually fractured my bone. Against the odds, Kairi escaped with her life. She sustained several deep wounds and internal punctures to her stomach. That is just the physical trauma. Considering the type of dog and the size to Kairi, it is nothing short of a miracle that Kairi is still leaving her stuffing fluff here and there.

After the dog attack, both Kairi and I are at the very best, a mess. We both have our own battle wounds and every day it is so hard. It has been a challenge for me to look after Kairi with one hand whist also caring for myself. It breaks my heart seeing her with all her multiple wounds. The one thing I was meant to do: protect her, I couldn't. She wants to cuddle away my tears but her cone stops her getting too close.

 

As much as that one moment has impacted and traumatised us, it is the shortest part of this whole ordeal. It has already been a week since the incident on the 8th. A very long week. Kairi is still very sensitive, tensing when stroking her back. She barely exposes her belly. She spooks from small noises like a sports bottle cap opening. She still tries to wag her tail though. It's amazing how resilent and strong this little baby lion is. Two nights of emergency vet hospitalisation. Endless whimpering causing restless sleep with fears of needing readmission. Re-hospitalisation and multiple anxiety inducing check ups later; the end is still yet to be seen. Kairi still has open wounds with tubes sticking out. Her hair is shaven exposing where the teeth sank in. If you connect the stitches and scabs, you can make out the full mouth shape of the dog. The hair that is left absorbs up the fluids constantly draining from the internal soft tissue punctures. To stop her licking herself, she has a cone on. If it wasn't so distressing, I'd say she looks hilarious.

 

Kairi is everything to me. The foxy lady gives me strength to get better. I have to because she needs me to. I had my first overnight hospital stay after visiting two different A&E departments. Alone and unable to fill out the form with my bandaged right hand, thinking about my next of kin at the vet hospital, I cried and cried. This week has been my first operation too. I'm risk adversive and pride myself in having good general health but had to rush back to A&E in fear of losing my finger. Things are looking a lot more stable for both of us but unfortunately, the medical issues and stresses, both past and ongoing aren't all that Kairi and I have to deal with.

 

During our time of healing and adjusting, it made sense to me to start a fundraiser to not only help with the ongoing expenses following the attack, but to also raise awareness and share knowledge around dog attacks. This is the only way Kairi can "bite" back. Did you know it is NOT illegal for a dog to attack another dog? This doesn't sit right with me. Because my injury is from a dog fight, there is no recourse to seize the dog or punish the owner. This means that Kairi and I, as well as other similar cases get no justice. It is ultimately up to humans being morally kind...

The owner, a young Caucasian woman with light coloured hair, is not taking up any responsibility and refuses to cooperate. There is no legal obligation to. If I had her details, I could at least make a claim. She refuses to share this. Apparently, the dangerous dog has been returned to the breeder. This poses more danger to the community where this one year old pit bull like dog called Luna will probably be sold into another family and potentially attack again. I stared into that dog's mouth but couldn't tell you much about the dog apart from it had strong jaws that most of Kairi fit into. She was juvenile and pale in colour. The owner was shouting in my face, hitting the dog on the head to let me and Kairi go but I can't really recall her too well either. In the confusion and urgency, I only managed to get her phone number. She hasn't responded bar telling me she returned the dog. So it is also in my hopes that this page will be shared and can help identify the owner as well as track down the dog in New Cross, SE14. I want to help ensure the owner takes responsibility and the dog goes to a responsible owner so that it will never have an opportunity to ever attack again. Next time, neither dog nor human may be so lucky.

 

This is a fundraiser to give back to Kairi. Where she cannot fight back, we have to "bite" for her as well as the wider dog lovers community. A lot of supplies, medications, travel and chimken is needed during this time so it's not just increasing medical expenses we are faced with. Any sourced information, learnings and resources gained will be shared in due course. Please share generously, donate if you can, and follow us on our recovery journey. Any advice, learnings, help, shared stories, information and general love is greatly appreciated. DMs are open @kairipom or feel free to email in at [email redacted].

 

As long as this is to read, trust me, typing with my left hand has not been a quick task.