Over the years, I’ve fallen over many times while walking Flossie and also my previous dog, Dotty.
Sometimes dramatically.
My most spectacular tumble was with Dotty, outside my own house (rather humiliatingly).
We’d just returned from a walk and my hand was a little too relaxed on the lead.
Dotty spotted her nemesis, next door’s cat, and took off at speed, yanking the lead and my arm with it. As our road was on a sharp downward incline, this didn’t bode well for me.
I gripped the lead tightly, paranoid that a loose dog could run across the adjacent busy road.
This was a mistake.
I was not anything like as fast as Dotty.
I fell forwards, smacking my head on the curb, and let go of Dotty.
She sprinted off down next door’s drive, thankfully in the opposite direction to the main road.
I got up immediately, oblivious to my state, desperate to get her back on the lead.
A kind neighbour rushed out to help. He pointed out my head was bleeding.
I told him I was absolutely fine, as I clipped my adrenalin-infused dog back onto her lead (she’d given up on the cat).
When I got inside, I burst into tears. I had several injuries and I still have the scars today. I’d been too embarrassed to cry in front of my neighbour.
Silly, really.
So, when the weather’s icy like it was recently, I walk around the streets gingerly, acutely aware of how quickly things can go wrong.
Flossie walks nicely on the lead, but she seems extra frisky when it’s cold. Maybe there are new or different smells around.
I usually walk quickly so she looks at my new cautious style with suspicion.
There are a couple of hairy moments when I involuntarily run on the spot as my foot hits some ice.
But we made it unscathed and I’m certainly relieved the weather has now turned milder.
Until next time.
As published in the Bath Chronicle, 23 January 2024
Suzy Pope is a certified copywriter and newspaper columnist specialising in pets, business and lifestyle. If you would like help with a writing project, please get in touch.
