A First Time For Everything

The other day I experienced two 'firsts' in my life.

I went surfboard shopping.  No - I have not turned into some Southern California surfer girl wanna-be.  Surfing has always been a spectator sport for me.

MRW came to So Cal - as SLC is obviously not a haven for surf shops - on a mission to find 9 used surfboards for a commercial shoot.

It was a fun adventure wandering around the San Diego swap meet and abundant surf shops along the many miles of beaches.  I learned a lot about surfboards and surfing that day!

The 2nd new experience came while at a surfboard rental shop in Mission Beach.  He had stopped the car to type a text and I got out to inquire at the shop if they had any old boards for sale. 

 The front door of the shop was locked and there was a rather crazed dog inside barking at the door.

As I walked back to the car - I noticed the side door of the shop was open.  

I noticed this because the big fence door right off the sidewalk was also open.  I deduced that there might actually be someone there if both doors were wide open.  And after all - I just had a quick question to ask.

I stayed out on the sidewalk and called into the shop to see if anyone was there.  Suddenly that devil dog from the front door came flying through the open gate and in an instant my jeans on my upper right leg were torn.

I know I went into adrenaline-rush-survival-mode.  I turned to the right to bolt and the dog jumped at me again and ripped my jeans on my left leg.  This time the little 'bitch' bit me!

I guess I had a 3rd new experience - Shock.  I stood there shaking - trying to figure out what the hell just happened!

MRW hadn't seen the attack - but in his side mirror he did see me talking to a restaurant guy who was preparing to cook some menu special on an outside grill.  We were both looking down at my jeans.  He wondered if somehow something had splattered on me as I walked by the grill.

I got to the car to tell him what had happened.  We went back to the shop just as the owner - Ray- walked up to the door.  We showed him my torn jeans and the bite mark.

He was very apologetic.  He said "Lyla's" life had just changed as now he couldn't trust her to be running free in the store.  He assured me that she had all her shots and offered me money to replace my jeans.

When we told Ray that we thought it would be appropriate to file a police report - he had a dramatic demeanor change.  He begged us not to do that - as the dog meant everything to him.  I told him they would at most probably just quarantine her for a few days and there would be nothing to worry about if her shots were up to date.

With that - the situation escalated and things started to go nowhere fast.  Ray implied that I must have opened the gate to cause the dog to attack - which was not the case.  Our estimation was that Lyla probably had a previous record and this offense could mean the end of the doggie road for her. 

We didn't feel the events qualified as a 9-1-1 emergency - so we left to find a police cruiser.  MRW took me to the lifeguard building nearby to get the wound cleaned out.  He stayed outside to watch for the police - even parked illegally to see if they would show up.  Didn't happen - a slow Sunday at the beach I guess.

I was able to file an official report at the lifeguard station.  They suggested that I get a tetanus shot and a copy of the dog's vaccination records.   We stopped back at the surf shop and Ray said he'd get the records for me the next day.  I need to go get the shot.

What was also disturbing was the thought of what might have happened if a child had wandered through that gate.   Not a pleasant thought - and this story could have had a tragic ending.

So - quite a day of firsts!  Updates to come....