Would You Let Someone Intimidate You from Helping an Animal?

Over a week ago, my husband, Ed and I took a drive to watch deer in their natural habitat.  Brody, our lively and frisky pup, made sure he came along for the ride by bringing his leash to us as we prepared to leave.   We could hear the clacking of the leash as he stood and reached while standing on his back legs grabbing it off our table.    He associates his leash with going outside for walks but it also means he’s able to travel with us.   He loves car rides but let me tell you, this guy observes everything.   He anxiously waits as we drive near the whitetail deer to see them.  He waits in anticipation as he sees me reach for the window button.   He’s practically bouncing off the car window waiting for it to open.  He spots the deer and his calling cries do not go unheard by the deer as they stare in wonderment at him.

This January day, it was extremely cold with temperatures near freezing.   After allowing Brody to temporarily stick his small but powerful head out of the passenger window to look at a small doe up close, it was time to move past the area and do a few errands.   We drove slowly through a residential area as I spotted a small, white lap dog sitting on the top cement step.   I saw no lights in the home nor any car anywhere near the property.  This didn’t look good but didn’t necessarily mean no one was home.    It was way too cold for this dog to be outside for an extended period of time.   Since we had no idea the length of time this dog had been waiting,  I felt the wise decision would be to return and check on the dog after our errands which took 30 minutes to complete.

When we made our way back to the area, my husband turned onto the wrong street.    Immediately we saw a white, compact car facing us parked in the middle of the street with its passenger door open despite parking spots available.   As my husband slowly drove around the car,  I watched in amazement as the other car’s passenger door opened wider making the maneuver around the car more difficult but not impossible.   Well, I wasn’t too happy about that.  The door could’ve easily hit my side of the car and for what reason?  Who legitimately opens their door wider as a car is driving around them?

The area where this dog was spotted is in a suburb of Reading, Pennsylvania.  The neighborhood is minutes away from the city known for being the poorest city in the nation in 2011.   There has been no substantial improvement in Reading since then.   Crime is rampant in a city with 80,000-90,000 residents.  According to USA.com,  Reading’s crime rate is much higher than Pennsylvania’s and the national average crime rate.

Crime Index, #673

When it comes to violent crimes, Reading, PA  shows a crime rate that is 175% higher than the Pennsylvania average. The crime rate is also 137% higher than the national average.   I hear the news stories so I know it firsthand.   Dogs and cats can be seen running around the city on a daily basis.  People either throw them out or simply don’t care what happens to them.

Forgetting about what happened with the other vehicle, we trudge along determined to find this dog while making other wrong turns and ending up on a dead-end street.   Ed was turning the car around when a car’s headlights blared into our eyes.   We ignored and perservered in our search.   We finally found the home where lights were now shining inside and the dog was no longer affixed to the top step.  Yay!  The dog was safe!   I wasn’t going to leave the dog if he was still outside.   It’s that simple.   So our worries were over.  Or so I thought.

My anxiousness was now gone knowing the dog was okay and now we could have an enjoyable ride home.    We were approaching a stop sign when a car sped around us and came to an abrupt stop near the sign.   Well, what was up now?   My husband stopped as well and kept his distance.   We weren’t driving too slow or too fast, so why did this car have to go around us so quickly?   The answer came to us when we saw it was the white, compact car.   This was also the same car whose headlights were shining in our eyes.    I didn’t get a good feeling about our sudden halt on a darkened street.

Ed was mad while I wanted to leave immediately.   I told him to get out of there.   Ed must have been in a trance from which I couldn’t shake him.   Ed didn’t want to move.  I did.  I know what he was feeling because we share the same stubborn trait.   However,   you have to be smart.   I may be tough but I’m not stupid.

The white passenger door opened.   Uh-oh.   Ok,  I want to get out of there.  Ed refuses to move.   The male passenger steps out of the car.   Ed,  MOVE!, I said.  We sit.   The man starts to walk toward our car.  My heart is beating faster and harder.   Get the hell out of here, I said loudly but not loud enough for the passenger to hear!!!!!  Ed finally drives away in a different direction.    Not knowing their intentions,   the driver and the passenger were clearly upset with us.   I don’t know if they had a weapon.  We didn’t.

My heart was still racing.   Are they following us, I wondered as we kept driving.    I finally had the courage to look and I didn’t see the car.   Until we got on a main road, I wasn’t going to be satisfied.

We left unscathed.  All I kept thinking was that we were there to help an innocent dog in this bitterly cold weather.   Why was anyone upset with us?  Was it because I was mad at the driver for parking in the middle of the street?  As we drove by and I was the one who saw the passenger door open wider, I became angry.  We were minding our own business trying to maneuver around their car that didn’t belong there.  Our car could’ve been hit by their door.  Of course, I was mad.   Did the passenger hear me say how stupid it was to park like that.   Was that the reason we had their headlights shining in our eyes?   Was that the reason to race around us and come to a screeching halt and then walk toward our car?

The entire episode shook me up badly.   I’m not one to typically become upset easily.   My only thought was there could be a gun and they wanted to scare us.   I don’t know if there was a gun at all.    There was no reason for anyone to be mad at us.   We were too close to a city with a bad reputation for their crime rate.

After we calmed down,  I had to give Brody props for his calm demeanor.   Our small but powerful pup is a great watchdog.  He barks and growls when he suspect someone is up to no good.  He kept his cool as did we.   That’s an important lesson to remember.   Anger will only make a situation worse.   We didn’t want that but I also didn’t want to stick around to find out.

My one and only goal was to see if a dog was still sitting outside in the bitter cold.  To make sure an animal was safe was all I had on my mind and if he wasn’t,  he had to be moved to a safe place.

Scaring people so they can’t help others solves nothing.  All it creates is confusion.  It may stop others from helping a person or animal.

After this scare,  the driver and passenger haven’t dissuaded me from doing the same next time.    A life is a life.   If I see a person or animal that is suffering and needs help,  I’m going to be of service no matter who tries to stop me.

Would you fear returning to help this dog if this happened to you?   Have you been through a similar scenario?  Please feel free to share!