Seems to be the day for vet appointments.

The little maskless heeler came limping into the house one day back in September, with a small bleeding hole in her front left foot. Right in between the two middle toes. Had had her and her sister out running as we worked that day, so no telling what caused the cut. But it is usually best to let dogs treat themselves with their antiseptic saliva, which is what we did.

But it got infected, oozing puss. So, off to the vet. His advice?

Best let her treat herself. But bring her back if it doesn't get better.

Still oozing off and on through the fall. By her next vet visit in November (mainly just because her sister was there for an appointment already... her Mom got looked at too), it was sealed up and looking better.

By Christmas, the swelling was back, only worse. With a little attention, we got it open, and globs of puss oozed out again.

This went on for weeks now. Last Sunday, eldest son scolded us for not taking his girl in to the vet. So, today I did. Had to take eldest son's Landcruiser, as it was too cold for the Dodge to start. Masked heeler and her Mom watched with concern (and relief that they did not have to go inside) as I took the little one into the vets'.

And came back without her.

The "two go out... only one comes back" sort of thing.

The vet decided it was time to be serious. Wanted to sedate her, cut her foot open, and see what's what.

You cannot believe the scowling looks her sister gave me all afternoon. For abandoning her sister at the dreaded vets'. I'm sure she expected her sister to come home half shaved with staples in her butt.

'Cause that's what vets do, you know.

Wife brought the little heeler home after work. They extracted a ³/₄-inch thorn from deep between the bones of her toes.

A greasewood spine. They couldn't identify it, but that's what the wife said it was. Had to hurt, but you'd never know it to watch her run.

Now she's trotting around with a bandaged foot, wrapped and taped in a sandwich bag to keep the snow off. Feeling much better now.

Eldest son is grateful we finally took care of our responsibilities. Wife is the Alpha-heroine for rescuing the maskless heeler from the dreaded vets'.

And I'm still getting glared at by the masked heeler.