Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen

Trouble comes in many different guises, I'm learning. Ever had one of those weeks where everything really seems to just go wrong? Well, this one has been a doosey. Our lawnmower, chainsaw, weed eater, and oven all decided to die. Worst of all, though, was what happened to our German Shepard, Fly, pictured above with her constant compatriot in nefarious deeds, Dexter (aka "Pigasus" and "Pigasorous"-newly acquired nicknames). 
We live on 12 acres, tucked into a forested cove, with 350 acres of protected nature preserve on one side, and 15 vacant acres of forest on the other side. One would think such a setting would be a safe place for a dog to run free. Not so, folks, not so. To make a very long, very nerve-wrecking story short, Fly stepped on something that ripped open her right front paw and she almost bled to death. She severed a major artery and a vein. Fortunately we caught it in time. A whole host of other insane and far-too-grotesque-for-this-blog things occurred on the operating table that I won't mention here. Lesson learned-dogs in the country are just as at risk of injury or death as dogs in the city are. 
We go back to the vet (BEST VET IN THE WORLD-HEATHER SINCLAIR!!!!) tonight for follow up X-rays and blood work. Fly has to take an antibiotic, an anti-inflammatory, and Vitamin K for awhile, but as I'm giving them to her in peanut butter (Dexter gets his own spoonful), she doesn't seem to mind. Country folks, take my painfully learned advice and don't let your dogs run free. Leash them or erect invisible fencing to keep them safe from bear traps, fox traps, hunters, eating poisoned animals, cars, and old debris like beer bottles that they can step on. 

*Small Measure: Use biodegradable dog and cat waste bags. These break down over time and won't choke up the landfill. While the dogs don't have a need for these bags out here (the forest is pretty accepting), the cats' waste (we have 5!!!) goes into these bags, and then into a reserved pit in the back of the property to decompose. Good sources include Biobags and Four Paws.