Poor Puppy

On Saturday, Ellie and I went to Nordstrom with my mom to look for a pair of shoes.  For those of you that don't know Ellie, well, she is my evil...yet oh so sweet 8 year old Golden.  There was a big cosmetic event going on and we had to dodge people left and right...and left...then right.  It was sheer chaos, not to mention, there was major construction going on. 

We took the escalator up.  Ellie's first time on moving stairs.  She pretty much flattened out like a pancake as we went up to the first level.  Lots of "oh, look at how cute she is!" and of course, I was telling her that she was being very brave.  One more level to go.  We stepped on and she was a pro.  She started climbing up these moving stairs and then felt so sassy, that she turned around to look at me.  Now she was backwards and couldn't figure out how to turn around.  We got to the top and as I pulled her the right direction, her toenail got caught in the escalator...and...then...gulp...it ripped out.

ACCCKKKK!  Blood everywhere.  In Norstrom.

I asked the shoe clerk for something to stop the bleeding.  Kleenex...paper towel...giant beach towel...  She gives me two sheets of tissue paper.  The type that you use to wrap purchases with.  This was not helping, but a wonderful clerk saw us struggling and went to get towels from the bathroom.  The next thing I knew, we had another clerk with a giant first aid kit, the store manager and two other clerks there to assist.  Just to give you the complete visual...we're in the shoe department on a Saturday.  Crowds of people walking by.  Me there with my bleeding dog laying on the, now bloodied, carpet.  My mom?  Looking for the shoes that we were there for.  The gal with the first aid kit, which by the way could probably help the entire population of Haiti, pulled out a big white gauzy thing with straps and was attempting to wrap Ellie's foot.  Ellie was entertained by this.  The store manager told me that she'd need to see the vet to get stitches.  Really?  Um...okay.  I ended up taking the stuff from the Nurse and doing my own thing.  Surprised?  The best part was a comment from a customer.  "This is why dogs don't belong on escalators."  I looked up at her, while applying pressure to Ellie's foot, and said with a smile, "Thank you.  That was really helpful."  Grr.

We hightailed it outta there, taking the elevator thank you very much, and leaving a trail of blood behind us.  I called the vet, and was told that there was no need for stitches and got my dog home safe and sound.

Oh, and the shoes?  Well, they were made in China and my mom wouldn't buy them.  ARGH!