Today, Mike had several appointments and so off we went. Kota in the truck, the wheelchair loaded on the ramp behind the truck and we were ready to meet the day.
Mike’s wheelchair weighs 154 pounds. I weigh 160- working with that chair and with him just wears me out. We finally finished all the appointments and on the way home, I stopped at the local take and bake pizza shop for dinner to go. I knew I was wiped out.
Got home, put the pizza in the oven, set the timer and then went and sat down in my chair for a few minutes. Before I knew it, I was asleep.
I woke up to Kota nudging the hell out of my arm. Mike was asleep in his chair and the kitchen smoke alarm was going off! I run to the kitchen and smoke is just starting to come out of the oven. Dang it, the pizza! I turned off the oven, opened the windows and doors and turned on the fans and only then did I open the oven door to take out a very blackened, burnt pizza! I was so deep asleep in such a short time that I missed the timer going off- the smoke alarm starting and if it weren’t for Kota, who knows what would have happened? Pretty scary. Mike slept through it all- Me, I’m wide awake right now, hugging my sweet dog with all of my might!
Kota prior to the all the excitement- being tempted by shoes (which he loves to chew) at the prosthetic clinic. I am proud to say that only one command of “Leave it!” was all it took for him to become disinterested.
I’ve read of animals doing such things – usually dogs – but have not before read a first-hand account by someone I knew. If I’d thought about it, I would have hoped never to have to! Kota, what a dog! I like to think that you’d have woken eventually because of the alarm – but maybe not, and who knows how much damage would have happened by then. It may have been deadly. The alarm, the smell of smoke – Kota knew something was amiss. What a good boy. And he probably thinks it’s all in a day’s work for the family dog.
Yay, Kota! That was scary!