What kids don't think of the dog will!

While we were in the community on Monday afternoon, we were looking for people to visit. I finally found Maria Carmen at home and was helping her carry some water to her cabbage plants. The buckets were heavy and she was carrying her sleeping grandson on her back. I was hoping to get to practice some Quichua with her, but since she was so busy, she really was not talking much. Mike noticed that the kids at the next house were on the roof with a puppet we had not seen before. He decided to check it out, and walked next door. As he was standing under the balcony of the house talking to the kids, they dropped the puppet from the balcony. As it happened, the family dog, who we know, was sleeping near Mike. When the puppet dropped to the ground, the dog woke up and attacked the first thing he saw- which happened to be Mike! I looked over and saw the dog attacking Mike's leg, and he finally got it to stop. Of course, the kids had no idea that something like that would happen, and came running down to fuss at the dog. We are sure the dog was just frightened, thinking that Mike had done something bad at his house. In any case, it ripped several holes in Mike's brand new jeans, and did break the skin.

Mike came walking over to Carmen's house, and she was very, very concerned. About that time, Gregorio (the community president) came walking up, and we told him what happened. I had not seen Mike's leg yet, and honestly was concerned at the blood! Maria Carmen said that we should bathe it with hot camomile water, so she went off to heat some. When it was hot, we went into her house and she brought a cloth he could wash it with. Fotunately, it is really just a wound on the skin, and did not penetrate more deeply. Since it was still bleeding a little, and Mike's pants had dog slobber on them, Mike went into town to get some antibiotic cream and gauze.

Gregorio, Carmen, and later the owners of the dog all suggested making a poultice of fur or wool from the dog to put on the wound. They all insisted that putting the wool or fur of the same dog on its bite would cure the wound in two days. We thought it was interesting, but we respectfully declined. Mike said he thought he was fine, though he did visit the doctor today, just to make sure. While Mike was out buying the ointment and gauze, I asked Gregorio if there had been any problems with rabies in their area. He said that Hospital San Luis in Otavalo comes out regularly to vaccinate both people and animals. He told me that they even vaccinate the farm animals such as cows and goats. I was relieved to hear it, but I think Mike and I will probably get the rabies vaccination series just for future peace of mind. In the meantime, Mike will be carrying a stick whenever there are dogs around to protect us from mean dogs!

By the way, there has not been any significant swelling, and Mike says his leg really does not hurt very much. Sorry, no pics with this one!!!