The Lowdown on Halloweeen

This trip just gets better and better.

First, we spent most of the day with Ric's sister Sue and her kids, TJ, Emily, and Jon. (Thom was at work.) They had a BALL playing together. Even though the kids were older, they loved playing with Ryan and Megan. We were lucky enough to get Meg to nap for a few hours, though Ryan was another story.

Now for the Halloween Trick-or-Treat details...are you ready for this?

The Thompson's live in a nice little development with lots of kids. Around 7:00 pm all the little trick-or-treaters started coming out of their houses, people parked their lawn chairs, and the festivities began. So far, Ryan was getting the idea that we were walking around the neighborhood, and Megan just followed along, though we carried her most of the time.

We were across the street and down the block about 4 houses from Sue's, knocking on the door with a bunch of other kids. As the door opened, two pit bulls rushed out around the little girl who answered it. Obviously she thought nothing of it since they were her dogs, but my first thought was "why aren't these dogs tied up?" Megan was walking up the sidewalk and one ran up to her and startled her, but then moved on. It was friendly enough and even licked Ric's hands and seemed to be happy. Until...it spotted a tiny little Pappillon on a leash at the end of the driveway.

*Of course this is my opinion, but no one who is out on Halloween night should have their dogs with them, there's just too many chances for things to go wrong.*

In a SPLIT SECOND, that little dog was in the mouth of the pit bull that just ran past us. He was shaking it around like a rag doll. The owner was screaming, and the little girl who was with her was completely hysterical. Ric was close enough that he managed (somehow) to grab the collar of the dog so it wouldn't run off with the little one. (He got scraped up in the process.) Sue went to try to calm the little girl (who was Hanna Montana, by the way, so cute!) And the owner was trying to get her dog away from the pit bull.

FINALLY, the big dogs owner came out and managed to grab his dogs, get them in the house, and close the door. He immediately turned off the lights, while neighbors called the police. From what we were hearing from other neighbors, there have been other attacks but nothing with witnesses. Well...there were TONS of witnesses this time! Unfortunately, most of them little kids who are now completely tramatized!

Anyway, we don't know the status of the little dog. When we finally left for our hotel, they were still waiting for the cops and animal patrol to show up, but the dog was wrapped in a towel and being watched by many neighbors. Poor little Hanna Montana wouldn't come back outside the rest of the night.

I have to say, both Ric and I feel SO blessed. That little puppy could have been Megan. Not 5 seconds earlier, the dog was sniffing her!

Welcome to Florida! *sigh*

We're off to Sarastota this morning and to the wedding this afternoon. Hopefully the festivities will be MUCH more tame! :)

ps - the good news about Ryan not having a nap yesterday was that he fell asleep in the car on the way back to the hotel and didn't wake up until 8:30 this morning! Woo Hoo!