As I mentioned in my tale of our earthquake experience, Dulcinea awoke about the same time I did to when the ground started shaking for what we thought was a typical tremor. As soon as the deafening sound began and the crazy shaking, she jumped into my lap and began shaking herself. I couldn’t believe how much she was shaking. I held onto her with dear life and my husband held onto us. Thank god he is the calm one in emergency situations.
After the terremoto (earthquake) stopped, we had to get dressed right away and leave the building to head for higher ground. Luckily I had left Dulcinea dressed in a sweater and added her Snuggie on top of her harness since it was only 3:30am and freezing outside. The poor thing just kept shaking, kind of like me, full of adrenaline. I had to keep her in my arms the whole time. In fact, I kept her in my arms most of the weekend and you could tell she was still scared for days. She would bark at people she knew in the house, or run away at loud sounds even more than before. Her eating habits were null, she was too nervous to eat. So I did my best to comfort her. I surely didn’t mind being able to take care of her nor that she was extra-snuggly. It made me feel safer too.
Once we got back to Santiago, I got to stay at home for 2 days before having to go back to the office. On the morning I had to go to work, I took her for a walk to do her business. As we walked by a man who was getting something out of the trunk of his car, he commented on how beautiful Dulcinea is. I told him “Gracias” (thanks). He asked me what kind of dog she is (this happens a lot here as not many people are familiar with long-haired dachshunds) and I told him, salchicha miniature de pelo largo. He then began to tell me a story that made both me and Duclinea sad.
“I had 3 dogs. I lost two of them on the night of the earthquake. I was able to save one and take him out of the apartment building with my family. I live on the 11th floor and I went back in to get the other two as soon as I could. But one had jumped from the window and the other had a heart attack. Es muy difícil (It is very hard).”
All I could muster up at that point was “Lo siento, que terrible” (I am so sorry, how terrible)...my eyes swelled with tears and we began walking again. I hugged Dulcinea extra hard while climbing the 11 flights of stairs to our apartment. I am so thankful my little girl didn’t have a heart attack that night even though I know she easily could have. I have been bugging my husband to make her sleep on the floor and not in our bed, but ever since that happened, I don’t know how I could make her sleep alone again. I think being alone during that night would have been terrible for her, even if she was just next to our bed. She could have gotten smashed by the big vase that fell over or worse. At least when she is in our bed we know where she is and that she is safe.
If you are interested in helping out the earthquake relief efforts in Chile, please buy a print or multiple from my husband’s photography. We are donating all profits earned from March 3rd to March 17th to the Red Cross Chile and Un Techo Para Chile (A Roof for Chile). There are some cute dachshund pictures on the website for those of you who are interested!!! The other pictures available are scenic shots of Chile, Argentina, Colorado and other parts of the US.
This is Dulcinea in her sweater on the afternoon the day of the earthquake. Her grandparents from the US gave her that sweater for Christmas. It sure did come in handy!
Taking care of my baby. She had just woken up from a nap in my lap the day of the earthquake. We were without electricity and water and luckily had a bbq to cook some meat for lunch.
The little one, sound asleep on the Grandma's chair. We were eating lunch the day after the earthquake and she was exhausted from being so stressed out.
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7 comments:
Love this blog... partly because I own a dachshund...who is amazing and a central part of my life (She even inspired my business, http://DoggoneKnits.com since she's long and lean and needs custom knit sweaters).
Anyway, I am very happy to give you the Happy 101 Blog Award --- http://shaynaleahk.wordpress.com/2010/03/08/my-very-first-blog-award/
Thank God you guys are well after such a terrible natural event. Hug little Dulci tight!
The heart attack thing never even crossed my mind but what a scary thing to have to worry about in addition to everything else!
Heard there were more today! Hope you all made it through ok! Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers!!!
Yes, we had 3 more quakes today (all above the 6 grade range) and close to Santiago. It was quite awful, but we are safe and there was no damage to our building (that I am aware of). Thanks to everyone for keeping us in your thoughts!!!
How terrifying! I'm glad you're all okay.
That poor man's story broke my heart. Like Ben, a heart attack isn't something I would have thought about. I know three dachshunds who will be getting extra snuggles tonight...
I just caught up w/ this - missed your fundraiser, but I contributed to Chile relief earlier
MANY hugs & skritches to the lovely Lady Dulcinea!!
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