It is well known that I like a schedule for everything in my life, without order there is chaos.  Let’s face it, the only thing I can successfully control in my life is WorthamWorld. 

 Other aspects of my life and my businesses are often beyond my control with clients and on occasion, my team arguing amongst themselves.  While many of our events “appear” perfect, I’m the first person to effectively “throw myself under the bus” by telling you the hurdles we had to jump to get it right.  Nearly every decision from gas stations to restaurants with my team is decided by flipping a coin since no one can agree on anything around here!

 The truth is, although my team can occasionally “have their own opinions” we band together to overcome the unexpected and, I believe it’s our greatest asset. Sure, we have our petty squabbles but what family business doesn’t? 

 Because of this- I operate on daily schedule of business and personal appointments and agendas.  Everything is cleaned on a tight schedule and I take great pride in keeping a perfect home that is fairly eclectic and funky!  From the leaded glass windows to the chandeliers and home furnishing designed and upholstered by me- nothing matches and everything is a work of art that is carefully “kept up” by me. My husband views WorthamWorld as a luxury resort with find foods and televisions located throughout since he enjoys two separate living rooms for his usual favorite shows NASCAR and the Golf Channel.  Besides, I don’t trust anyone to clean my home as well as I do or care as much that a smudged mirror or stained countertop can send me “reeling.”  My husband never correctly cleans the way I do or with the vigor I use when handling a home project.

  Weekdays at WorthamWorld start early because I cook breakfast for Matthew Wortham prior to his departure to work.  Following this, I walk Foxy Wortham then answer emails and catch up on social media and write blogs regarding both my businesses and my life.  Then, I list on eBay, meet prospective clients, check my chore list at WorthamWorld, work in my work room for Texas Twins Treasures and meet Cindy Daniel for lunch or go have fun with the Little Pawners, friends or clients who are now my friends.  I stay busy! 

  

Weekends are slightly more laid back with Mr Wortham at home and breakfast scheduled between 9 and 10 with our usual weekend chore list so you can imagine my horror last Sunday while walking Foxy Wortham when a dog dashed out of nowhere and attached us in the alley behind WorthamWorld!   

It is not well known that as a child, a Doberman came at my twin and little brother in a park and I hastily hoisted them both into a tree and while attempting to follow, was bitten on my left ear.  The dog would not let go and tore my ear halfway from my head.  Years later, this memory haunts me and I’m naturally nervous around an agitated dog.

What happened had happened “quick, fast and, in a hurry!”  The dogs were fighting and I attempted to use my feet to separate them which resulted in several ankle and foot bites.  I then attempted to “reach down and pick my dog up” this resulted in numerous wrist and finger lacerations. Finally, my dog wriggled out of his harness and the dogs went “scrapping and running” down the alley and into the street.  Running like a lunatic with barely a half cup of coffee in my system, the adrenaline was at an all time high because of my knowledge regarding the traffic on Byers, Collinwood and Horne street. 

 In a “full blown” panic after not being able to locate my dog, I returned to WorthamWorld to grab my car keys and go drive the neighborhood searching for Foxy. Thankfully, he was waiting near the paint cans on my stairwell where I had been working for several days to paint the New Orleans wrought iron adorning my historic old home. 

 I was horrified, terrified and too upset to take my dog back out and my husband did so for me.  The lady who owned the dog located my husband since she too had gotten into her vehicle to search for us and make sure we were okay. Priding myself on being a perfect hostess,  I invited into our home and offered her champagne and breakfast since staying busy often calms me down.  Not knowing the circumstances surrounding the dangerous dog, she explained her husband had been sent home to die and the dog belonged to him.  She had never walked him and therefore, had no idea he would dash out and was not normally aggressive. I realized that dogs “know” when something is amiss and the dog was most likely acting out.  Mending my wounds and double checking Foxy, I gave her a list of support groups and offered to walk the dog for her as she made funeral arrangements over the next few weeks.  The moral to this story is if you don’t know someone’s issues, you will never be able to help them overcome them.

Fort Worth has Animal Control Laws and I deliberately did not report this incident in order to protect my neighbor.  My friend Tammi Leggett had her dog quarantined and was forced to pay tickets after a bite incident a few blocks from my own home.  This was tragic as Tex is a friendly and happy go lucky dog who suffered numerous health issues following the quarantine. 

Animal Control Laws require that a dog must be securely enclosed or confined to its owners yard by a physical fence in a manner that will isolate the dog from the public and other animals. When a dog is walked or with it’s owner away from the property, the dog must be on a leash and accompanied by the owner at all times.  If a dog is not restrained or not with the owner, it is a violation of Cory ordinance.

Quarantine is a requirement after a dog bite regardless of the status of the animal at the time of the bite, the biting animal must be placed in quarantine for ten days from the date of the bite. Quarantine means placing the animal in a facility that provides:

Absolute security, Isolation, and Daily observation by a qualified person.  State law requires the owner to pay for the quarantine. The quarantine must be in a Texas Department of Health Approved animal shelter, veterinary clinic or the home of the animals owner, provided it is an in family bite and the animal is currently vaccinated and licensed, with the approval of the local rabies control authority.

Because I was aware of everything that our dear family friend, Tammi had suffered after a Gardner had accidentally left a gate open for Tex to escape the yard and the enormous amount of anxiety and expense she suffered because of it- there was no way that I would put my neighbor who was already struggling with her husbands health issues through such an ordeal!

Sometimes in life, tragedy strikes.  How we handle the unexpected incident is in our own hands. My choice was to protect my neighbor and mend my wounds as my feisty little sidekick had no injuries and bit the other dog after I was bitten on the ankle. Dog bites to your face, head and neck can be extremely dangerous and my niece, Stephaney Mahaney has scars both above and below her left eye after a family pet “pinned her” at five years old and damaged her face so horrifically that she endured numerous cosmetic procedures to repair the damage.  If your dog is a biter- please muzzle him in order to protect yourself and your neighbors.

I’m finishing my wrought iron painting project and healing nicely, all is well that ends well….

Wendy M Wortham