Splatter: A Scene from a Doodle Horror Film

[Linda Karell]

My darling 15 month old Chervil just about did me in. Two days a week, we crate her for the afternoon while we're at work. She loves her crate so that's no problem, and we have a dog walker come in those days so she gets a good run in the middle of the afternoon. Yesterday I got home from work--Chervil had probably been crated about two hours since her walk--walked into the house and it stunk. Bad. "Oh no--she rolled in something," I thought (naively). Through the kitchen, up the stairs, to the bedroom to let her out--and she had had terrible diarrhea in her crate. The volume of poo a doodle can do still amazes me--and this was a doozey.

And that's where I made my mistake. Poor dog--how miserable for her--and she was covered in the stuff, so I immediately let her out. And she immediately shook. And ran down the stair, through the kitchen, shaking, whapping her tail around, etc. I literally (I am not making this up) had dog poo in the following places: all over and around the crate, on her stuffed bed-toy, on the bed and the headboard, on the bookshelf across the room, and several walls; on the walls going down the stairs (and of course on each stair those poopy feet touched), across the kitchen floor, on the refrigerator, the stove, and even a splatter on one of the high cabinets.

Two hours of solid cleaning and three loads of laundry (on the super hot diaper setting) later I once again had a clean dog and house (though I think I ruined my work pants because I used bleach and did I think to change them--of course not). I ended my evening by drinking wine and staring at the tv like an idiot. The good news: I gave Chervil some pumpkin along with her dinner, and she seems to be just fine. She's never had a single crate accident before, even as a wee pup, so she must have been very desperate and I hate that I put her in that situation. On the other hand, it would have been just as bad if she were free in the house (only I'd be replacing carpet right now).

She seems happily recovered and snoozing away as I type. Moral of the story: if this happens to you, throw a towel or a sheet over your dog before you let them out of the crate!! Sorry so long, but who else can I tell this story to???

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I am one step away from being Monk (the detective), so this would be my biggest nightmare. Hope the wine helped.

[Colleen & Abel]

Oh no what a nightmare!

[Camilla and Darwin]

I cringed. I'm glad the poop is gone and the pup is feeling better. :-)

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

This just sounds awful. I am glad you got it cleaned up and that Chervil is doing okay :)

[Adina P]

Oh oh oh...I want to cry for you. I've had some major poop clean-up but never as bad as that. I've learned to put towels down on the floor as a walking path whenever my dog has made such a mess. Cuz they are amazing at tracking it around. I'll make a towel path, then usher them outside until I'm ready to clean them up (AFTER I've cleaned what they left behind). Ewww ewww eww...and you! TWO HOURS of cleaning. What a day!

[HANNAH 8/2/07 & HONEY 7/2/08]

Hope you both have a great day today...glad Chervil is feeling much better

[Christine & Shelby]

Oh my.... my heart goes out to you and Chervile! I am glad to hear that she is feeling better now. A good friend of mine had a similar experience with her dog... in the car on the way to the Vet's office. Poop everywhere... in the AC vents, carpet, dashboard instruments, etc. They had the car detailed and it was like new.... feel bad for the person who got that assignment. They said they left a big tip!

[Lori]

How awful! YOU poor thing, glad the pooch is feeling better : )

[Michele Barton]

Goodness, I don't know who to feel sorry for the most, you or Chervil! I'm glad she's feeling better now and everything is cleaned up. Reminds me of the time my daughter was little and projectile vomited all over the house. To this day I can't eat hot dogs with macaroni and cheese. I wish you a very peaceful day today!