The Air Conditioning Vent Attacked Vern Last Night!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Last night, I was already in bed watching Dancing With the Stars, when Vern came running into the room like he had seen a ghost. Most people in my family know not to bother me when my favorite show is on, but from the looks of it, Vern did not get the memo. He looked so scared and happy to see me that I forgot momentarily what was happening on TV.  Pretty soon, in came my daughter to tell me what happened. Yesterday, it got very hot, so I turned on the air conditioner. I used to like to wait until later in the year to turn the a/c on, but that was before I got hairy dogs and I started having hot flashes unrelated to the outside temperature :) Vern and Fudge were ecstatic when the cooler air started flowing through our vents and Vern, never one to miss an opportunity to hog something that feels good to him, laid down right on top of the grate. He was sound asleep when my DD came home and when he tried to get up to greet her he was hindered by the fact that his dog tags had gotten stuck in the grate while he was snoozing. Well, we all know Vern is not the bravest dog in our house and he freaked out pulling the vent out of the floor. Since the vent was now attached to his collar like a giant dog tag, Vern made it clear with his thrashing and bucking that the vent would not remain permanently attached to his collar, if we cared at all about our possessions. My DD was able to unbuckle his collar, remove the grate, and that is when Vern made a beeline into my bedroom. He just needed a snuggle or two and he was ready to face the world, or at least that vicious vent.  However, he usually sleeps in the foyer, where the incident happened, but this morning I almost stepped on him when I got out of bed. I think he was making sure that vent didn't attack his loved ones. My brave Vern!!!

 

The Victim:

The Assailant:

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Vern-why is everything picking on you? I do think that you are very brave to face the assailant. My dogs would take it to the extreme and not go in that room! So glad DD came home and found it! We are lucky, we have high vents in our old house. So glad everything is ok now. Now the screen? That's a whole different story good luck with that this summer!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Vern says thanks to Phoebe.

I do think I am going to have to come up to an alternative to these vents, because I would hate to have this happen when we are gone. Thanks, everyone, for the suggestions!!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Caitlin, I remember that video of Albus and the vent. So far, Vern seems to have forgiven the assailant and seems unperturbed. He ran into the screen today, so maybe he is now focusing on the vicious screen.

Thanks, Ricki and Smita!

[Yvonne N]

Vern...so sorry this scared me too!  Now I put my whole body on top...not just my head.  xoxoxo

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Same thing here.  Happened when they were probably 6-8 months old.  Can't remember now which one it was.  However, thought I would share this with everyone -- we just over the last week have replaced all these vents in our house to be more in line with the decor of the rest of the house.  They come in various colors and various designs on the top and I think at least the one we chose would be harder for them to get their tags stuck in.  Not that it wouldn't be possible, but not as likely I don't think.

[F, Calla & Luca]

The thing about leaving off collars is the rare escapee. My doodles have really become good about this 99% of the time but Luca bolted when I had a workman at the door the other day. I've been really fortunate that he stays on my land but....

[Camilla and Darwin]

What a horrible scary mean vent. How could it attack a cute doodle face like that?

[F, Calla & Luca]

This is funny but dogs have gotten in trouble with tags getting caught in the vents. So Vern is no fool! Maybe if we put fiberglass screening over the vent, and if we can still get it back where it belongs, this could be prevented. One of these days I'll try this since I have left over screening, what don't I have in this house?, from last spring's porch project.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Too funny!  That Vern always keeps us laughing!!

[Jennifer and Jack]

You are an amazing story teller, I am in love with Vern... Poor thing...