Thursday, August 2, 2018

A Recliner Warning

Me: “I’m going to be totally honest with you right from the start of this post. I struggled with whether I should share this story. I feel so horrible about what happened but as a blogger, I feel it’s my responsibility to tell you my mistake in hopes of preventing you from doing the same thing.”
Bentley Basset Hound: “Are you going to tell them about how you tried to kill me in my sleep the other night?”
Me: “Yes, I mean…no, I did not try to kill you but yes, I am going to tell them what happened.
   First of all, one of the exciting things about moving was getting to buy a new sofa and chair. We have had a recliner sofa and loveseat forever so that is what we wanted. This is the set we chose, and it is wonderful. It’s super comfy, big and drool wipes right off the fabric.  
   The oversized chair is a manual recliner, but they were out of the manual sofa at the time we needed it. They made us an offer on the power recliner sofa that we couldn’t refuse. Besides, with my arthritic knees, a power sofa is much easier. Long story short, I love the furniture.”
Bentley: “Blah, blah, blah…get to the attempted murder of your favorite Basset Hound. Make it really dramatic when you confess. I need to feel the fear and sadness in your story.”
Me: “Your dad and I discussed how important it was to make sure neither you or Pierre were under the couch when we lowered them. We had been diligent about until this weekend. You boys had been outside playing and when you came in, Pierre laid down on his bed in the living room. I could have sworn you walked into the office.”
Bentley: “Are you telling the court that you saw me, the victim, walk past and go into the BFTB headquarters at the front of the house? That sounds very sketchy. You wouldn’t be trying to make excuses for what could have very well been the death of me? You swore under oath to be completely honest.”
Me: “This isn’t a court of law. I’m just trying to tell our friends how YOU got under the reclined part of the couch and went sound to sleep. That is a very dangerous place to snooze. I’ve warned you about sleeping there when the couch is reclined. Anyway, I looked to confirm that Pierre was still in his bed and began to lower my side of the couch. That is when I heard you screaming.
   I immediately stopped and hit the reverse button while hollering for your daddy. I just knew I had crippled you for life or worse. It was one of the scariest things I’ve ever experienced.”
Bentley: “You think you were scared??! I was in the middle of a sweet dream where me and Emma…never mind. It was a very rude and startling way to wake up! Did you like how I just got out and rolled over? It gave you quite a jolt, didn’t it?”
Me: “I was literally shaking. We are so fortunate that you weren’t injured or worse, killed. I couldn’t find any statistics as to how many pets are injured annually by power recliner, regular recliners or lift chairs but there are numerous articles about incidents that ended tragically.”
Bentley: “It is a good thing that you ‘fessed up to your mistake. Pierre and I think if we were allowed to sleep on the new furniture this would not even be an issue.”
Me: “Don’t start with me about that. The furniture is too high for you to climb up on and you could hurt your back jumping off. Pierre could easily jump off and on but that wouldn’t be fair to you. That’s why neither of you is allowed on the furniture. Besides, y’all have two extremely nice beds right beside us.”
Bentley: “Whatever, I’m taller than I look. Back to my near-death experience. I’m sure all our readers love their dogs and cats as much as you love us so now they know to be extra careful when they lower their recliners. I’ll try not to give you too hard of a time about it. I know you feel bad. You didn’t have your sights set on Mother of the Year, did you? I’m asking for a friend.”
Me: “You are a real laugh riot! Seriously, I am so thankful that you are okay, and we are working on a solution. Until then, we do a doggy head count before we even think about lowering our chairs. I’d like to say that you’ve learned your lesson but from the photos above, that simply is not the case. We never want to experience that terror again!”

 Have you ever had an incident like this at your house? What was your solution? I’d love to hear from you in the comments.

21 comments :

  1. wow that was a scary adventure...we fortunately are too ... I mean all recliners are to low for such mighty dogs like us, so there is no danger here....pheeew....

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  2. We has recliners and duz westie head counts before dey get lowered (speshully since we are so prone to hide under them since we really like dens). A lotta times, we're in da chairs wif our mommas, so dey know where we are. But if my momma are not shure, she'll just climb out wif da recliner still up.

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  3. OMD, that was a scary story, soooo glad it turned out okay. But, a good reminder....I is glad now we don't haf recliners anymore
    Loves and licky kisses
    Princess Leah xxx

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  4. That IS scary. We muat remember to avoid buying dog murdering furniture.

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  5. How scary for you, Bentley, but you know that your mom would have never lowered that recliner if she knew you were there. My mom inherited her mom's recliner but she never reclines the chair.

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  6. Wow, how scary. We don't have any reclining furniture. Mom tries to kill us just in every day life stepping on us, tripping over us, etc. She knows we are always around protecting her, but she still tries to harm us...she claims unintentionally.

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  7. We had a similar experience, and learned to always look before getting up from a recliner! Fortunately, no one was hurt, but it is scary!

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  8. Oh man! That was a scary story. But I love a happy ending. Yikes. I guess it's a good thing there are no recliners here.... I'm pretty safe sleeping under Mom's bed. I hope.

    Love and licks,
    Cupcake

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  9. My word that was just plain scary...thank goodness for a happy healthy ending. Yes indeedy we to agree we should share mistakes like this so that others can hopefully benefit
    Hugs madi your bfff

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  10. Well we have Ed our ferret who loves to eat our recliner from the inside out, it is like he is tunneling to china to get a better trade deal.....mom an dad have to be very careful when he is out running the house if they are sitting in those chairs, as far as gussie and me, we don't go under them, but now that it happened to you guys they will always be more alert. We are so happy you are okay.....come live at our house for a week, you will definitely give your mom the mother of the year award. mags and gussie
    p.s. with the little outside animals mom and dad have to be very careful that things they buy to put their hay in is made just right so their heads don't get caught or worse, also for some reason goats always like the "grass on the other side" so sometimes their heads get caught in the fence cos of the horns...mom and dad are always on high alert when they hearing bawling goats. I tell ya its a jungle out there.

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  11. Dad has a power recliner and Hazel likes to sleep under it too. Mom will try to warn Dad if she is there or if he can't see Hazel he usually asks mom "is she there?". At least a power chair goes down slowly where a manual one not so much
    hugs
    Hazel & Mabel

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  12. We don't have reclining furniture at our house but keep a watchful eye whenever we go visit the grandpawrents since they have them. A couple of near misses but so far {knock on wood} we've been lucky. So glad Bentley is alright. No doubt the startling was the worst part. Extra ear scratches and tummy rubs for your sweet boy.

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  13. That was scary! We're glad Bentley is okay...but it really does reinforce the fact that humans need to be careful with those recliners. Thanks for sharing your story.

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  14. I am glad Bentley did not get hurt. Thank you for sharing this nd warning others.

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  15. We can see quite easily how this could happen. It is totally understandable. We don't have any recliners in the part of the house where we are allowed. But your warning is taken very well by Mom, and we thank your for letting others know about this danger. We are also very glad that you are OK, Bentley.

    Woos - Lightning, Misty, and Timber

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  16. OMG, that must have scared the daylights out of all of you! Well, perhaps not Pierre... I"m so grateful that Bentley wasn't injured. Thank You for sharing this story to help warn others to be very cautious about furniture that reclines! Kiss Bentley's little nosey for me - twice!
    Love & Biscuits,
    Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them

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  17. Oh no, how scary! These things happen, and it was good of you to tell the story to help others, I know it couldn't have been easy. I've never cared much for recliners so we don't have any. I did, however, once close one of our cats inside our sleeper sofa! Luckily he was fine too.
    Jan, Wag 'n Woof Pets

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  18. What a scary story ! We're glad you're OK, Bentley ! We don't have recliners (nor rocking chairs or stuff like this) : it has always been a big NO-NO at home for Claire. She says those things don't get well along with curious or confident cats. Purrs

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  19. What a howling & terrifying experience for you both.
    We used to have a reclining chair but fursister Q took over it. No humans ever found it empty😉🐾

    Nos3 nudges,
    CEO Olivia

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  20. John always has to be careful too when putting his recliner down the dogs are always under it. Why I have no idea!

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  21. really cute commentary. so glad Bently was not hurt. my girls have steps to my bed to get up but jump off the bed onto a bid nice thick bed to they wont hurt themselves. i did end up hurting myself, when Harley was under my feet when i got up from the chair, i tripped over her, hit my head on the piano, blood, cut, blanked out for a minute, then had to go to er for tests, had a little concussion, no stiches, but had a knot, had to have mri, xrays. but of course she was not hurt, just mom.

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