Shoot the dogs?

A glimpse at a few minutes of life in the middle of a man made apocalypse

I was sitting in the Passenger seat of a Humvee waiting for our convoy to start rolling down the desert highway again when I spotted two wild dogs gorging themselves on a bloated Hajji carcass. I slapped the driver on the arm and motioned over to the wretched scene and shouted up to the Marine standing in the gunner's hatch on the .50 cal.

"Hey Cody. Three oclock. Check it out."  "Yeah I see it" He shouted back. "That's some fucked up s**t dog. Hey Ricochet. You got a scope on your rifle. Shoot the damn things." The convoy had been stopped for f**k only knows why for nearly an hour and we were bored. The dogs were about 75 meters away. Both would have been easy hits. I contemplated Cody's suggestion when a profound realization struck me. How in the f**k do I explain scenes like this to the folks back home? We were watching dogs eat a human being. That's like horror movie s**t and it didn't faze us one bit. If you saw something like that back home you'd probably need years of therapy to get over "the horror" of it all. You might even get on a few talk shows with your story of hope and courage while promoting your book about your experience with horror dogs. Christ some enterprising producers might even make a reality show around it like "Psycho Dogs Attack" or "Man Eating Dogs" or some crap like that. I'd never shoot a dog back home. That would practically be like murder but out here with these rabid mongrels it almost seemed humane. These dogs were nothing like your best childhood buddy back home. These were evil Zombie flesh eating dogs.

I decided not to shoot them. The sound of rifle fire could cause other Jittery Marines to start firing their weapons and Our Lieutenant got pissy about crap like that. he said it was "Unprofessional" as if letting dogs chew on dead Hajjis was any better. It was one of those strange moments that happens when you're in the middle of an apocalypse. Real life horror bores you.

Reviews

[JDM]

Certainly an interesting read.
I'm not sure when you wrote this (pre- or post-bathsalt insanity?)
The last paragraph threw me, though. I think there should be more than you just deciding not to shoot them. You never really gave a concrete reason why. Maybe common decency is enough in real life, but in a story...it needs a little more "bite".

[Baby Ricochet]

Why I didn't shoot them is in the last paragraph.

[AnonymousLad]

I found this gripping, thought-provoking and eye-opening. I can't really imagine the reality show thing happening here in NZ, maybe that's a US thing? Either way, it suits the piece brilliantly.

[marie]

my grandfather was a marine he told me about something like that when i told him i wanted to follow ing his footsteps.

[Baby Ricochet]

Join up. I'm serious. I don't regret my service for a second. Without doubt the greatest thing I ever did in my life. THank you for reviewing Dogs Marie

[marie]

i plan on it, but not sure if they will let me in cause of a heart murmer i have, and the story was great good detail, and imagery i

[Elizabeth]

My Marine has a few similar stories, and you're totally right when you say that civilians could never truly grasp any of it. The bit about the talk show circuit cracked me up. I think the thing I like the best about this piece is that it is very clearly written in *your voice*. The narrative is so obviously from a Marine. No bullshit, no sugar coating, it is what it is. Great job translating that to the written word. There are a few very minor grammar issues here and there but that's obviously easy to correct. The last sentence is something that my Grandpa, Alton and my Dad have said on more than one occasion. This is compelling because it is authentic without trying to prove anything. Well done, friend.

[Baby Ricochet]

Thank you for reviewing Dogs Elizebeth

[lee von cleef]

Context,to shoot a dog,a little stub of DNA seems to swell at the thought,muscles to the head of the brain line,Old Yeller,Lassie,Rin Tin Tin,my Rafiki,(Friend in Swahili). To shoot a dog ,releasing him from him,saving you from the pack,mental boundaries, we all have, some just have never stepped to the front of the line yet,virgin in a lot of minds , never been called on to think,to shoot ...a dog...your friend....hips crushed by some metal monster careless jerk.Oh yes we still gas thousands a day,but put the weight on me,I think, I have a right to take my own out, Apocalypse.... will test the DNA in our heads,we better learn how to take care of our pack of humans.

[Baby Ricochet]

Whatever dude. I didn't shoot the dogs because of the ROE (rules of engagment) stipulating not to harm domestic live stock or animals deemed non-threatening. Our LT insisted the feral dogs that were all over Iraq fell into that catagory and there was a real chance of other Marines firing off their weapons ay the sound of a rifle being discharged. THank you for reviewing dogs

[lee von cleef]

Not picking on you,just us messed up humans,how easily we accept what ever "Context" we are fed,Instead of being empathetic and allowed to think for yourself.

[Steven]

"It was one of those strange moments that happens when you're in the middle of an apocalypse. Real life horror bores you. "

That says it all, right? War is like another planet entirely. And sometimes I think the middle east is on Mars.

[Baby Ricochet]

Parts of it look like mars. Gives new meaning to the word bleak. That you for reviewing dogs steven

[ur_ginger_girl]

wow

[Baby Ricochet]

thank you for reading dogs absule

[RachelReaper]

whoa... I thought that some of the fiction on here was horrific! but your right, its so much different in our country then other places in the world, you've seen in first hand.

[Baby Ricochet]

Thank you for reviewing dogs Rachel.

[∠( ᐛ 」..]

:O wow, got a little freaked at the end.
100/100

[Baby Ricochet]

Thank you for reviewing dogs Roxast.

[Pax]

i guess nature makes them do that, and that's life my friend... dogs becomes scavengers, even cat's do that... our dogs in the community is very domesticated and the dogs in the wild are very feral... I'm glad you didn't shot the dog, even thought its kinda creepy and scary but that's how their life goes...but their population get up and they become violent, then I guess shotting them will be ok...
a very Cool write!!!

[Baby Ricochet]

There were feral dogs, cats, camels, mules. They were everywhere. Thankyou for reviewing Dogs Mr Pax.