counting my blessings

My dog, one of the few living things that means the most to me, likes squirrels. A lot. She sees them and will follow them wherever those little nut lovers go.

I had the horrible time of watching her chase her favorite prey across a normally busy street and I witnessed in slow motion my worst nightmare. That asshole of a squirrel, bypassed the nearest tree and made a run for it. With Kaya right behind, while I was running at full speed screaming her name, she whipped across the street after it.

The car was there at the most opportune moment. But, seeing the squirrel, the driver slowed down. He hit her but didn't go over her. She tumbled over and over and then immediately got up and continued to run away from me back towards the park.
I was in this running frantic freaked out state for the next 10-15 minutes just trying to get her to stop running. We ran in circles on Town.errr...Ladybird Lake and she finally stopped after running her legs off. I'm in near heart attack mode and pounce on her immediately to see any damage visible.

Nothing.
She's acting like she just won some invisible race.
I'm still freaking out. My nerves are just about shot.
The driver stopped and offered me a ride to the nearest vet clinic, but I took her myself. The Vet gave her a full physical immediately with X rays.

Somehow my dog escaped death while doing it right in front of me. Honestly, my worst nightmare. I've never felt so incredibly hopeless watching her run across that street because of a stupid tree rat.

It's now been over 24 hours since it happened and she still is acting like normal Kaya. I keep (or when I'm not at work) my family keep Kaya under strict surveillance.

She's now inherited the name Dura-dog. My take is Dura-moo. Two more nicknames to the billions she already has.

Lesson 40852034950274587452038450:

If you love your dog, for the love of god, go to a fenced or closed off area for them to run in. I'm a 'tard for giving her that much trust. It only takes one time for them to ignore your command to stay and run across that road after something more appetizing. She's strictly on leash here on out. I can't let that even have the chance to happen again.

My dura-moo.