Kind of a weird situation.
Long story short, Birdie and I were attacked by an off leash golden retriever on Black Friday while were training at a public park. Unprovoked attack and Birdie was on lead. The golden redirected and I ended up bitten too. Birdie had several puncture wounds on her head and neck. Golden had no bite wounds, and no injuries other than those from being choked off Birdie. The owner was cited. Birdie was wearing her service dog vest too. (I don't know the extent of what charges will be filed - so I am not going to say more, but I am okay now, just sore.)
So the gift is for a kid that was there playing basketball with his buddies and came to help us. He helped get the Golden off of Birdie and put a leash on him, then he came with us to the ER because I didn't want to call an ambulance, the hospital was 2 miles away and I was bleeding.
He told me his name was Jamal on the way to the ER and he ended up stayed with us and held Birdie's leash while I was treated. He asked the nurse in the ER for some cotton, paper towels and peroxide to clean the blood off Birdie and then cleaned up her bite wounds while I was being treated.
I found out from the police officer that Jamal missed his check in with his probation officer on Friday afternoon because he was with us, so I went and visited the PO, with Birdie and a copy of my records from the ER and explained what happened so Jamal wouldn't get in trouble. Then I found out his mother went nuts because he missed his appointment, so I called her and explained and thanked her.
So I want to give this kid a gift to thank him for what he did for us. Also in the back of my head, I want to reinforce that going out of your way to help others and doing what you feel is the right thing is a good thing because he ended up getting into a lot of trouble because of helping us, even though I was able to straighten it out for him almost a week later. He comes from a pretty bad part of that city and I found out from the police officer that he was wearing gang colors.
I don't want to give him cash, but I was thinking of a gift card to the Mall or something like that. Maybe $50 or $100?? I'm not sure what is appropriate in this situation though.
What are your thoughts?
It was extremely nice of him to help you, and extremely nice of you to help him as well. Sometimes the smallest things in the world can make a world of difference, give him cash, gift certificate, ball, pic of birdie and gremlin in a cheesy card, anything really and I think he'd remember it for a long time.
if you know what gang i may be able to help with color suggestions.... maybe a cap, or a messenger bag, or something that would have meaning.... along with a note.... plus if you put his name on it.... there's little or no chance that he'll be able to sell it...
