Misty Toby and the RABBIT

[sheila and Misty]

Since our yard is basically skunk rabbit etc proof it really makes it hard for escape. I was inside and I heard a blood curdling screech! I flew out the door Misty had a full grown rabbit by the butt -it was trying to squeeze through the fence and Toby was charging to the rabbits head. OMG all I could think of was pleaase NO tug of war with live bunny....My heart was pounding through my chest and the rabbit continued to squeel....

I grabbed Misty by the but and she let go as I was trying to hook her to the leader (fighting me of course) Toby was taking over -finally the rabbit found a place to squeeze through the fence and it was over WHEW!!!

The dogs were mad at me. I understand the thrill for them the panic for the rabbit but my concern for injury of either just overtook and all I could picture was the possibilities of ugliness. My husband laughed at my dilemma- HA! he had to go through the same thing with a squirrel this morning...he wasnt even smiling then, p.s. no animal was hurt in this story.

[pkcrossley]

life with natural-born killers... not easy.

[jimnconnie]

A couple of nights ago, I let the dogs out for their last-call potty at about 11:00, and I went with them with my flashlight. After they ran around the yard for a bit looking for a good spot, I noticed Bailey standing perfectly still with his left front paw lifted & his tail straight up, staring into some shrubs. When I walked over & shined my flashlight down, there was a fairly good sized possum laying on its' side "playing possum". It didn't move even when I shined the light in its' face, and neither did Bailey. I snatched up Bailey, and took him into the house with Sophie following, wondering what was going on. She never did see the critter, and probably wondered why the potty break was so short! Mr. Possum must have climbed the chain-link fence, and he/she was long gone by the next morning.

Then the next night at bedtime, my DW asked me if it was OK to let the dogs out alone and I said "Sure why not, that possum won't come back here for awhile." She let them out the door and immediately yelled "SKUNK!!!" I grabbed the flashlight again, and we both went out, hoping not to get sprayed ourselves. We were able to herd both dogs back into the house with a lot of yelling, and arms flailing. There was a real strong odor, but no skunk to be found in our backyard, I think it must have been somewhere out in front of the house. Bailey got skunked a couple of years ago, and I hope we never have that experience again!! Thank goodness we live in an urban area, where there aren't a lot of critters! Jim

[Fudgie]

Oh the life with a cairn! Sounds like the same kind of stuff that goes on around here. Fudgie has her own high pitched scream/yelp when she gets a real animal cornered like that! If it's a squirrel, she barks fiercely, but a possum or rabbit really brings out the ancient killer in her!

[Sam I Am]

The rabbits that hang around our area are HUGE... they are Jackrabbits, with big powerful legs that can cause grave injury. Thank goodness our yard is well fenced as I would be terrified if Jock cornered one of those critters!

We did have an almost mature merlin (hawk) make a crash landing into our yard from its nest. Its talons would have made a mess of any dog or human that got in its way. I herded up the crew mighty fast before they realized this raptor was sitting in the corner by the fence!

[Autumn & Lola]

Goodness. I'm glad you got them separated and nothing too ugly happened. Molly has so far only gone after lizards or bugs. I do stop her when I see her doing it. No sense for the little creatures to have to suffer. I know it's their natural instinct and I don't want her to think what she is doing is "bad" so I just distract her and give her a little treat when she gives up and follows me. I imagine a rabbit would be much more exciting to them though. Again, glad it didn't turn ugly!

[kandya]

Abby and Izzie both got sprayed twice in the same week (skunk). The first time it was 5:00 am before work and my husband had let them out and then let them back in the house before I was even up.... (I was late for work that morning trying to deskunk both dogs AND my house. )

The second time was on their last potty outside before going to bed. (2 days later)... I didn't get to bed until 3:30 in the am...

The problem is that neither one of them will potty while on a leash.... I pick up their water earlier now and they don't get let out until sun up now. Haven't had a problem since, but I guess that's what you get when you live in the country.