| Tuesday, mid afternoon I was working on the
computer (i.e. surfing)
when the dogs put up the biggest ruckus’ that you've ever heard. They were at the back picture window and were in a total frenzy. Obviously we were under attack. The dogs - well, you can call them that if
you want. There's Bleu, the
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| And then, there’s her eminence - Angel.
She thinks humans
were put here on earth to cater to her every whim. She’s the mature one of the two, weighing in at an even 5 pounds, with every ounce being muscle and is 2 years old minus a month. She only wants you to pick her up on her terms. If she wants on your lap – she’ll jump up there; or over the couch, or whatever. Surely she’s half rabbit, and not full-blooded Rat Terrier?.............. .................................................. |
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| I walked up front to assist in defending the
fort only to find that there was another ‘rat’ invading the territory.
That rat was the ‘tree-rat’ (squirrel) kind, and was munching away on the
bird seed that I had put out on the patio only this morning. The
little guy was totally unconcerned with the ruckus that the dogs were putting
up. After all – they were inside, and he was outside with all the
nearby trees. Escape and safety was only 3 leaps away.
Angel was keeping an eye on the Tree Rat from her perch on a chair-back that is on the screened-in porch. Bleu was uncommonly more aggressive and was at the storm door, just hoping that I’d let him out. Being tired of feeding the squirrels my expensive Finch food, I cracked the door open. As soon as the door was 2 inches open Bleu flew through it. The first step was 5 feet down the porch, and the second step was 8 feet further toward the bird feed bowl. By the time Bleu had made his second bond, Angel had leaped from her perch and was power-sliding through the storm door. Her next leap was 12 feet down the porch, and almost to the young Tree Rat. Was the juvenile squirrel in danger of being ripped to shreds? Not a chance! He appeared to be taking his good ole time – he’d have just one more munch, then bounded off the table to safety in a nearby tree. Being a bit arrogant, he perched on the tree trunk about 4 feet up, turned around head down, and just hung there laughing at the two aggressors. That scene continued until the squirrel tired of the game, and ran on up the tree, using the limbs like freeways, until he had moved across the yard several trees away. Of course, the two Rat Terriers, not being squirrel savvy, were still looking up the first tree, looking but not seeing, for their prey. But wait! There was another squirrel in another tree across the yard. So the two Rats took chase to clear the yard of the second intruder. No more had they put those little hind legs in high gear, they were intercepted by yet another squirrel in another tree! And so the scene was to continue. There were as many squirrels as there were trees, which number in excess of a dozen. It was as if there was a squirrel invasion. The two little defenders were in total bewilderment. They didn’t know which squirrel to nail first (as if they could nail ANY). I had begun to tire just watching this circus, and wanted to go on back inside. Besides, I could feel the rain coming. So I whistled a shrill whistle, which I knew was supposed to be the signal for the two little ones to come scampering to my side, eagerly waiting for my command. But I don’t think that THEY knew it. If they did, you sure couldn’t tell it from their actions. They continued chasing from tree to tree, looking up, with Angel occasionally letting out an intimidating bark; Bleu? Bleu was content to simply ‘be in the hunt’. After trying the whistle thing a few times, I resorted to my sure-fire method of getting them inside. It was Treat time. Treats work like magic. The Rats would go to the end of the earth for one of these Chicken Jerky treats. I know… somebody will surely tell me all about all the bad things that Chicken Jerky strips are for dogs. Even so, that’s the secret weapon that I use, so I cut a strip into fourths, and went out into the yard to bait the Rats back inside.
Bleu immediately came over to me to see what I might have for him As soon as he picked up the jerky scent, he followed me around like a shadow. Not wanting to let half the catch get away, I led him back inside, then returned to fetch Angel. Angel had already chased all of the squirrels that were in our yard up a tree, and had proceeded to clear the entire neighborhood. She was two doors down, working their yard. I called here, whistled for her, and even resorted to the clapping hands thing. Nothing was working. And she was too far away to discover the treat that I had brought out with me to bait her back inside. The rain was within earshot now – I could hear the raindrops pecking away at the few leaves that were still on the trees across the creek, so I headed on inside. I looked back and spotted Angel in high gear – headed for the porch! If there’s one thing that’ll bring the Rats back inside faster than a chicken strip treat – its rain. They DO NOT like to be out in the rain. And I didn’t have to tell her to get inside twice. We hardly got inside when I caught movement out on the patio at the bird feeder. The first little juvenile had already returned to the gourmet finch food lunch. Oh well – let the little critter eat all he wants – they’re people too. And yes – the little Rats did get their treat… before snuggling up in a nice warm blanket on the couch where they would quickly slip off into Rat Terrier dreamland for the rainy afternoon. ****************************************************** THE STRAY Monday he said that a crumb would do
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