A Snap in Time: A Photo Blog

7/14/2006

Well, quite an afternoon for this family yesterday!

Our backyard is overrun by woodchucks, but usually safely outside the dogpen and out of Holly's reach.

We had no idea how it started, but we found Holly in a tussle with a woodchuck INSIDE the dogpen. It was sooo nasty! We tried to separate Holly from the woodchuck by using a waterhose on them, but Holly's hold on the woodchuck was very, very firm. At one point, she almost took the animal into the house but we got them separated. I pulled Holly into the sunroom so the woodchuck could escape.

But the woodchuck appeared to be in shock and it moved slowly. But then both dogs started barking and it was startled into climbing up the fence.

But once it got on the top, it wouldn't budge. It was breathing very hard. After about 15 minutes, it balanced itself on the pole and closed its eyes.

We called the county for animal control. Know what? It doesn't exist! But we did find some private agencies in the phone book. When we called one of them, they told us it would cost us $200 to take care of the woodchuck. It wouldn't give us any advice about what to do on our own. Out of desperation, we called one of our neighbors and luckily, she said she was a "farm girl" and knew exactly what to do. She came over with a stick and she gave a gentle whack on the woodchuck's butt. Off went the woodchuck into the woods...very fast! Poor animal! I hope it wasn't too injured...it was so cute.

From now on, Holly has to wear this bell on her collar. (We call it a "cowbell"). It used to belong to Chief, another Dalmatian we owned back in the 1990's and it worked very, very well. So well, he never killed another animal again. Let's hope it'll work for Holly!

5/14/2006

My Girlz

Something very historic: photo taken after they met face to face for the first time since adopting Belle back in the fall.

"Why is Mommy way over there?"

Lounging in the sunroom.

Sisterly love.

Staying close to each other because they're afraid of the lawnmower mowing their precious dogpen.

Life is good!

3/21/2006

It's been a long, long winter...

Holly and her "blankies"...

She's decided that the welcome mat is warmer than her usual blankies.

She took our master bedroom bedspread from the laundry room.

Happy Spring!!!

10/09/2005

Lost and found

Belle ran away on Monday. :-( I was walking her over to the backyard when I tripped over a stepping stone and dropped her leash, startling her into zooming off deep into the woods. Volunteers came to help look for her. There were several sightings but Belle kept evading capture. She was especially challenging because prior to us adopting her, she'd been outside all her life and already knew how to survive in the woods. We were frantic for her safety and missing our little baby so much.

Despite about 10 volunteers from the rescue working very, very hard to bring her home safely, Belle came home on her own! It was around 4:30 AM when I woke up and spotted her outside on the front stairs, waiting for us. We knew her homecoming was pending because she'd been eating the food and using the bed we left out for her in case she found her way back home. I woke N#wby up and he grabbed Belle into his arms. We were delirious with joy and relief at having our little girl back home safe!