Just when I thought the dogs were all nice and safe with all this fencing, a porcupine has the NERVE to come withint 50 feet of the yard. What is it thinking?!?! That those fuzzy little black monkeys might just want to be it's friend? No way. They wanted some porcupine for dinner. Funny how this exact group (Gracie, George, Lucy, Kuna, Harris and Jack) were the willfull participants in the "Porcupine Fiasco of 2003" - when FOUR of them attacked a porcupine and got the worst case of quill-face I've ever seen. Gracie, Kuna and Lucy all had to go into the vets to be put under the next day.
But does that stop them from continuing to attack the prickly creatures?! Nooooo...
Earlier tonight as I was inside, I heard a horrible SCREECHING outside. That's never a good sign with my pack, and this time I thought a dog was getting attacked. I looked out the front door (ok, the only door) and saw 5 little monkeys (Kuna was left behind, probably because he couldn't fit under the fence, or he was simply too lazy) on the OUTSIDE of the fence bouncing and boinging around at the bottom of a tree. I figured it was a porcupine, since they seem to be around here more and more lately.
I had to run over to them to break the "must-kill-porcupine" spell and get them to follow me back through the gate. As Lucy came towards me, I knew immediately what was up that tree! Her nose had about 30 quills in it. Thank goodness no one else got a taste of it, as much as they wanted it.
I threw everyone in the cabin but Lucy and went to work on her poor little bleeding nose. I couldn't find pliers (I blame the move on my lack of organization) so I had to use tweezers, which actually worked ok. After the first 5-6 pulls, Lucy was not willing to work with me, so I had to sit on her wrestler style and pin her down (as my brother used to do to me when we were young, except he would then threaten to spit in my face...brothers!). I plucked quills till Lucy became a wriggly maniac and then we'd have to take a break. Then we'd do it all over again. I later found that covering up her eyes really helped. It was when she saw the tweezers come close when she went into a fit, so this was a surprise quill plucking! The quill removal was successful and now the dogs are only allowed out one at a time!
On another note - I'm crazy-busy with the move. I'll update with property news and NEW dog pen pictures tomorrow. These are going to be the best dog pens we've EVER had!
7 comments:
Wow Stacie, that's rough luck. Yep, I learned the cover-the-eyes trick from a vet -- amazing when they can't see it how it doesn't hurt!
Can't wait to see the dog pen pictures, I need some good ideas.
J
Hey Jan, the dog pen pics will be delayed a bit - can't find my camera! Doh! Things are slightly chaotic with the move, and that is ON TOP of my normal chaos!
So far, I'm just going with 2 decent sized pens, with some posts for them up near the entrance. The two pens are totally separate, unlike my current ones which share the middle fencing and a gate. And with my little monsters, I've decided to keep the danger of them mixing with the other group to a minimum! So I have this "buffer" which works out well as the tent is kind of in between the two.
Ooh! But plans are in the way for the "outer perimiter" fencing - around the meadow. I'm thinking of also having a runway type thing where they can run over to this island of trees - which will also be fenced off.
It's going to be a doggie dreamland! :)
Wow, Stacie...that sounds great!! Cool to have the pens completely separated. How many will go in each pen? 7/6? 8/5?
I'm a big fan of "air locks." To get into our perimater/big yard (now 3 acres in size thanks to the latest fence migration I'm finishing up), you have to go through two gates. This airlocked big yard surrounds the entire house/garage. That way, if anyone is visiting and accidentally opens the front door or French doors, the Yahoos cannot escape :)
We also have a small potty yard for night time use that is accessed through our front door. It's nice to have a smaller yard as a buffer...and especially nice since the local large black bear has been visiting our yard this summer.
Aaaah, the joys of dog fencing. It's truly an art form ;)
Can't wait to hear more about how the move/building is coming along!!!
oops....perimeter...not perimater :)
6 and 6 Sue, Gabe is not in the pens since he's the geriatric. He has some weird tremors now which kind of freak out the other dogs and they can act out towards him, so it's best to keep him by himself (which he prefers!). Hopefully he learns his "boundaries" there - hopefully everyone does! And quick! :)
Air locks - GREAT idea. I now remember that I had thought of those before!
Off I go to TAKE DOWN fencing. Then put it up again... ;)
Funny, we just took off some chest bangages and cardiac monitor electrode sticker from the chest of a 5 year old today and when he covered his eyes with is arm he screamed and kicked bloody murder as he could only guess the worst.
Him: "Okay, do it (covers eyes & SCREECHES) loudly: It HUUUUURRTTTS the WORSTEST EVERRRRRRRR"
Us: "Uh, dude, no one is even touching you right now"
The power of opposable thumbs...
I think perimater could have pretty fun meanings...
Aw Jen, how cute!! That was totally Lucy, but she was also looking up at me as if to say "You really don't seem to understand the amount of pain I'm in right now! And wait just a minute, you seem to be CAUSING IT!!!!"
And then "OWWWW! It hurts the worstest EVER!!!!"
Hahahaha...
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