Last week, the mystery of the dead bunny in my backyard was solved. If you’ll remember, one morning the bunny just appeared in the backyard. I wasn’t quite sure how it got there – Rigby was an option, but so were the neighborhood cats and other wild animals that make the rounds at night.
It was very early in the morning. I had just woken up and, as I’ve mentioned, I’m not terribly coherent in the morning. I stumbled downstairs to let the dog out. Rigby stepped outside when I opened the door and all of sudden a bunny flew across my yard. Before I could say, “Oh, no!” Rigby took off across the yard, aiming for the bunny. For about 2 minutes the bunny frantically hopped across the yard, looking for a way out as Rigby zigzagged after it. The whole time I screamed, “Rigby! Rig-Beeeeeee!” Which was ignored by all.
Most of my backyard fence is brick. One side is an 8 foot brick wall, the other three sides have about 3 feet of brick wall and then picket fence that sits on top of it. Every time the bunny ran towards one of the fences, I just knew that was the end of it. As soon as it got to the brick wall it would have to hop up onto the brick before it could squeeze through the fence. That was bound to slow it down. I cringed at the thought of what would happen if it slowed down.
Finally, the bunny ran into the side closest to where I was standing. Rigby put on the brakes and then trotted back and forth along the fence, clearly no longer chasing it, instead looking for it. Obviously, the bunny escaped. However it probably keeled over with a heart attack having been chased to an inch of its life.
My adrenaline was pumping, but I breathed a sigh of relief that my dog didn’t murder (another) bunny in front of me. I also wanted to strangle her – all that training thrown right out the window. She didn’t listen AT ALL!
I was certainly awake after that!
On a more somber note, my thoughts are with Boston tonight. My home for 8 years, I have a place in my heart for this wonderful city. Whenever manmade tragedy like this strikes, I can’t help but asking, “What is wrong with these people?!?!”
I would have been as proud as Punch. But if it occurs again you need to get in her eye-line. Or have a loud whistle. You'll not break her focus with your voice when her blood is up. She'll think you are encouraging her and will escalate her efforts if she hears you at all.
ReplyDeleteOn the Boston thing. I'm still unclear. It hard to unpick the 'spokesman' speaking from speculation from actual fact. So far. But it seems to be moving all the time. But again that could be the 24/7/365 Talking-heads revving themselves into a frenzy
In the couple of minutes the scene played out, I thought I just needed to go outside and get her attention, but I was not dressed appropriately. :) So I was left there to holler and watch by the door.
DeleteI've been having trouble distinguishing fact from opinion/prediction in most of today's news. Such a small portion of it has been about the ivenstigation and a very large part has been speculation about it. I worry a little bit about the media and "experts" that aren't part of the investigation pointing fingers.
I think the same.. 'what is wrong with these people?'
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to know if these terrible things are happening so much more now due to a collapse in our humanity or if we are just so much more aware of them since we are all "connected". Or maybe a combination of both.
DeleteWhew! Lucky bunny!
ReplyDeleteMy dog loved to chase squirrels..I always wondered what would happen if he ever caught one...then one day at work, he cornered one between the classroom wall and the gate....with no where to go the squirrel looked up at the dog and assumed position to be eaten! My dog looked the squirrel in the eyes and made a quick turn. Chase over- game over...and he turned and ran off to get his ball.
Ha ha! What a cute story. "Assumed the postion to be eaten". So funny! I'm trying to picture what that would like, and all I'm picturing is something out of a cartoon. What a good dog!
ReplyDeleteThe squirrels in the backyard drive Rigby MAD! They run along the tops of the fences or the surrounding trees, chattering away. It works her into a frenzy.
Amen to Boston. Did I ever tell you the time I was walking the Babies and we were attacked by two dogs and Bitty slipped out of her leash and ran home? I thought she was lost, called Ben in a panic and she was sitting in the garage staring at him when he ran out.
ReplyDeleteOh, what a scary thing! But isn't it nice when they know where home is. A few weeks ago driving out of my neighborhood, my neighbor stopped me and told me the day before the gardeners must have left the gate open because Rigby had gotten out (I almost died hearing that) and ran around the block about 100 times before he brought his dogs out to try to catch her. That's the normal end of my walk and she just stayed on that path. I'm so thankful for both my neighbor being there and Rigby staying close to home as the next street over is one of the busiest streets in town. The thought of what could have happened gives me chills.
DeleteLuckily the bunnies and squirrels have chain link, a wood pile and trees for protection, from Gwennie and Totem. Gwennie almost caught a slow squirrel one day, who couldn't decide which way to run. I wonder what she would do with it.
ReplyDeleteKatie atBankerchick Scratchings