RIP Squirrel

[F, Calla & Luca]

When I got home this rainy afternoon, I let my dogs out into the fenced in yard. Calla found a squirrel partway up a tree and Luca soon joined in the "game". For some reason the squirrel did not go up the tree but circled around the trunk. The dogs managed to catch the squirrel and ran off shaking it; not listening to anything I shouted to get them to stop. Soon they had the squirrel under a hedge and it was crying out. When I managed to grab Calla she had a bloody face--ugh. After putting her in her crate,I went back to grab Luca, not an easy thing under the circumstances and put him in his crate. The squirrel appeared to be moribund and certainly paralyzed. I took a shovel and put the squirrel in the back outside the fence. Afterwards, I let the dogs out again to clean them up and finish what I had originally let them out to do. They spent some time searching for the squirrel but then were back to normal behaviors. Soon it was pouring and I called them in. Calla came in but Luca did not. I called him numerous times and figured he'd soon return. There was then a scratching at the front door, which is outside the fenced in yard. I opened it and in bounded Luca, squirrel in his mouth. The involuntary shriek I let out must have disturbed all of you, no matter how far away you live. It certainly scared Luca, who dropped the squirrel, which now was certainly dead. I put the dogs back in their crates, where they may remain until they are dry and I am calm--a long time. I removed the squirrel and put it further away in the woods. I guess Luca escaped from an area of the fence where I suspected some woodchucks had burrowed under it. He may not have been able to find his way back in and so he came around the property to the front door. It was all very unsettling even though I know it's their instinctive nature to hunt. I love my dogs but right now they don't seem so warm and cuddly. Usually the only thing I'll willingly kill is a mosquito. I am glad Luca came home safe and sound. The dogs will be going out on a leash for now.

[Charles Rocheville]

Well, the doodle is all retriever and of hunting background heritage. Of course mine at his age, is scarred of a crows feather caught in a spider web blowing in the breeze.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Well, you're doing a lot better than me. I don't spray any of the apple trees I have and this year I got one sad, apple. I also got several cherry tomatoes and a handful of blackberries. My favorites are perennial flowers and I concentrate on them, luckily I guess. Imagine, oranges in December! But you've given me an idea. Maybe I can rent the dogs out like the people who have--I swear--bedbug sniffing dogs.

[Leslie J]

LOL! I must admit that I'd kind of like Calla and Luca to spend a little time in my backyard, as all the squirrels are knocking apples off my tree before they have a chance to ripen... then they'll knock off all of my oranges in December... then my plums in the spring!!! I only get a third of my yield because of those naughty squirrels!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Good idea about the warning noise before the dogs go out. I'm glad to hear that they can catch squirrels that aren't sick--not glad that they can catch any though. At any rate, I was surprised that they could kill something but they are back in my good graces by today. They seem fine and I am almost over the zombie squirrel.

[Karen & Lucy]

LOL LOL LOL, I'm sorry, I have to laugh. I know EXACTLY how you feel. Lucy got a bunny and ATE it. When I found her with it she had 1/2 of it eaten and the other 1/2 was hanging out of her mouth. GROSSSS, I wouldn't even let her kiss me. I brushed her teeth, and washed her face. I had that same feeling about her for awhile, maybe the rest of the day, HaHaHa Yes these are hunting dogs and it is their nature, but I would of never thought that "My little girl" would of ever hurt anything. Yea, right !!!

[Rae]

We call Rozee our "Squirrel Hunter" - she's fast and seems to always get the poor things. Spring is the worst time of all because of the babies! Bella isn't as fast as Rozee but will be happy to play the tug-of-war game --double uck! However, Bella is the digger and has captured many moles (you go Bella). She plays with them like she's a cat - toss and pounce! Rozee is also a bird hunter - she's even captured a blue jay. I now go into the back yard ahead of the dogs and bang together big soup pot lids..this at least gives everyone a fair warning that the Doods are heading out!

[Leslie and Halas]

Yuck! I hope your pups are OK. Our huskies used to catch rabbits all the time. It was so disgusting. My husky would just catch one and then try to play with it. But when my parents also got a husky, things got messy. Mine would catch the rabbit, and theirs would come up and start a tug-of-war game with it. One time was in the middle of the night, Saturday before Easter. They brought it to the deck without a head. I thought, "Oh, great. Some neighbor kid is going to find the Easter Bunny's head instead of an Easter egg tomorrow."

[F, Calla & Luca]

I did think that the squirrel might be sick. I also thought that maybe the tree bark was slippery from the rain and so it had trouble going up the tree. So far the dogs seem fine but I'm certainly watching them.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

The fact that the squirrel did not run from them makes me wonder as well if it wasn't sick ...... I think I would certainly call the vet!

Jane: When I lived in CT we had a Toy Poodle! I let her out one morning at 5:30 am. She used the back door which went to a 2nd story deck. She would usually run down the stairs, do her thing and come right back in. As soon as I let her go I looked out and saw the skunk! I screamed for her to stop, with no success as she had already seen it. It was not a good start to my day! To this day, I take my girls out on a leash to do their thing. Just a thought ..... I know it stinks going out in the middle of the night in the cold etc., but I can tell you it is easier than cleaning off skunk smell in the middle of the night! I know where we were in CT we had Coyotes as well! We were on a very wooded 1.5 acres and there was wildlife galore!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Thank you all for your support and advice.