The dogs were barking up a storm in the backyard. Well, Major Tom and Magdalena were barking up a storm. Sirocco had found a nice quiet spot in the house to lie down to take a nap. He enjoys some time away from Magdalena who keeps using him as an interactive chew toy.
I was busy at the time of the barking but went outside as soon as I could to see what was up. Things quieted down by the time I got out there. Things were quiet. Too quiet.
I opened the backdoor, stepping outside. “What’s up, crazy dogs?”
Major Tom was sitting three feet away. He looked at me, but he had a strange look on his face. He seemed tensed up, even though he was sitting.
There is a small patio chair by the backdoor, and Magdalena was standing on the other side of it. She too seemed tense.
I looked back at Major Tom. “Are you coming in?”
He stared back at me, then looked at Magdalena, then back at me.
“Magdalena, are you coming in?”
She stepped closer to the chair and put her head down. “You’re not in trouble, I just want you to come in.”
Major stood up, laser focused on Magdalena. I couldn’t get his attention away from her.
I walked around to the other side of the patio chair and discovered the problem.
The two of them had killed a squirrel. The poor thing lay dead on the ground, well hidden from sight by the chair. Magdalena jumped at the carcass and put her teeth on it.
“No! Drop it!” I grabbed her by the collar and pulled her back. “Drop it!” I said more sternly.
She dropped it and I pulled her away, to the other side of the chair. The second I had her away from the carcass, Major Tom tried to get it. I had to let go of Magdalena so I could stop Major Tom, so she crept under the chair, trying to get the squirrel.
I managed to get Major Tom in the house but Magdalena decided to play ‘keep away’, running around the yard with the dead squirrel in her mouth. After a minute or so of bouncing back and forth, I cornered her and made her drop the squirrel, then dragged her into the house.
Sirocco was at the backdoor when I pulled Magdalena inside. “You missed all the fun. They caught one of those squirrels running around the backyard with impunity.”
He seemed unaffected by the comment.
I went back out. I checked the squirrel. He had teeth marks in his sides, one eye partially open, the other closed, and his little tongue sticking out. I got the shovel and poked him, just to make sure it was dead. (It was.)
I disposed of the poor wee beastie, then let the dogs out in the yard again. They spent several minutes searching for the carcass, with no luck. I made sure the body was somewhere they wouldn’t be able to get it.
I’m sad the dogs killed the squirrel, but I can’t fault them for it. They did what comes naturally. Whenever they see squirrels on the walks and try to charge after them, I keep telling the dogs “You’d probably be able to get them if you weren’t dragging me around with you.”
Looks like I was right.
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