Sunday, January 6, 2008

Opposum's are as dumb as you think they are

Little Boney is getting braver as she ages. In the almost 11 years that she has lived with me, she has never put another animal in her mouth (except for the little poodle who wouldn't leave her alone, but that's another story). She acts all courageous chasing squirrels and digging for chipmunks, but she never actually threatened to eat another being (unless of course, it was already processed and made into her Pro Plan kibble or canned food).

The other night, Sally and I began to have our conversation about who would take her out for her last pee of the night. Not that we don't both LOVE to escort her outside, but in the winter, we bicker for about five minutes convincing each other that it is the other's turn to take her outside. I rarely win that argument, but this one particular night, I happened to win and Sally ventured out into the cold. We have a rule that at night, when animals abound in our wooded yard, we put her on leash and guide her to the back of the yard for her to relieve herself before bed.

Sally ignored the rule. As she opened the door, Arrow raced outside crossing the driveway and ran in between the arborvitae, growling at some unseen creature. I was inside wondering what was taking them so long. Apparently, this is the order of events. She chased a living being into the neighbors yard. Sally called for her, and instead of Arrow, out came an opposum. It ran toward Sally until it saw her. And then, well it played possum. Realzing that his fight or flight response needed to kick in, the possum turned around and ran right into Arrow. But who knew, when faced with a possum staring her down, Arrow actually picked it up in her mouth! Our gentle puppy obeyed Sally as she yelled for her to drop him, and released her grip from his neck and the lucky possum lived to tell about his harrowing experience.

Who knew at 11, Arrow would develop a hunting instinct?

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