Follow-up Friday: Coyotes, Puppy Love, Art

I'm pleased to be joining Heart Like a Dog in the Follow-up Friday blog hop this week.  This is the blog hop that lets you wrap up your week and leads you right into the weekend.  Hosted by Jodi at Heart Like A Dog, and co-hosted this week by 2 brown dawgs.  

Once again, I'm following up on a bit more than just this past week.

Coyote Update: Unexpected Help
Though this particular post is from last week, I have more to add to this coyote saga.   

First I want to clarify a few things.  We live in the country, in the middle of 45 acres, surrounded by larger farms.  Our "backyard" is about 2 acres and fenced for the dogs:  picket fence on the front and part of one side; the remainder 2"x4" field fencing with two strands of barbed wire on top.  It backs up to a creek which contains a series of spring ponds which attract a lot of wildlife, plus our horses have access to that area.

This is not our first rodeo in terms of predator encounters:  coyotes, foxes, bobcats, bears, wild hogs.  

Yes, I did go after one small pack of coyotes years ago with a baseball bat (when they were snatching our chickens and my dog was trying to fight them.)  No, I'm not "one tough lady."   I've discovered that one never really knows for sure what we're capable of, until faced with the situation.   Threaten my animals?  You and I may both be in for a surprise!

We're being very vigilant.  No dog goes outside alone.  If one of us is not out there with them, we're watching with a gun handy.

Last weekend the dogs were outside playing when a large pack of young coyotes showed up on the other side of the creek.  I called the dogs in while the dog daddy grabbed the rifle.  He shot to scare several times and the pack scattered.  Interesting that the horses were on their way to help from across the pasture.  Try to convince me that they didn't see those coyotes as a threat to their family.

We're peaceniks and non-hunters.  We'd never seen that pack of coyotes before (or since), so there was no shooting to kill.

The next day I saw what I believe are the coyote pair I photographed hunting in the snow in our "front yard."  Once again, we shot to inspire fear.  Later that day I heard shooting down in the valley and suspect a neighbor spotted coyotes.

So far, we've not seen that lone coyote who has no fear of us.  If/when we do, we will be shooting to kill.   In fact, we've had no coyote sightings this week.  We've added one of those air horns to our "arsenal" and I carry it with me when I run out to the studio.  

I also have to say that I am loving the LED collar I was sent to review!  In the pitch dark, I can locate where my little pack is with a glance, thanks to Jeffie wearing it (and the fact that they stick together so well.)

The drought here has been very severe and wildlife are definitely feeling the pinch in terms of finding food.  Put that together with their increasing adaptation to living near humans and I'm sure our coyote story will continue.

Adoration: Rudy
Loved all the comments on this post!  And, yes, there is room in Rudy's heart for both Rosie and Jeffie.  Jeffie is Rudy's best friend;  Rosie is something more.  I don't know what to call it.  If Rudy was female, I'd say there's a maternal flavor to the relationship, but it is even more than that.

Someone also asked about the relationship between Jeffie and Rosie.  I promise to blog about this, because it is sweet!

Irish Blessings and Great Jingle News
Just have to say once again how thrilled I am that senior shelter dog, Jingle, now has a forever home!

Wordless Wednesday: Rosie Does Shamrocks
Thanks for all your lovely comments!  So far, Rosie has not joined the Witness Protection Program, nor is she Amish.  She has lots of patience for photos.  Even when we dress her in very silly things! 

She and Rudy developed a new game right before these St Paddy's Day photos were taken.  Rudy finds the vole tunnels and either sees, feels, or hears them at work.  Once identified, he and Rosie snoot away, following the trail.  

Rosie is a love and what we call "an old soul."  She is, hands down, the easiest, smartest puppy.  Seriously.  And I'm trying to make sure to hold her as much as possible now, because she is GROWING! 

Urban Wanderers Art Exhibition Benefits Stray Rescue
I realize you're not going to head to St Louis to see this, but if you like dogs and you like art, then you should check this out! You can see some of the art work in the videos included in this blog post.


Before I close, I just want to let you know that we're celebrating National Puppy Day over at our Facebook page.  Post a photo of your favorite puppy and check out the cuties already posted.  I guarantee it will make you smile!   
And finally, I want to confirm that Mother Nature has a sense of humor.  On the second official day of spring, she gave us 6" of snow... with more to come over the weekend!  Happy Spring!

Coyote Update: Unexpected Help

Our coyote saga continues.  You may have read about it in this post with pretty snowstorm photos;  you may have read my update on Follow-up Friday.  Or you may wonder what the heck I'm talking about.

The lone coyote stalking our dogs a couple days ago.

I'm talking about coyotes who seemingly call our place "home."  Since Friday, we've had a couple sitings from afar, with only one more close encounter until yesterday morning.

Rudy and Rosie were outside in the backyard playing.  Jeffie was napping at the front door (He calls it "keeping watch;" I call it napping.)  I was watering plants which involves much filling of water pitcher in mud room and trapsing through the house too many times.

Something catches my eye.  Yep, its a coyote just outside the backyard fence.  He's watching Rudy and Rosie who are oblivious.

I slid open the door and call the pups who come immediately.  Then I grabbed a big stainless steel bowl and soup ladle (set aside to be handy for just this purpose) and head outside to make noise.

As I step out and begin striking the ladle against the bowl (it is LOUD), I realize I have help from an unexpected source.  One of the horses, Ditty, has obviously decided enough is enough.

Nostrils flared, head lowered, blowing so loud I can easily hear her, Ditty is slowly, but determinedly advancing on the coyote.  He looks pretty shocked as he glances at the deck where I'm screaming and beating my bowl, then at the horse that has marked him/her as a target.  

Head ducked, back tucked, the coyote begins to slink off.  That's when our other horse, Cakes, decides to provide back up.  The slinking turns into all out running.

Talk about the cavalry!

Unfortunately, this particular unit of cavalry cannot be relied upon to come to our aid all the time.  So... my pistol is loaded and handy.

I hate that.  We operate on a no harm, no foul rule. (You don't mess with me and mine, we won't mess with you.)  Except for sugar ants.  Any sugar ant I see is a dead sugar ant.  But that's another blog post.

We enjoy living in the country partly because it affords us the opportunity to see wildlife up close and personal.  To a point.

Year ago we had a much larger farm in a very secluded area.  With chickens, geese, ducks (cattle, horses, mules, dogs and cats, too) we were bound to attract preditors.  

In fact, one day my dog, Benji, got into it with a small pack of coyotes over some of our chickens.  Benji on one side of the fence; coyotes and chickens on the other.  I joined the fray with a baseball bat.  Yes, seriously.   Talk about seeing wildlife up close and personal.

Subsequent sitings with accompanying warning gun shots deterred them not the slightest.

When a coyote decided to carry off Mrs. Peeper (one of my geese), Gary grabbed a rifle and that was that.

So, the "ultimate solution" awaits further coyote trespassing.  This cool customer is entirely too comfortable here and he/she is putting my pups in jeopardy.

Lone coyote a couple of days ago at our backyard fence.

You know, I did call and talk to one of the Missouri Conservation Agents in our area.  "Shoot it!" he said after I explained the situation.  He agreed with us that this critter had lost all wariness of humans.  He urged me to not let the dogs out at all while it's dark and never alone.

He believed the coyote probably had pegged our puppy, Rosie, as a nice meal.

Not on my watch.  (That click you just heard is me cocking hammer on my pistol.)  

Follow-up Friday: Treats, Winners, Coyotes

I'm pleased to be joining Heart Like A Dog for the Follow-up Friday blog hop this week.

I love Jodi's idea and am pleased that I've finally gotten it together to join in! 

It's the blog hop that lets you wrap up your week and leads you right into the weekend.  Hosted by Jodi at Heart Like A Dog, and co-hosted this week by Donna and the Dogs.

Today I have some follow-ups to more than just the past week of blog posts.

Good Dog Take Outs Treat Giveaway
We've heard from a couple of our winners who are enjoying their Good Dog Take Outs dog treats.  Tiffany reports that her dogs have sampled the Peanut Butter dog treats from Good Dog Take Outs.  Bella and Jenny love them!  Tiffany sent photos to prove it.

Kelly was hoping that her Peanut Butter and Egg and Cheesy dog treats would arrive in time for Artie's Gotcha Day Celebration and they did!  Here's Artie:

Be sure to visit Talking Dogs in April because we'll be celebrating Jeffie's birthday with giveaways!  In fact, Good Dog Take Outs new dog treat flavors will be among the prizes!


Dog Mom Jewelry Bracelet Give Away
Our celebration of my mom's birthday was a lot of fun!  Especially for the winner, Caren Gittleman, author of Cat Chat with Caren and Cody and Dakota's Den blogs!   My mom never met a celebration or giveaway she didn't love, and I know she's smiling that a dog and cat lover won that bracelet! Bark at me in the comments if you'd like me to have another For Love of a Dog jewelry giveaway and tell me what you'd most like to win!

Fostering Dogs: Kristi and Glenn Austin Q and A
Kristi reports that Jingle has settled into her new foster home in Washington, D. C. and is looking for that perfect home where she can spend the rest of her senior years.  Contact City Dogs Rescue for more information on "one of the sweetest hounds you'll ever meet."

Jingle is now waiting for adoption.

A Different Sort of Canine Wordless Wednesday
This probably merits a whole new blog post, but since I won't get around to that until next week, I'll give you an update.

Since I took those snowy coyote photos and wrote that post (okay, confession time:  I schedule posts ahead of time) we've had several more close encounters of the coyote kind.  However, these encounters were way too close for comfort and were with a lone coyote with a bit different coloring than the pair we've been watching.

This coyote shows absolutely zero fear or caution.  He just sits there, a few feet away.  Watching.

I think he's pegged Jeffie as all bark and no bite;  Rudy as a loud, inexperienced goof;  and Rosie as a delectable delight.   All true.

And me?  You know how all the literature tells you to make yourself as big as possible?  To yell and wave your arms? I was on the top of the back porch, yelling like a banshee, and definitely waving my arms.   No reaction.

Got the dogs in.  I came in.  The coyote, looking very obviously bored and feeling like the show was over, slowly meandered off to the north.

There's something very wrong here that this wild creature has absolutely no fear of any of us in any of these encounters.  I have a feeling we're approaching a "High Noon" moment.  Stay tuned...

Missouri: A Dangerous Place for Animals
Here's the deal:  I try not to think about the fact that I live in Missouri.  I've blogged about the shame I feel living in the Puppy Mill Capital.  Animal welfare is not the only issue that makes me feel that way about Missouri.

However, I do live here and so do millions of other animal lovers who have worked very hard to improve conditions and protect animals from cruelty.  If we all left, stopped spending our money here, never promoted the state... then where would animals in Missouri be?  Definitely in worse shape.

Is Missouri our home state?  No.  We moved here to provide hospice care for my mother and to fulfill her wish to die at home.   Will we be moving?  Probably.

My husband is fond of saying:  Bloom where you're planted.  He's also big on: Everybody's gotta be somewhere.  Right now we do live in Missouri and we do what we can for animals.
[rant over]

So...  that's how my week has shaped up so far!  

Join the Follow-up Friday blog hop and tell us all about your week!