This Is Why We Only Have A Dog
For several days last fall, my neighbor had a young squirrel stuck on his roof. I say 'young' for two reasons: (1) it was quite small and (2) it was stuck on the roof - something that seems unlikely of an older and wiser squirrel. It was pitiful, and the poor thing spent most of those days crying and running back and forth. There was much discussion between our cluster of houses regarding what, if anything should be done. And because those discussions were usually between the men, the often ended with someone wishing they had a BB gun. Go figure.
On the afternoon of the 3rd day, the kids and I were playing in the front yard. Apparently I had grown used to the noise of the squirrel, because I didn't notice that it was absent - until my neighbor started walking across the street with a 5-gallon bucket . . . the squirrel had fallen off of his roof and landed in his open sprinkler box. He scooped the squirrel out, put it in the bucket, and then decided that I was his best bet for advice on what to do with it.
I am guessing that he didn't know that I had just read a post from my dear friend HyphenMama, whose father-in-law counts drowning squirrels in buckets as one of his favorite pastimes. Any guesses to where this is going?!
He got about half-way across the street before I motioned to him to not bring the bucket any closer - because I really need my children to be that much closer to an animals that carries unknown disease and filth.
Me: "Is it dead?"
Him: "No, but I think it broke its leg . . . it's just kind-of flopping around. What do you think I should do with it?"
Me: "Um . . . well, I would just fill the bucket up with water."
[Insert look of utter and complete mortification from him HERE. Seriously - he looked at me first, like I was high, and second, with a look that screamed, "YOU HAVE CHILDREN AND THAT IS HOW YOU THINK I SHOULD GET RID OF A HARMLESS WOODLAND CREATURE?!)
Him: "Well, I was thinking that I would just take it down to the stream behind the school and let it go."
[Insert sound of crickets chirping HERE. DUDE! Why did you ask me what I thought you should do with it IF YOU WERE ALREADY THINKING YOU SHOULD JUST SET IT FREE?!)
Me: "Um . . . yeah. That sounds like a great idea."
On the upside, I don't think we will ever be asked to look after his dogs when he is out-of-town.
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14 comments:
giggle, snort....
I'm the total moron, I would have taken it to the vet and paid $1500 to put his little leg in a splint...but then we all know I have SUCKER tattoo'd across my forehead....
Bawhahah. No dog sitting for you.
I'm snorting tea out my nose. The poor keyboard did nothing to deserve this.
After our mouse-cepade, I'm with you. You.crack.me.up
Ya.... I think that will take care of ever having to watch their doggie!!! oh well
*snort*
MAJOR *snort*
Oops, wrong person to make that comment to. The thing is though, if he let it go in the wild with a broken leg it wouldn't survive, it will become a meal for another animal. Your idea was ultimately much kinder.
So that's how I could have gotten rid of those squirrels a few months ago! Haaa! I wish I could have seen the expression on his face!
Hahaha! Funny post!
It's all fun and games 'til you catch a skunk. Or 2.
There's only one thing worse - possums in the roof!
I would've put on thick gloves and broken it's neck. There's not much point in setting it free if its leg is broken.
Congrats on the POTD.
Over here someone would have taken it to the RSPCA, it's leg would have been set in plaster and an item would have been filed for the 'And finally' slot on the Nationa News.
Congrats on the Post of the Day Award from David's authorblog!
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