Warning contents may be offensive to some readers. Graphic and violent content.
You sure you want to read about this? OK here goes. You have been warned...
I had a very sad walk last night. I guess I should just start from the beginning.
We were at Shubie park with Maya, for her daily walk. It all started wonderfully. It was a little chilly but Dave and I were cheerily watching our little pup wander around and play in the woods. It was quite the happy little family scene.
Then the trouble started when we saw a cute little squirrel at a feeder. It was a tiny little cute thing, just sitting in the tomato juice can-turned-feeder. Then Maya saw it. She became all excited as she always does. She was cute as she jumped up both paws on the tree, hopping around whining for the squirrel. Dave and I laughed innocently, unaware of the events that were to follow.
Noticing the impending danger of Maya, the squirrel quickly tried to climb the young birch tree. Weather he was just too young or the bark too slick, he merely slipped back to the top of the feeder. Maya was now bouncing with anticipation as the squirrel moved around.
In a foolhardy, desperate attempt at escape the squirrel flung himself off the feeder all the way down to the ground.
Here is where it gets bad.
Maya, lightning quick as she is, snatched him out of the air. He was in her mouth. She proceeded to nibble and shake him. His small frame fully in her mouth.
Dave and I, before this in awe and shock, jumped into action. We both were yelling at her and telling her to "drop it". She quickly stopped and stood there with the small body in her mouth. She then dropped it and stood aside, still trying to sniff it.
It lay there only slightly twitching. I reached down to see if it was alive... it wasn't.
My dog, my baby pup, my little girl killed a squirrel! I was in shock.
I proceeded to cry and shake. I had never seen anything killed, especially not in that way, right before my eyes. It was quite traumatic for me. I know that some may say it was "just a squirrel" and that it was just the way of life. I am the first to say that I am all for the natural order of things, but at the same time... to see them played out in that way, was just too much for me. I just couldn't deal with seeing it. There is more than one reason why I just can't eat meat, and that was one of them.
I am still a little in shock about the whole thing...
You sure you want to read about this? OK here goes. You have been warned...
I had a very sad walk last night. I guess I should just start from the beginning.
We were at Shubie park with Maya, for her daily walk. It all started wonderfully. It was a little chilly but Dave and I were cheerily watching our little pup wander around and play in the woods. It was quite the happy little family scene.
Then the trouble started when we saw a cute little squirrel at a feeder. It was a tiny little cute thing, just sitting in the tomato juice can-turned-feeder. Then Maya saw it. She became all excited as she always does. She was cute as she jumped up both paws on the tree, hopping around whining for the squirrel. Dave and I laughed innocently, unaware of the events that were to follow.
Noticing the impending danger of Maya, the squirrel quickly tried to climb the young birch tree. Weather he was just too young or the bark too slick, he merely slipped back to the top of the feeder. Maya was now bouncing with anticipation as the squirrel moved around.
In a foolhardy, desperate attempt at escape the squirrel flung himself off the feeder all the way down to the ground.
Here is where it gets bad.
Maya, lightning quick as she is, snatched him out of the air. He was in her mouth. She proceeded to nibble and shake him. His small frame fully in her mouth.
Dave and I, before this in awe and shock, jumped into action. We both were yelling at her and telling her to "drop it". She quickly stopped and stood there with the small body in her mouth. She then dropped it and stood aside, still trying to sniff it.
It lay there only slightly twitching. I reached down to see if it was alive... it wasn't.
My dog, my baby pup, my little girl killed a squirrel! I was in shock.
I proceeded to cry and shake. I had never seen anything killed, especially not in that way, right before my eyes. It was quite traumatic for me. I know that some may say it was "just a squirrel" and that it was just the way of life. I am the first to say that I am all for the natural order of things, but at the same time... to see them played out in that way, was just too much for me. I just couldn't deal with seeing it. There is more than one reason why I just can't eat meat, and that was one of them.
I am still a little in shock about the whole thing...
How can that face be a killer?
5 comments:
Dogs and squirrels are, sadly, mortal enemies.
Sophie hasn't killed anything yet, she's too slow and not nearly coordinated enough.
She didn't mean it...she was only trying to play. I feel bad for both of them. And for you too!
I should lend you a book called "Walking in Circles before lying down".
http://www.amazon.ca/Walking-Circles-Before-Lying-Down/
It's about a woman whose starts to understand what her dog is saying. It's very illuminating.
Oh hon, I'm sorry you had to see that.
I remember when I was a kid my cat stalked and destroyed a squirrel pretty much at my feet. I was very upset by it...my beloved, sweet kitty expressing his hunter side.
My Dad sat me down and explained that it's the instinct, it's normal and natural and while it may be hard to watch, biologically it's normal.
I feel bad for the squirrel...but I can see Maya's perspective. She is the hunter, just doing her thing.
Poor Berkeley.
Awwww... that is sad.
Could you pretend it was a yarn-stealing squirrel? Would that make it better?
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