Our dog Molly and a Copperhead

Our little dog Molly thinks she's Queen of the block. Anything or anyone who ventures close to our fence line, the hackles rise on her back and the intruder is blasted with her ferocious bark. I doubt she'd hurt anyone though, as the man that reads the electric meter comes right in and she lopes along beside him as he comes and goes.

My husband has a wood shop in the back yard. Molly loves to hunt and has been known to go under the shed after a mouse. And has caught one or two. Ugh! On August 5th our son came over and cut down alot of vines that clung to the fence. We usually let them stay on the ground as it's muddy back there and Molly tracks it in the house. We hoped the cuttings would form a carpet over the mud. On the 6th my husband heard Molly yelp and saw her run from behind the shop and lay down on the grass. He didn't think anything of it.

An hour later I called her in. She wasn't her usual chipper self, and her face looked like a chipmonks. I thought she had her mouth full of something. When I realized she was swollen, we loaded her in the car and drove to the Vet. She showed us where the fang marks were on her nose and believed it was a copperhead as a rattler wouldn't have made Molly much sicker. Several dogs have died this summer due to rattler bites. She gave Molly two shots and kept her all afternoon to make sure she didn't get worse. We came home with two bottles of pills.

There is a rattlesnack anti-venom your animal can be given, something we may consider even though we don't live in a brushy area. We live on a corner in a small housing development but there is a big field across the road. I think we will have to clean that brush out and make sure the copperheads don't have a place to hide.

Here are a few pictures of Molly taken at the Vet's Office.

Leave me a comment with your pet stories.

Happy Reading and Writing!

Linda

http://www.lindalaroque.com/

Molly is one spoiled dog!

Three years ago I'd have laughed if someone told me I'd be so attached to a dog that I'd let it get on the bed with me. Dog hair on my bed! No way.

Then three years ago in June, while out of town, we stopped at Walmart for a gift. At the exit, cars were lined up with people selling puppies. I'd been wanting a dog for several years, but kept telling myself we didn't need one. One sign said, "Free." On impulse, I said, "Stop, just let me look."

Well, it was the full grown dogs that were free, the puppies were $10.00. They were six weeks old. I held a male. He was a cutie but I swore to never have a male dog again. It just so happened they had a female and the lady was so desperate for a home for them she let me have her free.

On the 100 mile trip home, I couldn't believe what I'd done, but with Molly cuddled up close to me, I knew I'd done the right thing. Of course, the vet bill was high. She had two kinds of worms, needed shots, medicine, and heart worm pills. Then there was the kennel, dog food bowls, toys and the list goes on.

Our son was living with us at the time and he loved to say, "Molly, if Mama hadn't taken you, you'd be decomposing on the side of the road somewhere." I hate to think her situation would have been that bad, but do know she's brought lots of joy to our house. And comfort during some difficult times.

In the picture above, you see her sitting in my husband's lap with what we call her cigar. It's a rawhide chew bone that she carts out with her and then back in again. She hides it in corners in plain site. It's funny but gives her pleasure.

This past fall, somehow she talked me into letting her on the bed. I like to take a nap in the afternoons and would insist she get in her bed. But, that day I couldn't resist those soulful eyes. Now at nap time, she snuggles in beside me and I pull the opposite edge of the comforter over her. Of course, now I have to wash the comforter more often, but she's worth it.

Here she is all tucked in. The flash woke her up. I think I've created a monster. If I can't find her, she's most likely on the bed. Guess I'll have to close the bedroom door.

We're leaving for a trip to West Texas Thursday morning early so she'll be going to the kennel. She knows the people there and has other dogs to play with but I know she'd rather be home.

Yep, Molly is one spoiled dog, but we love her. She gives loads of love in return.

Do you have a pet? Leave a comment and tell us about your animal or animals. Remember, I have a drawing once a month from the comments. The winner will receive their choice of one of my ebooks.

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Reading!

Linda
Linda LaRoque ~ Western Romance with a Twist in Time.
Forever Faithful, Investment of the Heart 5-09, When the Ocotillo Bloom, 7-09, Champagne Books; A Law of Her Own, Desires of the Heart, My Heart Will Find Yours 5-09, Flames on the Sky 10-23-09 from TWRP.
http://www.lindalaroque.com/
http://lindalaroqueauthor.blogspot.com/