A Reminder For Even The Responsible Pet Owners

It was a typical Thursday night at home. The great dinner debate turned into a quick run for me to grab take out. This is always a favorite chore for my brindle companion coon hound, Maggie. She gets to go for a ride, sniff some window air, and sniffs out her next scrap-snack on the way home. Maggie's a good, obedient girl who has earned the trust of her human companions. And, with that trust, even this responsible pet owner will slack a bit and let her walk to and from the car without a leash. 9 times out of 10, it's no problem. But, last night, another lesson was learned about dogs...coon dogs...and their instincts!

During those small 10 percent times when Maggie says, "F-you, dad! I'll be right back," she's chasing a raccoon up a tree, or the neighbor's cat back through its cat door. The latter of which is what exactly I thought Maggie darted after when we got home and she sprung out of the car. I found I was sorely mistaken seconds later. As Maggie gave up her pursuit on her dad's insistence, she did a nose dive into the front lawn. It could only mean one thing...

...the black cat had a white stripe. And it was bath bonanza time for Maggie...and me!