It’s me, Scooter. I did a bad thing. I wanted to go out last night, you know, to be OUTSIDE. There are things outside that I like. One of them was furry and soft with a long tail. Mom couldn’t see it, but she didn’t know where to look either. I was barking at it through the “slide-y” door. Mom wanted to go to bed and that means I had to go out one last time. She was afraid I’d chase the thing out there so she hooked me up to the 50-foot leash. We do that sometimes.
The other end of the leash is hooked to a big eye screw in the part of the deck that isn’t attached to the rest of the deck. It is just a platform to step on because the deck is lower than the house. There’s a handrail on it. Dad is the only one who can move it because it is very heavy.
As soon as Mom hooked the leash to my collar, I did the bad thing. I took off running. She tried to hold the leash to slow me down, but I was running real fast. She let go because the leash was going through her hands so fast it was starting to spark.
Fifty feet is a long leash. Mom yelled the whole length of the leash at me to STOP! But I wanted to visit with the furry soft thing that has a long tail. And it was running away from me and that made me want to run faster.
Then I came to the end of my leash.
Mom was standing on the deck part that isn’t attached to the rest of the deck and now it isn’t attached to the rest of the deck even more than usual. About 3 feet more than usual. Dad estimated that the deck that isn’t attached to the rest of the deck plus Mom has to weigh at least 200 pounds. I weigh about 70. (There is a math story problem in there somewhere.)
Mom was still standing after I dragged the deck. But the furry soft thing with the long tail started to run again. So I ran again too. Mom wasn’t expecting to surf the deck a second time so she kind of fell backwards. Luckily, “Old Flamingo Legs” caught herself in time and was still vertical when I remembered, again, that I was still attached to the part of the deck that isn’t attached to the rest of the deck. Her left foot stepped back and then down. Way down. To the part of the deck that didn’t move. Now her left leg doesn’t move like it used to.
Most importantly I am fine. I can still bark as loud as ever. Neither of my eyes popped out of my head. My neck isn’t kinked. There are no black and blue marks between my fur hairs (Mom checked) and I seem to be as perfect as I was before.
I am hoping my friend is in the back yard again tonight!
Scooter my dog Pele is very fond of chasing rabbits and often the local rabbits seem to just run out of range of our extendable leash. One day when I was running she pounced on a baby bunny and lets just say it went on to its next life. Of course Pele was thrilled being the great poodle hunter that she is.
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Oh Scooter you crazy boy!!
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Scooter, you could have really gotten hurt, really hurt. Did you apologize to Mom about her leg? I hope you did.
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Oh, Scooter. You’re going to have to remember to take a deep breath before charging out into the yard. I know it’s hard to do, but give it a try.
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Oh, NO! I hope your Mom is okay today… those furry soft things with the long tails are responsible for every bad happening, as far as I am concerned!
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Sorry you’re hurt but your story telling is wonderful!
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So…did your Mom break a leg?! I have ground squirrels under a wooden step that Grandpa made and I like to take a flying leap to try to catch them. Gramma wonders what I will do if I ever catch one. Me too. -Ollie
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Oh Ami! Thank goodness you use your right leg to operate the foot control or knee control of your favorite sewing machine. Bad Scooter!
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Lucky it was the left leg.
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Yes, you can still sew with the right foot! So glad you are not badly injured.
Possum have rat tails, not bushy. Bushy could be a raccoon, cat, skunk, coyote, or deer.
My first Airedale had many evening meetings with skunks. Our current dog seems to flush out racoons. Deer are not afraid of the neighborhood dogs and eat in our yard in the daytime, but walk the streets at night. Sometimes we hear the howling coyotes. One would think we live in the country. Nope, suburbia!
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I hope you are ok, Ami! I laughed until the part where you got hurt!
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Yup; I’m just a little gimpy.
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oh by the way Scooter, if you friend is Black and White you really don’t want to play with him or her, and if he has a mask on that is just as bad…be a good doggie!
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Looked like a possum to me…
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OMG – I am still laughing. I hope you are OK.
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Yes, we’re both OK.
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Scooter, Scooter, Scooter………
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I’m sorry–I laughed so hard (tears!). I hope Ami’s leg is better, soon. I’m so glad Scooter’s “fur hairs” are fine! : )
Susan
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Our last dog used to hate rooks and crows, and would belt down the garden to try to catch them, leaping high as they effortlessly took off and flew up to sit on the roof and laugh at him. He couldn’t work out why he couldn’t fly gggg Hope you are OK Ami.
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Too funny! I mean, not funny that you hurt your leg, but funny in the way that you tell the story. Feel better soon! ~ Carol
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I have been a little glum the past two days after learning that my son is being deployed for the fourth time. The MN National Guard are being sent to Western Africa. Thanks for giving me fun tears this morning. I really needed a good laugh, just sorry it is at the expense of mom’s leg.
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Scooter and I both wish your son safe journeys and speedy homecoming.
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Please thank your son for his service–and thank You for raising such a fine man.
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Hi Scooter! Snickers here. I hear you about the furry things in YOUR backyard. The nerve of them to enter our territory! One time, my sister, Sugar, (she’s gone to the Rainbow Bridge now) and I tag-teamed a rabbit. Mom was mad & said that bunnies are our friends. Yeah, right! They’re just like those nasty squirrels & other furry things that are in MY yard! Glad you weren’t hurt protecting your yard and family from those furry rodents, but next time, be careful not to hurt any of your family. They feed you, you know!
Love & licks, Snickers Flock
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We know Scooter is fine but what about mom?
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Oh dear. Thanks for my daily laugh. Hope your leg, hip, back are all better
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OY VEY SCOOTER!!! gald you & your mom are both ok, sort of…
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Scooter – this time ask your mom to wear a bouncy suit, she may enjoy the furry thing escapades more!
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Opossum, skunk, raccoon – bad animals all when chased by an over-enthusiastic dog who, by their understanding, is out too late and interfering with their night-time foraging. There is a rightness to sharing this planet we are co-existing in so closely these days – balance, Scooter, balance. Now your mom, Ami, knows a thing or two about balance, too. Scooter, you would be on nighttime detention and a very early curfew for the duration…any night-time encounter will bring no good to all parties – you, critter of any kind, and Mom. Just sayin’ – story was more surprising and worrisome than funny because of inevitable outcome. So, sorry, Ami. Best wishes and prompt healing for you.
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Oh my! This had me laughing – at my desk – at work!! But I’m SO sorry you got hurt, Ami. Naughty, naughty Scooter!!!
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Hilarious, glad you are ok Ami!!!!
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I hope mom is at least as okay as you are. You both had more than enough adventure/trauma, not to mention the soft furry long tailed thing. Scooter, dear, you need to be taking better care of your mom. She has important Grama stuff to do!
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200 lbs? I don’t think so!
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My weight and the wood platform? Easy.
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Oh Scooter…. You might have to stay in the big fenced yard with my yellow dog.
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Sorry you got hurt On the hunt !
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What would we do without our furry babies to keep us on our toes — or off as the case may be?????
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A dog is a dog is a dog…..they have to remind us sometime! Hope you weren’t hurt.
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I have been laughing so hard I have tears! It was written so well it was like I was standing there watching. Ami I just hope you are ok.
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Yes, I’m fine. :)
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If it was a skunk . . . cleaning up a sprayed Scooter would probably have been worse . . . yes? no?
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Actually this came from Diane Johansen
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Hope your okay. Flamingo Legs? Scooter needs to be kinder. If the furry animal had a stripe down it’s back, he should be really, really glad it didn’t want to “play”.
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Oh dear Scooter. You do have a way of getting into trouble. Glad your momma is okay. That was a close call.
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Hi, Scooter, Rufus here. I love chasing critters. I don’t care what kind, either! If if moves, I chase it! We live in Florida so we have lots of lizards to chase. They are pretty fast. I use to chase, and catch, possums. They don’t come around so much any more. The worst is an evil squirrel that climbs all over the screened cage around the pool. He knows that I can’t get him, but he taunts me. If I get really upset, my mom gets out the hose and squirts it until it goes away. Then she squirts me and I chase the water and get all wet and have lots of fun. Then I go in the house and shake before mom can towel me off. She gets upset at me then.
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Scooter, my dog Lacey (she’s at the Rainbow Bridge too) could tell you about those soft, furry things with the long black tails that have extra long white stripes. She decided to get “nosey” with one on an occasion, and daddy blew a gasket when she came in the “slide-y” door and wiped her phewwy face all over the bedroom rug. She had to have a tomato juice bath at 3 AM, and mom made Lacey let her take her picture too. And we all remembered THAT adventure for quite a while. Maybe you should help dad attach the part of the deck that isn’t attached to the deck to the deck, yes? Glad mom is alright too.
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I thought you were talking about Scotter Libby! Thank goodness, it was your dog getting into mischief!
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Scooter ….really “Old Flamingo Legs” and mom weighs 200# that is naughty! If Santa passes your house this Christmas you’ll know why lol lol.
So glad to hear that neither of you were seriously hurt ..and Scooter wild furry things outside could make you sick so be a good boy !!!!
Great story Ami always loved your great sense of humor.
Jeannette/Pa
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Scooter, NO! We dogsit Penny (yorkie poo) who chases and pounces on Jennyanydots (our kitty) — yes, it’s a furry tail — UNTIL Jenny hides and then pounces and chases Penny- this could happen to you too! You must beware of furry tails!!!
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Had a Pyrenees who once dragged the entire back porch away when he caught sight of the one neighborhood dog he did not like in his front yard. I had only looped his leash around the porch rail for a few seconds while I stooped to retire one of my sneakers before our walk!
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Oh, what a funny story, but, Ami I hope you are ok!
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I hope your leg is ok. You need to be able to walk that grandbaby around!! Marie Kudej
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Way to go, Scooter! All you need to do now is get Mom on a skateboard! You wouldn’t have had to stop so soon!
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Bite your tongue!
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Piper, the Great Pyrenees here. I only bark at deer, crows, birds. I look at squirrels but they are not worthy of a bark. I just look at them. Hope your mommy’s leg and ankle are better soon!
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So what was the furry thing you were chasing? That sounds like lots of fun. All I ever get to chase are squirrels but they are so afraid of me they stay up in the trees so I don’t know if that is really a chase or not.
Your pal,
Otto
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Glad you weren’t badly hurt. Scooter needs to be renamed Flash.
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Good thought!
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Vada here: I don’t have as much room to run as you do, and I am a bit smaller. But I do have lizards who tease me all the time. I hope your friend with the tail visits again.
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Oh dog. To know one is to love one. Mostly;)
Glad you are ok Ami, mostly.
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Oh, Scooter! You must be very strong and very determined. I hope you’ve learned your lesson, but I doubt it.
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Not a chance.
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I’ll just bet that thing with the long tail was black with a white stripe. Bad boy! You’re lucky your mom loves you so much.
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Nope, it was a possum. I think.
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I am so sorry Ami! Kathleen
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Oh Scooter, you’re smarter than we think. My friend used to tie her great dane up with a piece of butcher twine! My neighbor called me to tell me my German Shepherd had arrived at her front door towing the cinder block he was attached to. Smart people get smart dogs is the point of that story. I’m glad Mom is not permanently disabled and that she still likes you.
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That is too funny!
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Oh Scooter! I have 2 St Bernards sharing my life and we had a very similar experience a few weeks back. If you want to feel better abut doing that very bad thing get your mum to read my blog entry to you and she’ll realise things weren’t quite as bad as they could have been. http://lifeatspringrock.blogspot.com.au/2014/09/a-tale-of-two-ferrets-and-st-bernard.html
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OMG. I guess Dad will have to fix the part not attached to the deck now. MAYBE??
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Sweet pup, Scooter. Take care of Mom and give her some big, wet puppy kisses. They have healing power with no bad side effects.
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Hey, Scooter, My name is Allie and Mom has to let me out a slider thing too, One time I went out and found a little furry thing and brought it to Mom. I dropped it since Mom wouldn’t let me bring it in and it laid there a few minutes then hopped away. Mom said that was best since it was a baby bunny and needed to find its mommy.
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Scooter, What a wonderful adventure you had! I’m sure you told your mom that you were sorry. But one piece of advice that I would like to suggest is that if you see a furry thing with a long tail that is black with a white stripe down the middle, PLEASE do not go after it. Your mom wouldn’t be quite as understanding as she was this time if you do! How do I know? Been there, done that!
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Understand totally! Been there one that!
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Scooter, I’m *very* glad you didn’t meet that furry “friend”. I imagine your mother/father are glad also. That furry friend is NOT nice.
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Scooter, you are just a big overgrown puppy, but I must say that you are very, very good at it!
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I am caught in a time warp….(says Scooter)
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Scooter. Just be glad that the soft furry thing wasn’t a skunk. Mom would not have let you back into the house for anything but a long bath in tomato juice.
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Indeed! She did that once before and it wasn’t pleasant in the house at all.
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Scooter, your friend with the fluffy tail could have been black and white. That is a color combination you want to avoid. Give your mommy some doggy kisses for checking to make sure you were ok.
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Scooter totally agrees!
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What’s holding him back tonight? 😉
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Me.
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