It Wasn't Me!
Carol and her husband couldn't find pet sitters for their three dogs, so decided to take them along. They were headng out in their RV for a month of road travel. The dog's were two senior Shih Tzu's, and a Collie who looked like the television star, "Lassie." Carol's husband mentioned that the dog food and various supplies took up most of the space. Carol had named the Collie, Bess. The two Shih Tzu's were very much her husband's dogs.
They decided to spend a few days at an RV park that welcomed dogs. It was a beautiful setting. There many paths to walk, a creek to play in, and as Carol discovered, a post with a small box full of doggy poop bags. She thought that was the neatest thing. When she went to take one out, all the bags tumbled to the ground. The RV park manager walked by, growling at her that she didn't need to take them all! Other people needed them. Before she could explain, he strode on down the path. She stuffed the bags into the box, called Bess and left.
In the morning when she took Bess out for a run, the bag box was empty. Once again the manager approached her, asking her to replace the ones she had taken. He put a fresh supply of bags in. Carol started to tell him the box was empty when she got up, when her husband went by with his Shih Tzu's. Bess strained at her leash, wanting to go too.
The next morning the box was again empty, with the manager having to refill it. He gave Carol a dirty look as she and Bess walked by. She had tried to explain that it wasn't her taking the bags, he just stormed on past snarling under his breath, "Those bags are put there for ALL dog owners."
She was upset. It was uncomfortable being blamed for stealing. She decided to find out who was taking the bags. Placing a lawn chair in some bushes close to the post, she and Bess waited. Bess had sharp ears. Towards midnight she nudged Carol awake. The dog was taunt with excitement. As they watched, a family of racoons were busily yanking all the bags out of the box grabbing them in tiny paws and mouths, then leaving. Bess wanted so bad to chase the racoons. Carol kept her in control as she quietly followed them.
When the grumpy manager found the empty box, Carol was ready. She grinned and asked him to follow her. They went a short way off the path, into the woods. When she reached an old log, she montioned to the man to kneel and peek inside. He did, then looked at her with a grin. He apologized. An animal specialist was called in to capture the racoon family. They would be released in an area far from the park.
Carol brought Bess with her when the manager broke open the log. There were hundreds of tiny green doggy bags, made into a nest. Bess went wild. She sniffed and snorted through the bags, rolling in them, grabbing mouthfuls then running madly in a circle only to come back and roll in the nest again. She may not have been allowed to chase those pesky racoons, but she was having a great time romping in those bags that held the smell of them.
A new box was placed on the pole, hopefully racoon proof. Carol's name was cleared. She was happy with that. It had been a difficult few days. She had to smile remembering how Bess got to play detective with her, then help demolish the nest. The RV was loaded up, the dogs barking with excitement, her husband anxious to get on the road. It was time to move on.
