Bestest Friend and I are doing a blog project. Each day we will write a blog post on a pre-determined theme chosen by a random noun generator. The theme for the eleventh day of the month is "Stranger."
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The reason I have been letting Hannah off-leash in places she's probably not supposed to be is that I need to buy a pass for her to go to the dog park, but in order to do that, I need to get her licensed, and in order to do that, I need to get her records from the vet to prove that she's up-to-date on her shots. Since this is a multiple-step process, each of which is annoying in its own way, I am procrastinating and breaking/bending the rules. I did just find a receipt from the vet with her shot information on it when I went to look. Now I have to track down $10 in cash - ok, I just looked and I have this in my wallet - and go to city hall to get the license. Once I have that license, I can print off the form for the dog park and bring a check with me the next time we go for the dog park fee. *sheesh* Thanks for listening to boring life administration self-talk.
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| A rare sunny day in January in Wisconsin. It was still cold, so you'll note I'm really bundled up. |
This fox is big news because we don't normally have foxes in our town. People are following it closely and it's well photographed and I know it's eaten a rabbit and a squirrel because I've seen photographic proof. There are stories in the local paper reminding people to keep an eye out on their small dogs and cats. Lots of theories are floating around about where this fox came from. It's really quite something.
What the equivalent of the fox story in your small town? The little story everyone's talking about?
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To see what Bestest Friend has to say about the theme of the day, go visit her at Too Legit to Quit.
We once had a fox in our town that caused a lot of discussion, too. People worried it was rabid because it had lost its fear of humans and looked really awful. It eventually was killed by Animal Control. On our street two summers ago, we had a vacant home that became infested with raccoons. Those things were marauders and hit everyone's garbage cans regularly, making a huge mess. I finally saw the owner's caretakers on the property one day and told them that I was going to call the Health Department if they didn't get a pest control company over there asap. They did.
ReplyDeleteRaccoons are so smart and destructive! I can see why you'd want a huge group of them removed!
DeleteWe rarely see foxes, but they're so pretty!
ReplyDeleteWe saw a coyote in woods very close to our house - yikes!
I don't think I've ever seen a coyote! That would be really scary, especially close to your house. Is it a frequent sighting?
DeleteWe have coyotes on the regular in my neighbourhood, and sometimes bobcats. It has really thinned the rabbit population - which is okay, because we were kind of getting overrun by rabbits. The circle of life!
ReplyDeleteYes, we could stand fewer rabbits and squirrels (most especially in our yard), but people are really concerned about their pets and I do understand that. I have never seen a coyote, I don't think, and if there was a bobcat here, it would certainly supplant the fox news as the top story in town! You definitely live in an area with more medium- to large-size wildlife than I do!
DeleteOh, how I LOVE your fox story and that it's so widely circulated! We have no equivalent in my town -- at least, not that I'm aware of. Although there was once a coyote spotted on our street, so all the neighbors were texting one another to keep their (small) dogs and children (mine, she was the only child on the street at that point) close. Hannah is very smart to be suspicious!
ReplyDeleteThe number of steps you have to go through to get Hannah into a dog park makes my head spin. I hate things like that and would probably just never do it.
I GOT HER DOG PARK PASS. Just writing it out yesterday was enough to motivate me. I went to city hall and got her a license and then I could do the payment for the dog park online. Now Hannah will have an unlimited dog park pass for the rest of the year and I don't have to think about it again! Woot woot!
DeleteHooray! Go, you! That is awesome. :-) I hope she loves the dog park.
DeleteI have been doing Unpleasant Tasks this morning, and one required being on the phone (mostly on hold) for 46 minutes and yet I have only managed to accomplish 1 of 3. SIGH.
Down here, the sightings are usually "there was a four-foot-long, bright green iguana in the side yard this morning." But I live in a condo surrounded by condos, so we don't get the same sightings as the people in houses on canals do (and most of the houses are on canals). Seems to me I heard talk of a bear recently, but that might have been in the bigger city north of us.
ReplyDeleteHa. I imagine the lizard sightings can get wild. But I guess you're lucky it's not alligators! That would really freak me out!
DeleteOh yay! I see in the comments that you got her the pass. I do know how these things with multiple, tedious steps can be daunting.
ReplyDeleteHmmm... around here we apparently have coyotes. I haven't seen any myself, but neighbors have been warning us. I wish it were foxes! I think foxes are much less dangerous. My sister had a family of foxes in her backyard last year, with a couple babies. Her cat was wary of them, but they pretty much left each other alone.
Yes, I think foxes are pretty scared of people and tend to run away, but coyotes seem a bit bolder. I'd be really nervous if I heard about coyotes around here and I'd probably keep Hannah on-leash a lot more religiously.
DeleteMy parents'house always has foxes in the yard, and I just love them-- such weird little cat/dog looking things. Also-- I hear you on the self-admin. I HATE multi-step boring tasks like that.
ReplyDeleteI always forget what a hassle the first part of the year is - getting a state park pass, getting a dog park pass, etc. - it's enough to make me think that New Year's is a not great holiday!
DeleteI'm kind of blissfully unaware of what everyone in the neighborhood is talking about since I am off social media. Our block has a facebook page so people will post things on there so Phil will tell me anything pressing, like about a block party or if someone is giving away diapers that they had leftover from having a grandchild visit. I do wish I could JUST see the neighborhood page, but facebook doesn't have a separate ap for groups like it did years ago.
ReplyDeleteBut really all anyone is talking about is probably how dang much snow we have. And then we got a nice freezing rain on top of it this morning! So fun! It is pretty out but I feel like we will not see grass until April.
Yes, everyone here is talking about your weather, too! I'm so sorry you're dealing with the ice on top of snow - I hope you're all safe.
DeleteWe occasionally have foxes around here, but it's coyotes that get everyone talking. Our HOA will send out texts telling us of the latest sightings. Some are close to our property but we don't have a dog or cat so it doesn't impact us directly.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe how many people on this thread are talking about coyotes in their neighborhoods. Their range must be a lot larger than I thought it was.
DeleteWe have deer in our town, and there was a beaver at the pond recently. The deer stick to their little woodsy area for the most part. I can’t remember, do you ever visit my blog?
ReplyDeleteOh, a beaver! I don't know if I've ever seen one in the wild!
DeleteI've not heard about needing a license for your dog to go to a park; must be more stringent laws where you are.
ReplyDeleteWe have foxes, but they're not a concern. The biggest concern are the coyotes. (in Naples, FL for heavens sake!) They are being 'boxed out' of their land because of excessive building in our area. Everyone and their brother is moving to Florida...sadly, the critters are losing their environment.
Well, the dog park wants to make sure any dogs at the park are vaccinated, particularly against rabies. Since that's something that's checked to get a license, they require a license. I don't think it's unreasonable at all! I just get annoyed at all the steps in the process!
DeleteA license to go to the dog park? Wow, that's a pain. There are no regulations here about who can use the off lead dog areas, although you do need ot have your dog under effective control at all times. Although everyone has to register their dogs and cats with the local council but it's pretty easy to do, although if you want the discounted rate for de-sexed pets you need to provide proof.
ReplyDeleteI've only needed to provide vaccination records for when we were going to the dog obedience training or to stay at a kennel.
We have foxes in Melbourne. I've seen them on runs in the early morning and once we were driving into our driveway and a fox raced across our front garden and jumped the fence into the neighbour's property. I also so one a few months ago at night crossing the round with isomething in its mouth. We are a in the inner city ring of suburbs in a city of 5 million so they don't mind being around lots of people.
It is interesting that foxes are so adaptable to humans encroaching on their territory and environment. Seeing them in such populated areas is kind of sad, to be honest, but at least they're able to find a way to live.
DeleteWe have the mean version of foxes = coyotes, and they've become less "curious" news, but more of a nuisance because they encroach on our neighborhoods.
ReplyDelete