cat killer? I don’t think so!
So, as you might remember, Izzy was labeled a ‘cat killer’ at the age of 6 months. I found that difficult to believe - I just couldn’t believe that she’d be fast enough or coordinated enough at 6 months to kill a cat. Then, she landed in home #2, and was accused of killing a small dog. The owner was away for the weekend, and the pet sitter called to say that the 5 lb dog was dead. There were eight dogs running free in that house, Izzy was the newest member of the household, and while she was not seen or caught killing the dog, she was accused of such. Fast forward to today. Squirrel in the backyard. I attempt 3x to give it fair warning that the dogs are coming out. It decides to casually hop about 2/3 across the backyard. Thinking that’s a good enough head start, I let the dogs out. Quinna is in the lead, followed closely by Izzy and Arras. Quinna grabs the tail of the squirrel as it’s trying to get through the chain link fence, pulls it back into the yard, grabs it, flings it around, drops it. She and Arras investigate, she picks it back up a few times, and throws it down, etc, etc. Where is Izzy, the illustrious cat and dog killer throughout all this? Interestingly, she is hanging back watching the show. Hmmmm, I think - I would have thought that with her background and experience, she’d be right in the fray! But, no — just watching. At this point, husband walks into room and sees the expression on my face and wonders what is up? I tell him. He opens the door, calls Quinna, and in she runs. Arras is now hanging out with the dead squirrel. Izzy still hanging back. I call Arras. He comes. I put him and Quinna in their crates and go back to the door to call Izzy. Well, here she comes! CARRYING THE DEAD SQUIRREL! oh, yes, the little retriever - carrying, looking very proud mind you, but she is NOT the guilty party! She tries to bring it up on the deck — oh NO, I say… She drops the squirrel and sits down. I call her again, she picks it up and starts coming again. oh NO NO NO, I say. Husband decides to get rid of dead squirrel and walks outside in time to see Izzy sort of chewing on dead squirrel. I get her to come in, and have to wipe her whole chin off - blood and gook - yuck!
Did she look guilty? yes! Can I picture her carrying the dead cat(s)/dog to her owner? YES! Do I think she was guilty? NO!
August 6th, 2009 at 8:06 pm
I’m with you. Izzy sounds like a handful, a prize, a tracking wiz, but definitely not a killer! All good things! Are you going to post pics of her…preferably without the squirrel guts
?