Mackey's Turn

First Norma Jean had surgery to remove a tumor from the side of her face. Then Sydney had her vet visit. I was surprised when Dr B reported that she was a good girl. She had surgery on her eyelid. Finally, yesterday was Mackey's turn to visit the vet.

Mackey has been healthy except for her seizures and so far this year she's only had two. She needed some vaccines and an overall checkup. I pointed out a couple of small bumps, one on her side and one on her neck.

Mackey did not want to get out of the car and certainly did not want to go with the strange lady. We waited in the car wondering how she was acting.

When Dr B brought her out to us he said she was quite wound up. That's vet speak for she acted like a crazy wild animal. His report wasn't what I was expecting. First I was sure he'd tell me to put her on a diet but he said her weight was ok. He said that since her seizures are infrequent that we won't do anything differently but still treat her with valium.

He said the bump on her side is a fatty tumor but he doesn't like the one on her neck and it needs to be removed. Also he managed to get a look at her teeth and she has cracked a molar. It's a bad crack and the tooth needs to come out. He'll do both surgeries at the same time. We're planning on doing it in September.

Mackey was very happy to get home and the vet techs were probably happy to see her go. This new system of letting the dogs go in without us is hard on everyone.

Only Half The Story

After observing our little raccoon family, Mom, Dad and three kits, we wondered who would show up last night so we made sure there were some seeds in the feeder as evening approached. It didn't take long before I spotted a shape on the deck.

When I went to the window I saw Mom and her three babies, but wait was that a fourth head sticking up?

 

 

 

Mom saw me and headed toward the hedge, then she stopped. Lined up behind her were six kits. Three were a bit bigger than the ones we'd seen the other night, though I think they were the same ones, just grown a little. Two were a little smaller and one was a runt.

The three bigger ones knew exactly what to do. They entered the feeder and started chowing down. The two smaller ones stayed behind Mom and she shoved seeds toward them, The runt stayed under Mom and I think may have been nursing.

  When the bigger ones had eaten their fill, they went to play on the porch while Mom and the smaller ones ate. Mom kept her eyes on me all the while, but she didn't run away.

  These little guys are so cute. Rob and I decided that we'll feed them again tonight but then we're cutting off the food kitchen. We'll remove the feeder at night. We don't want to encourage them to take up residence on the porch.

The Night Visitors

HI. Happy July, Canada Day and beginning of the week most hated by dogs. On Saturday Rob went to the grocery store and one of his purchases was a bag of bird seed. We like to feed the birds around now because they bring their chicks and entertain us with their noisy antics. Rob grabbed a bag of seed and didn't notice that it was all sunflower seed. The bigger birds and the squirrels love it but he had to go back for a bag of smaller seed for the little guys. The feeder is busy all day.
Sunday night a little after dark I was walking by the window and something caught my attention. I peeked thru the blinds and saw a raccoon sitting in the feeder stuffing herself with sunflower seeds. I turned on the porch light and she ran into the hedge.

About ten minutes later I looked and she was there again. Rob stepped onto the porch and again she ran for the hedge. Still later I looked thru the blinds again and she sat in the feeder and stared at me. I could read her look. She was saying, do we have to keep doing this? I'm tired and I just want to eat my dinner and go home. I turned off the light and left her in peace to finish the seeds.

On Monday night there was some seed in the feeder and I wondered if the raccoon would  come by again. I left the porch light on and the blinds open and had my camera handy. I got more than I bargained for.

 When I checked the window we had company, but it wasn't the stressed raccoon from the previous night. She had brought her three babies and left them in the feeder while she waited in the hedge. They were adorable, all stuffing their mouths with seeds and pushing each other around.

 I quietly walked onto the porch and the babies, each about eight inches long all climbed down from the feeder and started running toward me till Mama gave a squeal and they changed direction and ran into the hedge with her.

After getting a few pics, I left them alone to eat. I understood why she looked so tired the night before.

Last night I checked the window again and this time there was a very large raccoon there, I'm guessing it was Daddy. He didn't want any pictures and ran instantly but I noticed that one baby was with him.

The sunflower seeds are disappearing fast but we're enjoying our night visitors, especially the little ones.