Rattlesnake! continued

I was leaving to go to Seal's to get some medication for Pogo, the Rat Terrier. He had a cut on his left front leg. I had shown it to Bulletproof, and she in turn showed it to a friend who was a veterinarian student. Her friend said that it was in an area that was constantly being stretched and could not be stitched successfully. The stitches would just be pulled out by the movement of the upper leg. She also thought that the cut was not due to a bite but was more of a rip, probably due to fencing. I disagreed. Pogo was outside with Rusty and Tucker. These two dogs have to stay outside while I am gone because I am afraid the dogs inside might kill them. Rusty and Tucker are on the bottom of the dog hierarchy and occasionally the entire pack goes after them. Then I have to use a cattle prod or a stick to get the pack off the poor dogs before they kill them. Every other day when I leave, Pogo likes to remain outside with Rusty and Tucker. He only does that every other day because being outside for hours in the heat and humidity wears him out. In addition, for some reason, he has to dominate Tucker, a very nervous yellow Labrador who is in perpetual motion. Bulletproof brought Tucker home several years ago. He had been running circles in the parking lot of a vet's office. Obviously, someone had enough of him and left him in front of the vet's. He's been running circles and loops ever since then. The only time Tucker stops running is when I am sitting down. Then he lies close to me and is quiet. Tucker is constantly harassing the other dogs, particularly tough Rambo. He will carry it to a fight, get severerly beaten by Rambo until I can stop it. In five minutes, he will be right over the back of Rambo, growling and challenging him. Tucker is such an anxious dog that if I yell at him for something - like for being the only dog who pees in the house- he starts squirting. I believe little Pogo, the Rat Terrier, believes he must try to dominate Tucker or be harassed by him. Pogo uses his long, spindly front legs like arms and throws them up on Tucker as he growls and tries to act like a big shot. I think Tucker got tired of this going on for hours while I am gone, and bit him leaving an impressive cut on his left front leg. Peter "Two-Guns" Nickerson, MS, MSW at 352-359-0850.

Rattlesnake!

Yesterday, I was battening down the hatches preparing to leave the property to go
to Seal's to get some dog medicine. Seal keeps a lot of our dog for us. I was rushing around the house putting fresh water into bowls, food into others, and turning on all the fans. As I walked around, I could see Rambo, the 120 pound yellow lab, working on a scent at the end of the back yard by the wood privacy fence. Usually when I see a dog smelling around like that, I go to him with a long stick because of poisonous snakes. But I was in a hurry, and I was in Florida. I have made many mistakes here. It may be because I am getting older, but I'm blaming the oppressive heat and humidity. In the summer, Florida is enjoyed from an air-conditioned room or vehicle. It's hell to live in! I kept doing my chores, wanting to get to Seal's, and then go to a cool bar and watch the Gator-Wildcat game. That was almost a fatal mistake for Rambo. TBC
Peter Nickerson, MS, MSW at 352-359-0850.