My dog is a serial killer

Posted By: Adam 9 Comments
Last night, as every other night, we let Moxie out to pee before bed. He couldn't have been outside for more than a minute before we started to get worried. He never takes this long. Megan picked up Ollie — because if you're not paying attention while you stand with the back door open he'll sneak out between your legs — and poked her head out the door to call him. Almost immediately we could hear a faint squeaking. She scanned the back yard to try and spot him — an almost impossible task when it's dark, because the light sucks (note to self: new flood light for back yard?) — and thought she saw him in a nearby corner, but he wasn't responding to her calls and even bribes with treats; a sure sign he was doing something he shouldn't be: usually either eating poop or killing something. Megan was already in her pajamas so she told me to get my shoes on. By this time I was already on my way out the door. I knew what was happening. I found Moxie in the corner of the yard where the squeaking wasn't as faint as before, and he didn't even look up when I patted him on the back. He was "playing" with some yard guests. I grabbed him by the collar and pulled him away from the corner. He had something in his mouth, perhaps a mouse. I told him to drop it, thankfully he did (intentionally or not) and I dragged him unwillingly into the house. I explained what I saw to Megan — that it was very small and looked like it had a long-ish tail. I figured it was a mouse, but there was no question that it was injured. We debated over what the humane thing to do was. If it was injured an unable to move, the best thing would be to kill it. The only things I could think of were to try and break its neck, or to stomp it — neither of which I have the stomach to (easily) accomplish. Thankfully I wouldn't have to try. Megan got some shoes on and we went out to check out the damage. The mouse wasn't where I remembered Moxie dropping it, so we checked back over in the corner and found him crouched up against the house. He looked terrified and covered in slobber, but considering that he made it all the way back to the nest, he had a chance. Further inspection of the area with a flashlight yielded two dead baby bunnies under a bush. Our mouse friend was a bunny. I picked up the two dead bunnies with a ziploc bag and put them in the trash, and we decided to see if the lone survivor would make it through the night, and check on him in the morning. Sleeping wasn't easy. I had just handled 2 dead baby bunnies, with soft fur, squishy bellies, and flat little ears like clover leaves. Try getting that out of your head sitting in the dark in silence. He didn't make it.

9 responses to “My dog is a serial killer”

  1. I feel your pain.

    Chance did the same thing. Only she wouldn't "drop it" as I was yelling at her. I was on the other side of the fenced yard and by the time I got across the fence and got her to drop it, the bunny, crying (squealing), limped away about 4 steps and took its last breath. A sight and sound I will never, ever forget.

    It was absolutely horrifying.

    DadT reminds me that dogs like Chance and Moxie are retrievers and are bred to chase after animals like rabbits, so it isnt exactly their fault, however terrifying it may be to us. I know Chance was just playing with the rabbit- obviously playing too rough. . . and I'm sure Moxie was too . . .

    ~sigh~

    MomT

    MomT ~ Aug 4, 2008 at 9:58 PM

  2. Megan and I touched on this last night before we went to sleep. We think Moxie's instincts to OMG THERE IT IS GET IT GET IT GET IT are too strong; he'd make a terrible retriever. Not to mention he won't even play fetch properly (while outside).

    Adam

    Adam ~ Aug 4, 2008 at 9:58 PM

  3. My unidentifiable mutt has a thing for birds and flies. Fortunately he never catches the birds, but it's fun to watch him when he catches a fly, because he really doesn't like having it in his mouth. So he drops it, but then has to pick it up again, but then drops it. He's not exactly a fast learner.

    julie

    julie ~ Aug 4, 2008 at 9:58 PM

  4. Moxie chases after bees and flies too. Luckily (for him) he's never caught one. I don't think he follows them flying around too easily.

    Adam

    Adam ~ Aug 4, 2008 at 9:58 PM

  5. Hey... Dem rabbits R good eatin'!

    Ed

    Ed ~ Aug 4, 2008 at 9:58 PM

  6. I think we live on Rabbit Hill over here. There is just a never ending supply of rabbits. I know Chance has gotten more than the one I saw, as DadT has had to, ahem, dispose of at least a couple that I remember him telling me about.

    Sad but true. Chance only does it for the fun, I'm sure. She's too old and lazy to worry about things like bee's and flies. Tho J.C. the cat has her fun with those! (when they make it in the house)

    MomT

    MomT ~ Aug 4, 2008 at 9:58 PM

  7. @Ed: They were about the size of a medium sized mouse (not a small mouse, but not what I would call a "big" mouse, either...) ... very tiny for rabbits.

    Adam

    Adam ~ Aug 4, 2008 at 9:58 PM

  8. Hors d'ouvres. Finger food, if you will.

    Ed

    Ed ~ Aug 4, 2008 at 9:58 PM

  9. ewwwwwww

    MomT

    MomT ~ Aug 4, 2008 at 9:58 PM