So I may have previously mentioned something about the resident skunk den we reluctantly keep at our house. It’s conveniently (for skunks) located discreetly under our front yard hedge along the sidewalk where there happens to be a sort of sunken bit of lawn. This in turn creates a perfect entrance to a nicely appointed den underneath the sidewalk.
We had the expert Wildlife folks come over and they highly recommended (much to the surprise of our very tolerant neighbours) that we keep the den open for business on account of “skunks really need places to stay and they won’t stay long and they’ll do no harm”. And all has been fine with our rarely-used SBNB (Skunk Bed and Breakfast) for years now with no problems whatsoever. Until now.
There was quite a kafuffle outside the kitchen window recently, with several dramatic voices and a measure of mayhem out there. I head outside to see what was the matter and there at the hedge behind our large spruce tree is an upset teenage girl and our animal-loving neighbour and they are fretting at the front door of the skunk den. It seemed we had another temporary tenant all right, but this time it wasn’t a black and white, smelly Mephitis mephitis, it was a little brown, scared Canis lupus familiaris. A frightened little cocker spaniel-cross to be exact. And if it really was in there, it was in there a looonnggg way down.
Between tears the girl explained that she was babysitting two dogs a couple houses down our street and when she opened the door the cocker dog took off and when she chased it, the little guy booted it into our yard and into the hedge and down the hole. Except she didn’t actually see it go down the hole, but definitely saw it run into the hedge. She tells us the dog is very timid and doesn’t like people. It turned out to be a very long day.
Allow me to summarize the Day of the Dog in the Den:
l We try putting food and water at the den entrance. Nothing. Still not sure if the dog really is in there, or took off somehow.
l I get a flashlight and sort of crawl under the hedge and peer into the hole. Nothing.
l The young girl’s mom arrives (on a lunch break from work). Many phone calls to animal agencies, friends and animal lovers ensue. Decide to have the girl sit on a chair by the den and watch for the dog.
l Rotten Kid, our son one (a Wildlife Biologist by trade) drops by. Digs around under sidewalk den. Shines a better flashlight. No sign of dog, or anything else.
l Hours pass. Better Half gets home. Young girl is even more upset but hanging in there. B.H. peers into den, and suddenly sees a pair of eyes turn to her. Animal Services is called. More hours pass.
l Young A.S. staff arrives with a pole/noose thingy. It doesn’t work. Rotten Kid finally manages to grab the dog’s harness! Pulling slowly. Dog head emerges. Harness slips right off. Dog back in hole under sidewalk.
l Repeat variation of above several times.
l Finally, B.H. gets brain wave. Goes BANG! BANG! BANG! With a shovel on the sidewalk. Dog runs out, alluding captors, whips down the street and into another hedge.
l B.H. follows dog and quietly captures dog.
l Next day, happy young girl and her mom bring thank you gifts.
l All is well.
I won’t say, ‘serves him right’ but obviously, the cocker dog ignored my tiny little “Do Not Enter” and “Den Closed” signs under the sidewalk.
Harley Hay is a Red Deer author and filmmaker. You can send him column ideas to harleyhay1@hotmail.com.