I wasn't sure where to post this, so decided that this section might work as this involves my family and backyard and the dangers that I have discovered lurking there in just the past two days. I'm actually going to tell you two stories, one with a happy ending, the other tragic.
Day before yesterday I started out the door to check on my chickens when the phone rang. It was my neighbor calling to check on my daughter (second story). She just talked and talked. Getting a little impatient I stepped out on the deck to look out on the 16 Buff Orpingtons I had running loose in the yard. It was only their third day to free-range. What I saw was totally amazing. All 16 chickens were standing in a perfect circle... each staring at something on the ground in front of them. I strained to see what had their attention. It was one of the largest copperhead snakes I had ever seen. I watched as the chickens stepped aside to let it pass through the circle.
Not far away playing was my youngest adopted son (age 2), a foster child (age 6) and two grandsons. I quickly excused myself from the talkative neighbor and took off for the backyard, screaming at my son and husband to grab their guns. By the time I reached the yard, the snake was no where in sight, but I knew the direction it was headed (behind the Silkies coop). My 18 year old son, stepped behind the coop and the next thing I saw was him running backwards, the snake was waiting for him and lunged at him as he turned the corner. A series of shots from my husband and son's guns followed.
I know there are those who will criticize us for killing this snake, but my backyard should be one of the safest places for my children to play. And it was not! I make no apologizes for killing this snake and am very thankful that my chickens alerted me to this danger. However, the danger that lurked in the yard the previous evening was even more dangerous... my very own dog.
The little girl in my avatar is my 12 year old daughter. Sara spends a lot of her time in this backyard with my 70+ chickens and turkeys. I recently posted a message about her on this forum about how much my chickens love her. On this particular day, she and I had been in the yard with my 6 year old foster daughter playing and watching the chickens. Nearby was my boxer, Bo and beagle pup, Spanky. My boxer is very protective and has always been very attentive with my children. Never in our wildest dreams would we ever consider him a threat to any of us and especially not the children.
I had to run into the house to give my son some medicine and left the girls outside, telling them I would be right back. I had only been in the house for a matter of minutes when I heard screams that I will never forget.
While I was gone, the puppy started yelping, and Sara went to investigate. Somehow Spanky had managed to get a stick stuck in one of his paws. Sara picked the pup up to try and help. The boxer apparently thought Sara was hurting the puppy and came charging at Sara. She pushed him away, turning her back on him, still trying to remove the stick from the puppy's paw. Again the dog lunged at her, and she continued to push Bo away and scold him. The boxer became very agitated and this time attacked Sara with all he had, knocking her to the ground and viscously biting and tearing at her leg. He repeatedly pounced on her with his front legs, while shaking his head and ripping muscle and skin from her calf. She was a brave little girl and fought him with all her might, escaping from him once. However, he made a circle in the yard and came back for more. He leapt for her face and she caught him by his throat, kicking him with her leg which now had skin and meat hanging from it. He backed off.
By the time I reached her, the attack was over. She had collapsed on the ground covered in blood, crying, and asking me if she were going to die. Bo was still circling the yard, and I was too scared to leave her to get help. I was home alone. I have never felt so helpless. Sara weighs almost as much as me and I wasn't sure I could pick her up, let alone carry her the distance I would have to carry her to safety, but I did.
My husband drove into the driveway as I was placing her in my car. The nearest hospital was an hour away. It was a very long drive. Sara is now home recuperating slowly. She will carry the scars for the rest of her life. The calf of her leg has been repaired with a drain tube, 3 layers of stitches to put muscle and skin back together and a 5 inch row of staples. She has numerous other bites that had to be stitched. Her faced is scratched. She has a hematoma the size of my fist on the inside of her thigh where the dog pounced on her with all his weight. The pain is severe at times and she has cried till she has thrown up.
I can't tell you the guilt my husband and I both feel over this situation. Our pet, whom we all loved and trusted, ended up being one of the worst threats our children could have ever encountered and we're just sick over this. I'm sorry this is so long, but I felt the need to share if just to give others the heads up... man's best friend can't always be trusted.
Please pray for Sara.
Day before yesterday I started out the door to check on my chickens when the phone rang. It was my neighbor calling to check on my daughter (second story). She just talked and talked. Getting a little impatient I stepped out on the deck to look out on the 16 Buff Orpingtons I had running loose in the yard. It was only their third day to free-range. What I saw was totally amazing. All 16 chickens were standing in a perfect circle... each staring at something on the ground in front of them. I strained to see what had their attention. It was one of the largest copperhead snakes I had ever seen. I watched as the chickens stepped aside to let it pass through the circle.
Not far away playing was my youngest adopted son (age 2), a foster child (age 6) and two grandsons. I quickly excused myself from the talkative neighbor and took off for the backyard, screaming at my son and husband to grab their guns. By the time I reached the yard, the snake was no where in sight, but I knew the direction it was headed (behind the Silkies coop). My 18 year old son, stepped behind the coop and the next thing I saw was him running backwards, the snake was waiting for him and lunged at him as he turned the corner. A series of shots from my husband and son's guns followed.
I know there are those who will criticize us for killing this snake, but my backyard should be one of the safest places for my children to play. And it was not! I make no apologizes for killing this snake and am very thankful that my chickens alerted me to this danger. However, the danger that lurked in the yard the previous evening was even more dangerous... my very own dog.
The little girl in my avatar is my 12 year old daughter. Sara spends a lot of her time in this backyard with my 70+ chickens and turkeys. I recently posted a message about her on this forum about how much my chickens love her. On this particular day, she and I had been in the yard with my 6 year old foster daughter playing and watching the chickens. Nearby was my boxer, Bo and beagle pup, Spanky. My boxer is very protective and has always been very attentive with my children. Never in our wildest dreams would we ever consider him a threat to any of us and especially not the children.
I had to run into the house to give my son some medicine and left the girls outside, telling them I would be right back. I had only been in the house for a matter of minutes when I heard screams that I will never forget.
While I was gone, the puppy started yelping, and Sara went to investigate. Somehow Spanky had managed to get a stick stuck in one of his paws. Sara picked the pup up to try and help. The boxer apparently thought Sara was hurting the puppy and came charging at Sara. She pushed him away, turning her back on him, still trying to remove the stick from the puppy's paw. Again the dog lunged at her, and she continued to push Bo away and scold him. The boxer became very agitated and this time attacked Sara with all he had, knocking her to the ground and viscously biting and tearing at her leg. He repeatedly pounced on her with his front legs, while shaking his head and ripping muscle and skin from her calf. She was a brave little girl and fought him with all her might, escaping from him once. However, he made a circle in the yard and came back for more. He leapt for her face and she caught him by his throat, kicking him with her leg which now had skin and meat hanging from it. He backed off.
By the time I reached her, the attack was over. She had collapsed on the ground covered in blood, crying, and asking me if she were going to die. Bo was still circling the yard, and I was too scared to leave her to get help. I was home alone. I have never felt so helpless. Sara weighs almost as much as me and I wasn't sure I could pick her up, let alone carry her the distance I would have to carry her to safety, but I did.
My husband drove into the driveway as I was placing her in my car. The nearest hospital was an hour away. It was a very long drive. Sara is now home recuperating slowly. She will carry the scars for the rest of her life. The calf of her leg has been repaired with a drain tube, 3 layers of stitches to put muscle and skin back together and a 5 inch row of staples. She has numerous other bites that had to be stitched. Her faced is scratched. She has a hematoma the size of my fist on the inside of her thigh where the dog pounced on her with all his weight. The pain is severe at times and she has cried till she has thrown up.
I can't tell you the guilt my husband and I both feel over this situation. Our pet, whom we all loved and trusted, ended up being one of the worst threats our children could have ever encountered and we're just sick over this. I'm sorry this is so long, but I felt the need to share if just to give others the heads up... man's best friend can't always be trusted.
Please pray for Sara.
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