| Ozzie and the Racoons |
 |
 |
| 1. Well, here is Ozzie, my five year old blue smooth Collie. In early May of this year (2002), I was trying to rest after moving a wood pile and had gone in to the house to have some dinner. Ozzie started barking in that "You better come out here and see what I've found" voice that only a Colie can do. I hustled outside to see what was up and saw him standing between my 40 foot Maple and even larger Oak. There was something under his body, but I couldn't tell what it was. All I knew was that it was moving! As it started to raise up, Ozzie gave a big "woof" and pushed it back down with his nose. |
 |
| 2. I hurried over and found that he was protecting a baby racoon. As I wondered what the heck to do, I saw a second baby valiantly trying to climb back up the Maple who was obviosly exhausted and not likely to make it all the way back up. I enlisted the aid of my friends and neighborhood animal saviors, Sharon and Tom since I didn't have a clue as to what to do. Looking up the tree we saw another baby struggling to stay on a branch clear at the top of the Maple. Despite our pleas to "go back!", he finally couldn't hold on any longer and fell all the way from the top. Poor thing was stunned but okay. Seems they are quite "bouncy" at this age. There were two more in the den at the top of the Maple and momma was no where to be found. |
| 3. The end of the story was perfect. A wonderful couple came over from a nearby town with a very tall ladder and rescued the remaining two babies. The next morning we loaded all five into the car and took them to a rehaber. |
 |
 |