Dog Encounter with Hedgehog

[Mudpaw]

I wrote this after my dog's encounter with a hedgehog during the warm weather a few weeks ago.

Dog and Hedgehog

Twas a lovely warm night and we sat on the porch,
Playing rummy and drinking cool hoppy pils.
I destroyed my wife as though she were the Deathstar,
And I was like Luke, strong with the Force.

It was late, so late that the neighbors slumbered,
And the silent night sounds were all we could hear;
‘Cept the snores of our best friend who lay at our feet,
Grunting and tooting a cacophony.

A rustle in the bush roused our companion;
He woke with a fart and sprung to his paws.
In an instant (or two) he was between us and danger,
His metronome tail signaled resolve.

He whined like a Wookie at something unseen,
Then danced as though he was stepping on coals.
As the spine covered demon emerged from the verge,
He hunkered down, prepared to battle this foe.

The menace approached us with unforeseen grace.
An intervening paw came down on the beast.
But yipping and yelping signaled our friend’s defeat
He cried like Chewbacca watching Han Solo freeze.

I finished my brew, then rushed to his aid,
And separated him from this pain wielding terror.
He was sent into the house, his tail hung in shame,
Leaving the twinkle eyed victor alone in the garden.

Once my spasms subsided and my eyes fully drained,
I knew twas my duty to handle this monster
My rummy would suffer under this wicked thing’s gaze,
So I (gently) escorted the demon back to the verge.

[DJ Droood]

very nice...

Is a hedgehog the same thing as a porcupine? Years ago, a doggy of mine got into one and came home with a snout full of needles...we took him to the vet and paid $100 to get them out...we were very poor at the time, and that hurt...not 5 days later, he did it again! This time, I got rubbing alcohol and pliars and did the very unpleasant removal myself...he did learn after the second time.

[Nightfalls]

hahaha that is great!

My girl has a hedgehog, but it is a tiny thing. I can easily hold it in one hand. Also an interesting fact, a hedgehogs "spines" is actually just Hair filled with keratin. The spines don't normally come out of the hedgehog.

[Mudpaw]

I’m an American living in England, so I remember porcupines…Ouch! I’ve noticed that hedgehogs are very common here. When I’m out walking Tuck at night, we see at least two or three. The hedgehog from the encounter came from out of a bush in our tightly fenced yard, so I’m assuming he lives there. Normally, if I see them on the road, I’ll stop and pick them up with no problem and move them to the other side (in whichever direction they were heading). I love the cute little guys.

I used to drive people crazy in Florida when I’d stop the car, stop traffic, and move a turtle out of the road.

However, when I tried to pick this guy up (and he was a real tank) his spikes poked into me. I had to go and get a nice soft towel to transport him. He was obviously quite well fed and had ample time to sharpen up his defence/defense system.

Nightfalls, do you live close to downtown in Key West? We used to live close to the Hemingway House, so we had herds of six-toed cats visiting us for a bite to eat! Did you get your hedgehog down there in the Keys?

[Nightfalls]

I live on Big Coppit, 10 miles north of Key West. It is nice and quiet out here, and easier to feel the beat of the Earth. I actually just went to the Hemingway House on an unusually hot day not too long ago. It was very interesting and i got to see a few 6 toed cats myself. The hedgehog lives with his mom who is in another part of Florida waiting to move down once I get a proper place.

[Mudpaw]

Yep, definitely a cool place. I had friends who lived up on Big Coppit. I was stationed downtown Key West, but had to go to Boca Chica quite often for Navy stuff. Really though, all of it is beautiful until you get up to Miami!

Have you got any trained Tarpon or Dolphin yet? I used to love feeding those guys when we were down there. It's a real treat having a 200lb. fish eating out of your hand.

Enjoy your time there. We certainly did.

All the best,

Steve

[Nightfalls]

Not yet sadly. My work keeps me busy (i fix jets on the base). And currently i am working the 230-1030pm shift, so its basically work, study, sleep, work. The only free time i have is weekends, that is when i hit the beach. I would like to buy a Kayak (possibly this weekend or next) so i can find a more secluded island off the coast and make a grove there for myself and anyone who visits

[Mudpaw]

Ouch, swing shift! At least you have the days off…

Well, when we lived at Tyndall AFB in the panhandle (just before we moved to England) I was on my kayak at least 300 days a year. If part of our druid path is to commune with nature, a kayak is the perfect tool for the job. You become a part of the water. You’ll see and feel things that you’d never experience in a boat. I’ve had dolphins, sharks, gators, school of fish…you name it…that would come right up to the kayak. Wait ‘til a gull or pelican lands on your bow as you paddle along. I envy you!

I had the Perception sit on top model that you could dive or fish off of and it served me very well if that’s any help. I hope you can post some pictures of your interaction with nature down there.

S

[Nightfalls]

When i was a kid i grew up in Gulf Breeze, near Pensacola Beach. The shore and the water has always been a big part of my life. I remember my first encounter with a pod of dolphins. We were out in our boat doing some water skiing, and we stopped to take a break. Suddenly i see a break in the water and some fins. I ran to the side and threw my arm into the water, and a dolphin goes swimming right along the surface and brushes right against my hand. I immediately jumped in and got to spend a few minutes playing with them before they moved on.

I actually plan on taking the Kayak out tomorrow (today actually lol) There are a few islands off the coast near the base, and i think i may be able to find a nice spot to meditate in and hopefully commune with the spirits. My only worry is it is so hot these days, will i be able to concentrate on my meditation with it being almost 100 degrees out. Also i dont want to get too deep into meditation that i get dehydrated hehe. well take care, untill next time i check for boards!

[Mudpaw]

I remember surf fishing at Tyndall. At the time, there were a bunch of stories about sharks coming in close (and actually, a fellow training for a triathlon was killed by a bull shark in shallow water) because the bluefish and mackerel were hugging the shoreline that season.

I was casting in waste deep water when all the sudden I saw a gigantic shape coming toward me at a speed that would have made escape impossible. I was certain that my death was near and I remember thinking that death by shark wouldn’t be a bad way to go…

All the sudden, a school of mackerel went between my legs and around my side, and I realized the great shape was chasing lunch. As the shape got closer I realized it was not a shark, but instead, a dolphin. It put the brakes on just a few yards in front of me, changed direction, and headed back out to sea. What a memorable interaction with nature!

Have a great time on the yak, bud. I hope you find a cool, shady, breezy clearing in the mangroves. I bet you could make a sacred grove out of palmettos!
All the best,

Steve

[Nightfalls]

i will certainly try although it may take awhile. I keep getting a vision of it whenever i think about it. A small island with a small path between the mangroves to untouched land, and a circle of palm trees all leaning inwards providing shade for the grove. In the middle of the trees is a small circle of water, with a little plot of earth just big enough for one person to carry out rituals. This changes with the tide, the high tide submerging the island in a foot of water and the low allowing it to be dry, as with many places out here. Perhaps these are just the whimsical daydreams of a big kid, or actual visions. We will find out soon enough.