Many entries ago I talked about the fence that we had finished for the goats. It was also a place for Ellie to be able to run and stretch her legs without running away.
The goats have really enjoyed all the space they have. Ellie…well she has adapted to being “contained” in the fence. She doesn’t hate it. In the morning she enters the gate all excited. She runs in and takes off through the woods. It isn’t long however that she is back. She has a certain spot she nestles into and lays down and sleeps. If she isn’t sleeping and you happen to walk near her she will roll her eyes your way and look really pitiful.
Every time I start to feel sorry for her…I think back on all the times I have had to get in the car and look for her. Or the many times we have gotten a phone call telling us they found our dog.
I think about how many acres she has inside that fence to run and play….then….I don’t fall for the pitiful look. Especially since that has gone on for the past 9 1/2 years.
Mabel was supposed to be a dog that protects the goats.
She has not stayed a whole day in the fence since we got her around 4 months ago.
I always said that Ellie was kin to Houdini…well…we have another dog now that is also part of Houdini’s family.
The other day I saw her squeeze through the critter fence. I had just about had enough of that escaping stuff….
I scolded her and marched her back to the gate…..
I continued to get ready for work…peeking out the window without her seeing me….I was trying to catch her so I would I know exactly where she was getting out.
I turned away for only a minute and…yep….out she went again.
Mabel…I said as I bolted out the door…..No ..No…NO
So…..I used my “I mean it voice” . Pointed my finger…and she ran back to the gate. All the while looking at me with those big beautiful eyes of hers. I let her in….walked to the garage and found something I could solve that problem with.
“ZIP TIES” !!!!! Billy had a really good selection of all sizes….So I went to work. She sat and watched me.
That stump you see in the picture….is part of the problem. She can stand on it allowing her to be at just the right height to get through the squares that are a little bit wider.
My Zip tie design is NOT Pretty. But it seemed to work. I didn’t have time to continue to play her little game. I had to finish getting ready and get to work. Besides this is just until she gains a little more weight…and can’t fit through the fence any more!
I went back in the house and once again peered through the window to make sure she was still in the fence. She tried a couple of time to poke her head around a tie. She sat down and looked at it with a tilted head. She walked over to where Ellie likes to look pitiful and told her all about the injustice done to her. She does this thing where she sounds like she is talking. That is exactly what she was doing to Ellie. I had to giggle as I saw her fill Ellie’s ear with her sob story. Ellie looked up at her like….I don’t want to hear it.
Mabel saw that she might as well settle down and get used to it….
On my way out the door….I snapped the above picture….she wasn’t amused.
I will have to say ….it sure was nice to come home at the end of the day and see her STILL IN THE FENCE.
No mess to pick up. Like garden gloves all over the front lawn….paper torn everywhere, potted plants knocked over…or pulled up by the roots.
OHHHHHH…..I just wanted to shout for joy.
We have gone about 4 days now….
Until today. Billy and I got home about the same time…he approaches me with Mabel. The look on his face told me he didn’t let her out.
There’s a mess in the yard…and he throws away a ball that is ripped into pieces…..
You didn’t let her out? I ask. NOPE, he said.
I went to the side yard and sure enough….she had found a helium balloon somewhere….and it was in a trillion pieces.
TOMORROW…..I watch and wait for Houdini Jr. to do her famous escape trick again. There must be another spot…..
I HAVE A LOT MORE ZIP TIES!!!!!!
I've Gone Country 