Deer in the Living Room?

Monday, July 16, 2007
Deer in the Living Room?
Category: Pets and Animals

Petunia is one of our TV watchers. For an interesting article on why some dogs can watch TV and others can't, click here. And Tony likes westerns. So whenever the cattle dogs bark, or horses or cows cross the screen, Petunia pays close attention. If it looks like they might be exiting the tv and coming into the living room, she takes measures to protect us. Sometimes a simple growl keeps them at bay. Sometimes a woof. And occassionally, she is required to run up to the arm of the chair closest to the tv and stand her ground to keep the living room safe.

Tony is also a hunter. Last year he got a 10-point buck and had his head mounted. I've been dreading the day when the head came home, and yesterday was the day. At first it was on the front porch and Gator came out and was going to go to battle. He tried jumping on it, mounting it, and generally all around telling it what it could and couldn't do in his house near his woman, Mariah. The other dogs had varying responses when they saw it, then Tony hung it up on the wall in the living room above the tv until we find it a permanent home.

Well, Petunia hadn't met the head yet. And last night she was sitting with me working on the computer when one of Tony's westerns had a rambunctious scene. She darted into the living room to check out the intruders and was aghast to find that her worst fear had come true - one of them had come INTO THE LIVING ROOM!!! No amount of barking or positioning would send that wild beast back into the tv.

This morning the dogs are still circling and staring, but so far the beast hasn't moved, attacked, tried to hide, or charged anyone. But the jury is still out on whether it's a good thing or a bad thing.