Met the Neighbors

For those who are uninformed about the Zoo population, it does not stop at just Heathens.  It also currently includes four Cats and two Dogs.

These are the Dogs:

The Asst. Zookeeper is always swarmed when he arrives
home from work.  Belly rub time!

Duchess (left) is a shepherd-husky mix.
Bantley (right) is a British lab.
Both are from the SPCA - and are GREAT dogs.

Although I don't know about their lives prior to us adopting them, the Dogs have been "city" Dogs, or "suburb" Dogs since they've lived with us.  Small yard, and plenty of cars.  The occasional rabbit to chase if they were lucky.

Meet our Neighbors:

We "have" Oreo cows...

and we "have" black cows!

In the week that we've inhabited the new Zoo, the cows have been standing still at the fence and simply watching the Dogs.  Occasionally they would moo, but no movement.  The Dogs would stare at them (biggest "rabbit" they had ever seen!).

Today, while we were out chasing sticks to burn energy, the Neighbors did something new - one of the cows MOVED.  Only moved about two feet - but it MOVED.

Bantley was over in the cow field and through the electric fence before I had time to turn around.  Duchess, ever the one in charge, took off after him. (She usually makes him behave, and I could tell from the bark that she was NOT happy that he wasn't listening!)

Bantley chased a black cow up over the hill in the cow field and disappeared over the other side, with Duchess about five seconds behind him.

Now, don't get me wrong, I love my dogs.  But I am NOT climbing through an electric cattle fence to chase them.

I stood at the fence for about ten seconds called for the Dogs.  But I didn't have to worry.  The cows chased my Dogs back over the hill and straight to the edge of the fence.  Both Dogs had their tails tucked between their legs and headed straight for the back porch.

When I opened the back door, both Dogs headed straight for their crates in the basement.  Between knowing they hadn't listened and the scare the cows gave them, the Dogs are still in their crates and it's been an hour.  The crate doors are even open, but they know they are in trouble.

Maybe the Dogs will leave the Neighbors alone....  The Asst. Zookeeper and I knew they would meet, I just thought it would happen sooner.  If the silly Neighbors would just stand still, the Dogs would continue to stare!