Coyotes and Sparrows and Lizards, Oh my!!!

[savageseraph]

Today was an animal day. Driving to work, I braked hard near the office, as a dog ran across the road. I was like, "OMG! Someone's dog." Then I went, "Wait. That's not a dog." However, I didn't really think there were coyotes in Georgia. I asked my former boss at work today, and he all, "Sure. We see them all the time." So...coyote morning.

While talking to the former boss about the coyotes, we were watching a small sparrow sitting still on the ground. He said that it had hit his window before I came in, and we were hoping it was just a little stunned, not waiting to keel over. Fortunately, at one point, we looked up, and it was gone, so it must have just been stunned a bit. I told the former boss he needed to get some of those little clings for the glass to prevent additional bird mishaps.

Then when I got home, I was walking down the breezeway and a orange cat was walking toward me, rubbing against everything, including me. He tried to follow me into the apartment, something I was sure Ripley would not approve of, but even though I'm not a cat person, I felt bad leaving him out there. He had a collar on with tags, so I was worried he was lost. I called the vet, and the receptionist asked me to describe him (after I said where I lived). She was like, "I think I know who it is. Is he wearing tags?" So I checked the tags, one was for a lost pet tracker, the other had his address. When I gave it to her, she was, "Yes, that's Toffee. His family lets him loose during the day. They've done that for years." I did not approve of this information, nor did the receptionist, who said that Toffee's people had brought him in more than a time or two from him getting in scrape with stuff outside.

I don't get that. I would never let my pet roam through an apartment complex where anyone could take him or hit him with a car or some wildlife could eat him. People suck.

By the time I took Ripley out, Toffee was nowhere to be seen. However, I almost stepped on a grey-blue lizard that was sitting next to the pine needle mulched bed that runs along the side of the building. He was stone still while we were walking past. "If I don't move, they won't see me, even though I'm nowhere near the color of anything near me." Lizard of very little brain. He was gone by the time we passed on our way back into the building, so I guess he seized the moment to run away once the larger predators had passed.

Comments

[splix.livejournal.com]

Jesus Christ, I just realized where your dog's name came from. *headdesk*

[savageseraph.livejournal.com]

Hee. I need to iconize some of my pics of her. I am a bad doggy mama.

[savageseraph.livejournal.com]

Though the icon is actually Shaw from Prometheus and not Ripley. Well, she's the new Ripley.

Ergh. I meant the icon for the post is Shaw. The icon on my last comment is Ripley. Shaw again on this comment.

Gah. I'm getting sleepy and babbling.

Time for bed.

[splix.livejournal.com]

I'd love to see pics of her!

Ridley Scott likes his badass heroines in their underwear, I see. I still remember seeing Ripley stripping down for the first time. It was a very sexy moment.

[savageseraph.livejournal.com]

He sure does, and I'm not going to object. Mostly because they are still ass-kickingly awesome even unclothed. The Shaw icon...that happens in the wake of her doing something that made even me flinch and squirm.

[deangirl1.livejournal.com]

I've had cats almost my entire life, and they've all been "outdoor" cats. It's almost impossible to keep them in. In fact, we had one cat that would simply open the screen for herself if you didn't let her out... That said, we are a lot more careful about letting them roam depending on where we live. Cats are generally pretty skittish about vehicles - with the exception of busy, fast moving roads. We try not to let them out at night and never on Halloween. The three we have now, aren't that keen on being out and we have wildlife and traffic a little close for comfort. That said, cats will hold their own against almost anything - with the exception of vicious dogs, coyotes, and birds of prey. I saw one of the cats I had as a kid (who'd had his front claws removed (at my mother's insistence)) chase a doberman off our property and a full grown raccoon (and they can be vicious)...

[savageseraph.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I mean it seems that he vanquished his foes thusfar. I just don't trust people not to do something stupid, and well, now that I know there are coyotes about....

[caras-galadhon.livejournal.com]

Cool animal day!

Yeah, you know how I feel about roaming pets.

[savageseraph.livejournal.com]

I know. Keep the children in sight and out of trouble.

[moondreamer1.livejournal.com]

A most excellent animal day. I feel bad for the kitty, back when we all lived in the country it was one thing. The cat's turf could be huge and wide-ranging and all theirs. In an apartment complex or neighborhood? Not a good idea anymore.

[savageseraph.livejournal.com]

I know what you mean. I don't trust people enough. I've seen how people drive around here. I don't trust them not to hit children, me, or stationary objects (like other cars).