Living in the country has it's benefits. Abby can stay outside and bark as much as she wants and doesn't disturb anyone...well, except me, because she chooses anytime after midnight to let her inner beast loose. For several nights in a row, she chased my dreams away, forcing me to vacate my comfy bed and drag her back into the house. I liked the protection detail but I needed my sleep so much more.
One night, I finally brought a flashlight to her backyard party of one. As I scanned the woods and side property with the light, Abby flung herself at the chain link gate and barked more frantically. I was fairly certain there was an axe murderer lurking about the property until I finally saw the small armored creature with the quirky ears poking from the top of its head.
An armadillo prodded and dug clumps of grass in the yard. It was easy to follow it's crazy "snail trail" through the damp lawn. It poked the pine straw and kicked it up like gentle tufts of cotton candy. Abby tracked the strange critter, clearly hoping for a breach in the fence.
The Englishman and I surveyed the armadillo damage each morning but it seemed that the animal was making progress out of our yard and hopefully into someone else's. It's been a few weeks since I have seen the telltale path meandering in the dewy grass of early morning dog walks. So here's to saying goodbye armadillo and hello sleep!
