Basil and the Rabbit

The dogs in the back lot were fussing tonight. Something was out there. I looked, but couldn’t see anything. I grabbed the water bucket and started checking that all the dogs had water for the night. Basil was nervous, pacing around the north side of her circle, looking out towards the woods. Sure enough there was a very bedraggled small grey rabbit stuck in the fence barely within Basil’s reach – inside the dog lot. I couldn’t tell if Basil was curious or concerned. Back in the house to get a heavy coat and gloves (rabbits bite and claw), then back to the rabbit. I reached down and as soon as I touched it, the rabbit screamed and tried to run through the fence. It’s head was firmly trapped in the chicken wire mesh behind the farm wire fence. Basil came over to consult. The rabbit tried to push out with both hind feet. Yep, it’s head was truly caught. With me there to protect her, Basil came up for a closer look – sticking her head under my arm. Back in the house to get wire cutters. Outside, Basil was consulting again, crowding up for a closer look. I found the critical wire behind the rabbit’s head, carefully cut it and not the rabbit, which screamed and bounded off without so much as a thank you. Basil gave it one of those “that will show you” looks and settled down for a long fall nap.