That’s the line that Rick gave on his Facebook page about Sascha’s latest adventure.  Everyone is aware of her preoccupation with squirrels by now.  We were told that if we didn’t give her a job around the house that she would find one for herself.  And she did.  She patrols for squirrels and other small furry things that could invade our yard.Today, Rick heard the dog line hit really hard.  That happens when Sascha gets to the end of her lead.  She’s stopped flipping herself when she hits the end.  The first few times, she did a backward somersault.  Then she learned exactly how far she could go and not kill herself.  The line still hits the stop at the end with a terrific thud. 

When Rick went out to see if Sascha was still alive, she was carrying a still living squirrel around in her mouth.  She was prancing around the yard with pride at catching one of those little furry things that always tease her.  She was quite proud of herself.

Now to get her to give up her prize.  Rick asked her a couple of times to drop it.  She finally did and the squirrel was stunned for a few moments.  His eyes were wide and he was breathing very heavily. He soon realized he was free to scamper away.  Rick said it was difficult for the squirrel to pick himself up, but he managed and scampered out of Sascha’s reach. 

I get a phone call from Rick about quarter after 10 this morning.  I thought he was up and telling me that he was getting ready to leave for school.  Maybe he had a problem with getting Sascha in the house.  Wait, it rained this morning so it might have thundered and he couldn’t get her out of the house to potty. 

Rick is laughing and can’t seem to quit.  He manages to relay the story of Sascha’s first catch.  I’m surprised.  It took her a year and one month to finally catch one.  She’s been trying to sneak up on those things since the morning she woke up in our house and not the kennel. 

Sascha has actually been working on her hunting technique over the last year.  Being as she is part Border Collie, she has a slow and steady approach to her prey.  She stalks out into the yard and holds there until a prime opportunity presents itself.  When you see herding dogs working a flock, tthat’s what she looks like.

Lately, she has gotten sneaky though.  She has discovered that she can lay in the garage and watch the squirrels throuogh the open door.  The squirrels assume that she has gone inside and feel safe to scamper around the yard.  Then Sascha bolts out of the door and chases them.  She has come pretty close a couple of times.  She is very, very fast.

I came home a little early.  Not to see the results of her work, but because I had worked a little hard this week.  That a sinus headache.  We went out into the yard to be sure that the squirrel had not just crawled away and died somewhere.  Yep, that’s exactly what he did.  He was lying on the lot line between our backyard and Brad’s house.  He was stiff and the flies were enjoying some time with him.

I sent Rick in to get a black construction bag and I got the spade.  It was time to remove the carcass before the neighbor cat or the coyotes came by to finish it off.  I just didn’t want the coyotes looking in my yard for dinner every night.  The squirrel was a big one with a fat bushy tail.  I’m pretty sure this was the squirrel that lived in the shag bark hickory that overhangs the garage.  I’m also sure he used to toss hickory nuts at me when I opened the garage door.

So ends the tragic tale of one squirrel’s tail.  We put the bag into the garbage can in the garage.  On Monday, he will go to his final resting place in the county landfill.   I’m sure there are creatures there to rest beside him.

So now that Sascha has had a taste of squirrel (fur with no gravy), I’m sure she will sharpen her skills more to get another taste.  This evening, I looked out the window to see three squirrels hanging upside down on the trees just above her head and chattering away at her.  I’m sure there were some choice words in there about killing off Mom, Dad, Brother, or whatever the unfortunate guy was to them.

I was preparing a couple of pictures to post for this story and came across a picture of Sascha eating an ice cube.  She loves ice cubes.  Whenever she hears anyone getting ice, she comes running to get one.  I usually do give her a cube.  She holds up her head and wants you to put into her mouth.  She doesn’t generally grab anything out of your hand.  Then she takes the cube to the living room and proceeds to crush it to bits.  She never eats anything whole.  She prefers small bites to large ones.  What she doesn’t eat melts into the carpet, if I don’t go and pick it up.  Then I have to wonder who peed on the floor, until I remember what it was.