How Not To Answer The Door By: Margaret Helmstetter It is 10:30 on a Friday night, the kids are asleep, and I am working on the computer. I am feeling a little better seems like the stomach bug I had has gone. My brain is working, and I am finishing up some articles. Pretty typical Friday night at my house. My dog started growling at the door, not the young excitable one who barks at everything, but my older, calmer dog, the dog that hides from fireworks under the bed. The one who during a thunderstorm becomes a 50-lb. lap dog. Unusual enough behavior from her that I am going to investigate. I looked out and did not see anything, the dog is still growling so I opened the door and stepped out, with the dog. Barefoot, in sweat pants, and a tank top, looking around, dog not on a leash, I have hold of her collar. It is dark since we have cloud cover tonight. Peering past the light. Still cannot see anything. Dog is staring intently at the neighbor's yard. Walk down the walkway, staying in the lighted area. I am puzzled. The dog is growling and has her hackles up She is getting really upset, staying close to my leg, and quivering, but at the same time growling with her hackles up. This is my calm older dog, nothing much upsets her. I am outside with a growling dog and can't see anything, no one else's dog is barking, the dog in the house is quiet, but this dog is growling long and loud, tail half tucked between her legs. Looking around, I see something in the neighbor's bushes, she does not have a dog. It is too big to be a cat. My neighbor is an older lady, who is alone her husband is out of town. The neighbors all keep an eye on each other, and something in her bushes could be bad news. I am not going to panic. I sniff the air, is it a skunk we occasionally get them in the neighborhood. No odor, so probably not. I step out of the lighted area trying to see I can see a shape in the shadows from the bushes. Could that be a man crouching, no, not in those bushes, they have too many stickers and are very dense. Looking closer, I take another step forward. I can see eyes gleaming in the bush, eyes about the same height as my dogs, oh a neighbor's dog is loose. Which one is it? I try to see a little closer. I am now face to face with a coyote. Calmly grab dog by collar. Walk back to the house giving nervous looks and trying to make sure my dog comes with me. Dog does not want to come with me. Dragging dog, walking a little faster, coyote is now out of bushes. Unusual behavior, rabies report all running through my brain I can't remember the specifics, was it in Cochise county? I hope not. Look over shoulder, coyote is moving towards the house. Get to door, turn handle. My head has the steps mapped out, turn handle walk in, pull dog in, shut door, and then call animal control. WHOOPS Reality sets in, door is locked. Dog is now frantic. Ring doorbell, kids are asleep. One of them will wakeup. Trying very hard not to think about the fire drill where the kids slept through the smoke alarm. Ring doorbell, coyote is now just outside the lighted area. Ring doorbell again. Dog is now lunging at coyote. Hear something on the other side of the door. Come on Open the door now. Son opens door, mom runs in dragging dog, which has now decided to be brave. After a quick explanation to my son, his comment was: "Mom, did you have to wake me up, the spare key is in the same place as always." Lesson learned, check the door before you walk outside. Return To: The Sept/Oct issue Survivor Haven's Homepage