It is very hard for me to talk about this, but here goes. Last year, I nursed my very sick, most beloved little male Yorkie, Tigger. After weeks of nursing him, holding him, comforting him and staying with him constantly, he was
TAKEN BY A HAWK on the night that I left him for just a couple of hours. He weighed just over 4 lbs, and this horrible creature lifted himn like he weighed nothing. It broke my heart, totally shattered me.... I cried for weeks, not days, imagining the terror my little defenseless baby must have felt during the last seconds of his life. If he was going to die, I wanted him to go feeling safe, loved in the comfort of his Mommys arms.
I should say that my dogs are ALWAYS inside, they are NEVER let out alone into my garden. But, there is a small enclosed dog run on the side of my house, which they access through a small doggie door. I thought it was safe, because it was so hidden, so sheltered, and yet still that hawk dove down and took my little Tigger. We found his little T-shirt the next day, with that monster bird perched just feet away on my fountain!!!!
If you think there is even the SMALLEST RISK of a hawk taking your animal, please, please, please take whatever precautions you have to. I have since covered the entire length of my dog run.
I am crying still as I am typing this post, with that image of my precious boy seared into my brain. Do NOT let this happen to any of your babies.... they are so innocent, so defenseless and can do nothing to protect themselves; they rely totally on us for that.
