Back From a Trip Through Time and Space

Sorry, folks; between pet- and house-sitting and getting deeply involved in three new books, I just didn't get around to my blog.   I'm embarrassed by my back-sliding (not really).  I have been extremely busy in my critter-sitter business, and won't be sleeping at home again until the 26th of May.
   I was up at 4 o'clock this morning, showered dressed, walked the dog, fed the critters, watered the garden and the flowers, and was standing at the end of the driveway at 5 o'clock to travel with clients to Denver National Airport.  When they picked me up, dawn was breaking, the robins and smaller birds had begun singing, and a few of the neighbor's ducks were wakening and quacking.  As we drove out of the neighborhood, there was an oddly-moving eye-shine reflected back in the headlights.  The driver asked what it was, and I was able to answer it was a raccoon - although it was moving sideways, more like a crab than a raccoon.  I didn't give it anymore thought, as we were soon on the Expressway, where the speed limit is posted as 75 miles per hour - the family had decided to sleep in a little later and then rush to the airport.  As we passed one automated signal, it said we were traveling at 98 mph.  Oh, boy....   I drove back to Boulder at the rather sedate 65 mph posted for the Interstate, instead of racing back on the Expressway.
   First, I fed and walked Roxie and Finnie, the two Brittany Spaniels.  Then I went to the house behind Roxie and Finnie's and I walked Cooper and Lola, then fed those two, as well as the two cats, Pounce and Tipsi.  I had already fed and walked Tess and the cats, but I stopped by to allow Tess time to go outside again.  Then I went to my apartment, fed my kits and cleaned the litter boxes, and took a 50 minute nap.  After that, it was off to walk Rosie.
   Rosie and I had decided to visit my sister and brother-in-law's yard this morning.  (She's visited Tess the past three days.)  So we ambled toward my sister's house.  As we approached, I saw a raccoon (this was at 10:25) sidling sideways across the road from Olivier's house.  Rosie also saw it, and wanted to run and grab it.  The raccoon was having great difficulty moving.   It crossed the street, and had a seizure.  Then it licked it's hind legs, which were completely hairless and looked like raw meat.  It started sidling sideways, again, like a crab into the back yard at my sister's.  The (d'uhh!) realization came that this was the same raccoon I'd seen about 400 yards away at 5 this morning.   It had another seizure before it hid inside an airplane wing beside the shed.  I told my brother-in-law and sister what I had seen, and they agreed to call the Animal Control officer....   Rosie and I came over to Tess's house instead.
    After walking Rosie, I have bounced back and forth between the three houses of dogs and cats.  I have walked dogs, watered flowers and gardens, and gathered mail and newspapers.  Tonight is the penultimate presentation of Peter and the Starcatcher at the Boulder Dinner Theater, and Max is back in town to see his Dad on stage.  So I'll be headed over to Rosie's soon to keep her company while her family is out for the evening....   I do have to go feed Roxie and Finnie and the ABCs before I go to Rosie's.
    I just finished three new books, as well as re-reading another trilogy set of C J Cherryh's Foreigner series.  I find myself thinking in the alien language, Ragi, occasionally - and I sometimes throw an atevi into a conversation, because the alien word is a better fit than the English one.  Sometimes I feel that I'd rather exist in Ms. Cherryh's universe!

Canine Distemper and Raccoons

I had my own close encounter with a very sick raccoon this morning and early afternoon.  I have seen several dead in driveways and along the side of the road.  These are not victims of a car or truck accident - they just look all curled up and not very happy.  In the past week I've passed by 16 dead raccoons in this neighborhood.

   Rosie and I went out early this morning and she relieved herself.  When we went out again, at 8 a.m., she was very interested in the deck, where it overhangs the water feature.  I stooped over, and I saw a raccoon's hind foot being pulled up into the opening.  I hoped the raccoon wouldn't die under the deck and next to the hot tub.

   I took Rosie out at 9:30 and a few minutes after 11.  On the last trip out, I saw the raccoon was on the grass beside the deck, and it was convulsing.  I quickly got Rosie back inside, keeping my body between her and the sight and scent of the raccoon.  First, I called the City of Boulder Animal Control; then I called the owners; then I called the veterinarians.  I spent the next 45 minutes discussing and asking questions about canine distemper...

   First, Animal Control was on another call - which didn't matter to me.  They arrived 45 minutes after my initial call to dispatch.  The young officer looked at the raccoon, and stated that it positively was a case of distemper.  The raccoon wasn't yet dead, and he asked if he could euthanize the animal in the back yard, where it was lying.  I asked to to put the poor creature out of it's misery as soon as possible.  He went back to his truck, filled a syringe with a potent anesthetic, and came back with a syringe poke stick, a set of tongs, and a large blue plastic bag.  Standing on the deck, he was able to inject the raccoon.  Waiting for two minutes after the raccoon ceased the breathe, he picked it up with the tongs, and placed it into the bag, tying it closed.  He took the body away, and cleaned the tongs, the poke stick, and his hands with a sanitizer, and then with a bleach wipe.

   After speaking with the Animal Control Officer, as well as the vets, I learned that raccoons carry both canine and feline distemper within their systems at all times.

   Feline distemper usually causes diarrhea and death in the raccoons.

   Canine distemper will cause diarrhea, followed by seizures and convulsions, then death.

 

   Sunshine and heat will cause the distemper virus to dry and die quickly.  If this had been mid-summer, I would not have had to do anything other than keep Rosie away from the area for 3 to 4 hours.   Since we are having a cool and rainy spell, I was advised to make a solution of water and bleach - 1 part bleach to 30 parts water - and spray the area, where the raccoon had spent it's last hour, very well.  I was told that once the area was dry, it would be safe.  (Of course, I'm a worry-wart and sprayed all the areas where I had seen the raccoon touching the ground, and where it had climbed under the deck - )

   I hope that none of you have to share the experience.

  The Animal Control Officer told me that we have large peaks of distemper deaths in raccoons every 3 to five years.....

  Have a happy Spring!