Riki Tiki Tavi at Home!

A few weeks ago, on a Sunday night, me, the wife, and the roomie experienced our own sort of Aesop's fable.

Right at around 10:03pm EDT, the dog's (Nola-right) and Philly (unpictured) starting barking like mad in the backyard. Now normally, this wouldn't be so unusual and we would tepidly go and yell out in the backyard. "Nola....Philly....get inside!!!" Initially they ignore and continue to bark, then we yell, "Don't make me come out there!!" One of the dogs, perhaps, throws a little grunt our way. Finally we use the special command to let them know just who is in charge, "Come get a cookie!" However, this night was different and would be unbelievable.

First off the barking started just as the credits started to roll on one of our favorite TV show's season premiere and this was just unacceptable. There would be no barking during Dexter. So I jumped up and went to the back porch to reign them in.

The dogs were enigmatically up near the house, barking near the back walk but more importantly barking at the ground. When I approached what it was they were looking at I came face to face with one of my biggest fears...A 5foot water moccasin.

I screamed like a little girl (no offense) and the dogs ran inside. It was just me and Satan's spawn. He looked at me, I looked at him, and I told him that "2 may enter....but only 1 leaves". I yelled inside, "Check the dogs!" and unfortunately I heard disheartening news..."Nola's bleeding."

I told them to start driving....

While they were on the road I tracked down the nearest emergency overnight vet. Once we got her there they checked her out and told me the bad news. Nola had been struck not once, not twice, but 3 times by this venomous piece of poo poo. The vet informed us that this was not good.

3 long nights....2 vials of anti-venin...and 3 huge wounds and Nola (the Great-Granddaughter of UGA VI) would survive and the angels rejoiced! The scars are just now healing up and Nola is a little leary of being outside but the little girl still shakes her stub of a tail, licks our faces, and eats us out of house and home.