|
November 16, 2006 ~ A Dead Coyote. Maybe.
Thursday.
As I pulled into Berry's gravel lot, I frowned. A man in camouflage slung what looked like the largest coyote I'd ever seen out of the back of his pick-up truck. He held it by the paws, front and back, and the head lolled limply back and forth. Coyotes are so rarely spotted around here, and now there was one less. I felt a little sick.
A moment of doubt, though, because that canine was awfully large for coyote. And the coloring was unusual…
I went inside. I don't mind people hunting for meat. I'd actually prefer if more people would choose that, rather than factory-farmed meat. But people who kill wolves, coyotes, foxes? Just for the sport or the hate of it? If you know me at all, you can probably guess how I feel about that.
I paid for a bag of kibble, pushed the check under the window for Mrs. Berry, then walked back out to the car, standing to the side, putting the checkbook away, studying the "coyote," which had attracted a crowd of admirers. It had the narrow, pointed, more delicate facial features of a coyote. But it was much bigger than they normally are, about Rose's size (80 pounds). And the coloring was very unusual, more like a wolfdog than a coyote. Maybe a coydog?
They were talking and laughing. "That's a beauty."
"Yeah, and huge!"
"You sure that's a coyote? Never seen colors like that in one a'fore."
"Hope I didn't shoot someone's dog!" he said with a grin. They all laughed at that.
I shook myself, knowing I'd been outright glaring, and resisted the urge to yell at him, turned away before I got myself in trouble. As I opened the car door the laughter died off and another said, "Well, whatever it is, it's gonna make a beautiful pelt."
God forbid Rose ever get loose and run into some folks like them. She's all the time mistaken for wild, and I'm sure they'd not hesitate a moment before they shot her. What I have to wonder, though, is if they'd even regret that shot when they saw her tags?
The sick feeling still hasn't left, and Rose and Monty don't know why they got extra lovin's when I got home. God, I hope they never do.
|
|
