Earlier this week we were playing out in the front yard when I reached down to clean up one of the shingles that came off from the house skirting.

I lifted it up while laughing and talking and gave a silent shriek at what was underneath.

It was a Rattlesnake.

A Diamondback Rattlesnake.

A big one.

Facing me.

Less than three feet in front of me.

Coiled with its tongue flicking and rattle hidden away.

My brain registered the head shape and pattern on the scales and my heart leaped into my chest.

My thought process was “Snake. Get away. Get dogs. Get away.”

Hastily I back peddled, trying to create as much distance between us as possible. I grabbed Terra’s scruff, yelled at Bella to come over and for my sister to get her pup while blocking him from wandering closer, and steered them away from the coiled form. I told my brother to take Terra and put her inside and ushered Bella and wet Kronos in too and secured them inside; Kronos had been happily splashing and digging in his water bucket-oblivious to what was going on. Thankfully none of the dogs seemed to see it, though they knew something was wrong since the humans were acting odd.

I have no idea what Bella, Terra, or Kronos would have done if they’d seen it. I hope they’d have the wherewithal to leave it well enough alone. We saw a dead snake on our walk around the block at our old house and Terra immediately balked and backed up after getting a whiff of it. I was pleased to see that response. Bella was indifferent. But Kronos sniffed the snake and promptly picked it up in his mouth. I was incredulous and proceeded to explain to him that snakes were dangerous, bad, and to leave them alone and never go near them.

We called the fire department to come out and remove the snake.

When they got there, the first guy with the grabbing mechanism either poked at the snake or attempted to pick it up with the metal end. Either way, he missed and his direct approach was highly unappreciated by the rattler who struck the metal end without warning and unfurled to almost its full length in a flash hissing mightily with fangs unsheathed and tail vibrating dangerously as it backed away. To our dismay, the rattler slithered back in attack mode and then disappeared right under the front porch before the fire fighter even made another attempt to apprehend it.

The hole had previously been dug by a rabbit who seemed convinced the porch was its refuge and home.

But now the rattler was under there.

After the fire fighters put water down the hole and waited for a while, they left with the advice the they were not sure what we could do except just wait and hope the rattler left on its own.

It’s been a few days and we haven’t seen or heard anything-which elicits mixed emotions of relief and apprehension. However, we have banged on the porch and stomped around, and haven’t heard anything so hopefully the rattler left. I’ve cleaned up the small yard since the monsoon rains sprouted tall foliage and grass. I filled in the hole with dirt and packed it in-that should show if thee rattler leaves or if is truly gone if it’s left undisturbed from snake tracks.

If you ever see a wild animal or snake while with your dogs, keep them with you and try to stay away. Generally if you leave it alone and it doesn’t feel threatened, it will leave you alone.

That’s been the main craziness around our house this week. The end of the week last week we went up to Phoenix to visit family, went to the lake, down to the Dog Days of Summer event in Scottsdale, videotaped a few tricks for our current video in progress, visited PetSmart, played games, and I was a co-handler on stage for a live theater performance.

Don’t forget to enter our giveaway to win a Kurgo Life Jacket, lend a paw to help Kronos in these last few days for him to appear in #TheDogWedding movie credits, and stay tuned for some exciting news and a surprise relating to PetSmart!

Has anything exciting happened in your neck of the woods?

Live Life to the Fullest,