We adopted again-

[Nephythys]

So last night we had a horrible scare.

The girls were in their cages- they had gotten their Christmas toys and were safely tucked away. In the afternoon we all left save for Davis and his GF. We left the dogs out, the cats- and the rats and ferrets safely (we thought) in their cages.

We screwed up.

Our big dog Raylie- she’s 65 pounds of german shepherd and lab and she has been TOO interested in Annabelle…..

We got home around 6pm. Braden went downstairs to the basement-and came booking back up-

“Ian, PLEASE tell me the girls were in one cage?!”

“what?”

“Ian, PLEASE!! Tell me the girls were in one cage!!!”

“No….”

“One is missing!”

Braden Ian and Rose bolt downstairs- I came slower- dreading what we would find. Rose comes running back to me in tears- Annabelle is missing.

I went downstairs- and it was a nightmare. Cage bashed open- litter everywhere. Looks like a war went down. I sent Rose upstairs because I was steeling myself to find Annabelle dead.

I started tiptoeing through the mess and she must have heard me- must have heard our voices- because THANKFULLY- right away her little black head popped out from under the TV stand. Ian got her out and she was put through a round of cuddles and kisses.

After examining the scene of the attack it would appear that Raylie bashed in the side of the cage- and in doing so knocked the whole thing loose. Annabelle must have escaped in the chaos- she did scrape her leg but the scrape is so tiny as to be almost not there-and hidden under the TV stand- and Raylie could not get to her.

We, and I especially- feel horrible. Their cages were on the ground- I just assumed they were ok when we left. I never should have left them down-add to that the fact that Annabelles cage had a defect so the hooks don’t line up quite right so we bent it out and hooked it ourselves-that was the side she bashed in. Plus the basement door has not been fixed- if it had been there neither of the other two problems would have mattered.

So I am going to buy some small padlocks- lock each corner of each cage and one for the door. They will be off the floor and I have told my parents I need my Dad’s help putting up the new door.

It was awful- and wonderful at the same time- Annabelle is certainly our little Christmas miracle.