Casey

Casey loves the snow. She came to live with us at the same time Skeet did, September of 1998 when we were preparing to move out to the farm. She is part labrador, and doesn't mind the cold too much. With her age however, we have let her sleep in the utility room much of this winter. She didn't want to come in during past winters, but she is probably getting soft in her old age - a lot like the rest of us.

She is a fierce-sounding dog when someone strange comes into the yard, or when the coyotes howl too close to the house. It's a good thing she was in the house this morning when Arnie went out to feed. The same three coyotes that we've seen earlier in the week were in the back yard. (They were mousing in the very front of the back pasture. One of them has a slight limp and all three have an unusual amount of white fur.) When she isn't protecting the driveway or standing up to coyotes though, she's a sweetie.

Arnie had to rescue Casey from five coyotes several years ago. They had her surrounded in the field below the house and the coyotes were so brave that they only walked away as Arnie ran within 30 yards of them, waving his arms and yelling. He had to chase them off again when they followed Casey back to the yard.