Belladonna has come home again
Although I have seen occasional signs of her...footprints near the barn, a half eaten mouse left in the barn...this is the first time I've seen her since last summer.
Yesterday morning, coming up from the barn the dogs ran ahead as usual, and when I got to the top of the hill was shocked to see Luna had run right across the street. He never does that. Then last night both he and Jake pointed their noses up at the sky and were sniffing carefully, and looking in the direction Luna had run in that morning. And again this morning.
And then early this afternoon I was ready to head out to work, but 15 minutes early so putzing around. And I looked out the window and there was Bella, across the street in the driveway looking at our house.
I walked over and called her name. She let me pick her up and carry her back to the garage, where I had left the cat carrier. I put her in the carrier, and returned to the house with the litter box which I had left in the garage, all set up and ready, jic. I threw the dogs toys out of their crate and pushed the litter box in there. Then I ran down to the barn and got her food dish with the last half cup or so of kibble and brought that up for her. And got a plastic container from the kitchen for a water dish. Finally, got her from the garage and put her in the dog crate. She was growling at Luna, who was beside himself with excitement. But immediately switched to purring when I skritched her ears.
I left work early tonight to stop off at the food store and buy her some kibble. Just 10 days ago I gave up and gave away a 20 pound bag of kibble that I had waiting since last summer, jic, to a nearby shelter.
When I got home tonight, she had spent the day on top of her litter box and hadn't eaten anything. But as soon as I started skritching her ears, she got down off the box and started eating. I rearranged the crate so she has a corner where she can hunker down away from Luna's prying nose and eat, drink and nap in peace.
She's pretty thin, but otherwise looks pretty healthy. Monday am I'll call the vet and get her shots. She'll probably need some de-worming too. I'll try again, move the crate into the barn and hope that this time she'll stick around.
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