Last night about midnight (actually, it could have been earlier, I was sound asleep), W. heard A. crying and brought him to bed with us, then left the room again. I was so disoriented from sleep that I barely even knew that W. was not in the room.

W. came back and said, "A pack of wild dogs has gotten (killed?) a fawn in the back of our house. What should we do?"

Still very much in sleep-mode, I didn't really respond except to say how awful and imagine images of Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom and what happens after an animal is attacked and killed.

This morning, I let the dogs out (who did not make a peep during this whole incident last night - they were sleeping on the futon) and Kirby went barking and barking and barking. I looked out back and the deer was there with blood around it on the ground.

Come to find out, after environmental management was called, the deer had survived the attack (and W. shining a light on the scene and scaring the dogs away - did he tell me that last night???) and I got this email from the secretary just a few moments ago:

2/8/06

"Animal Control is coming out to get the deer. Any time something like that happens, please call security immediately. The little deer is not dead and lay out all night suffering. Justin with animal control said the dogs are probably just from the neighborhood and probably wouldn’t bother anyone they’re just after the deer."

I feel horrible. Hindsight being what it is, I would have called security but to be honest they are often not very helpful, and would animal control have come out at midnight?

I pray this doesn't go on my permanent record!