[prairiemary]

With my 3 dogs,I worry about coyotes,as where I live,they are always close to the yard,even drink from the fountain at night.Dogs have a fenced pen,so are always safe.There had recently been a big one, right down the lane,looked right at me,was not scared.This summer evening,I had changed into a pretty,long night gown,and it was starting to rain,and alot of lightnening and thunder.I glanced out of the screen door,at front of the house,and there was this big coyote running around right near the door!So I grabbed my cane,and ran out the back door, ready to scare it out of the yard.As I came around to the corner,it was right there,right in my face.I tried to turn around,but I slipped and fell,as I was wearing slippers,and the grass was wet.I tried to get up,but could not,I layed on the gound,waiting to be ripped apart and eaten!My husband heard me holler-COYOTE!-but since we were fighting(as usual)he ignored me.I was still stuck on the ground,heart pounding,when he finally came to the door,and I was finally up, and was on the steps,with the door cracked open,and watched this animal go into the house before me,and I was yelling that there was a COYOTE IN THE HOUSE,COYOTE IN THE HOUSE!!I was right behind the animal when it went into the house,and my husband was standing there,laughing his head off! Because it was not a coyote in the house-it was just a regular,big dog,afraid of the thunder,looking for shelter! I WILL NEVER LIVE THIS ONE DOWN!!Thank goodness the dog had a tag,as I phoned the vet,and found out the dog just had his shots that very morning! And he lived a mile away from my house,so I got ahold of his owners, and they took him back home,he always runs away during a storm,but from now on,they would be sure to bring him into the house.COYOTE IN THE HOUSE!!

[mrsD]

We have some similar refrains...

1) raccoon in the house
2) squirrel in the house
3) chipmunk in the house (brought in by cat)
4) bunny in the house (brought in by cat).

We understand.... but coyote in the house, is a biggie IMO.