susanne
dB
We're experiencing a heat wave in the northwest...nothing compared to what many of you get on a regular basis, but for our temperate climes, the thermometers have risen to uncharted territory. Our typical summer heat allows for enjoyable evenings, pleasant nights, and mornings that provide at least enough time to do chores without breaking a sweat. Instead, we have sweltering, stifling, suffocating, nausea-inducing, relentless heat.
In our house we have one air conditioning unit, with box fans to move the cold air about. Outside, the corrals are shaded and troughs are full of clean, cold water. The cats have a choice of going in or out.
Still, I worry.
I've been giving the dogs "doggie-dunks" in cold water several times a day. They're not thrilled being plunked into the whiskey barrel fountain, but they love it once they're wet. Our long-haired black cat, Willoughby, foolishly stood close by (laughing at the dogs, no doubt), so I took life in hand and dunked him as well. Normally this would have resulted in a skin-shredding flurry of claws, but today he didn't even growl.
That left the horses. I took the hose and my favorite small sprinkler and stuck it into the grid of the cattle panel gate, positioning it to spray into both corrals.
At first, nobody dared to enter the spray zone, but instead trotted to safety. So I upped the ante and tossed a small amount of hay into the spray. Although they had just cleaned up the last of their breakfast hay, this got their attention.
Scarlet was first to come forward, no hesitation, even taking a direct hit on her face. She was going to get that hay no matter what, water be dam ned!
Mingus and Thelonius looked confused, determined to get that hay away from Scarlet, but equally determined to avoid the dreaded flying water. They tried approaching from every possible angle. They tried closing their eyes. They tried backing in, but nothing worked. They ended up standing far away from the sprinkler, glaring at me (and nobody can express disgust like Mingus, ears askew and lower lip pouting).
The ultimate response, however, came from Flash in his adjacent corral. He carefully approached, tentatively inching forward until he reached the cool air just beyond the sprinkler's reach. He stood happily, revelling in the refreshing near mist. Without moving his feet, he reached forward and grabbed a bit of hay, then munched, cool, calm and comfortable.
Today is even hotter than yesterday, and when I once again turned on the water, everyone repeated yesterday's behaviors...at first. Scarlet and Flash each moved back to yesterday's positions, Scarlet oblivious to getting soaked, Flash basking in the cool air while enjoying the mid-morning treat.
Whether by accident or by instinct, this time Mingus worked his way past his fear and into the cool zone. Like Flash, he reached for the hay and then pulled back, his rich bay coat glistening with the fine spray. He finished his wet snack, then turned to roll in the dust, grinding his neck and working the cooling dust into his coat.
...and Thelonius...
Little Thelonius trotted nervously around the perimeter of the fearful sprinkler mist...wanting that hay, wanting to keep Scarlet from eating that hay, wanting to be near Mingus, but unable to make that move into the mist.
Perhaps tomorrow...
In our house we have one air conditioning unit, with box fans to move the cold air about. Outside, the corrals are shaded and troughs are full of clean, cold water. The cats have a choice of going in or out.
Still, I worry.
I've been giving the dogs "doggie-dunks" in cold water several times a day. They're not thrilled being plunked into the whiskey barrel fountain, but they love it once they're wet. Our long-haired black cat, Willoughby, foolishly stood close by (laughing at the dogs, no doubt), so I took life in hand and dunked him as well. Normally this would have resulted in a skin-shredding flurry of claws, but today he didn't even growl.
That left the horses. I took the hose and my favorite small sprinkler and stuck it into the grid of the cattle panel gate, positioning it to spray into both corrals.
At first, nobody dared to enter the spray zone, but instead trotted to safety. So I upped the ante and tossed a small amount of hay into the spray. Although they had just cleaned up the last of their breakfast hay, this got their attention.
Scarlet was first to come forward, no hesitation, even taking a direct hit on her face. She was going to get that hay no matter what, water be dam ned!
Mingus and Thelonius looked confused, determined to get that hay away from Scarlet, but equally determined to avoid the dreaded flying water. They tried approaching from every possible angle. They tried closing their eyes. They tried backing in, but nothing worked. They ended up standing far away from the sprinkler, glaring at me (and nobody can express disgust like Mingus, ears askew and lower lip pouting).
The ultimate response, however, came from Flash in his adjacent corral. He carefully approached, tentatively inching forward until he reached the cool air just beyond the sprinkler's reach. He stood happily, revelling in the refreshing near mist. Without moving his feet, he reached forward and grabbed a bit of hay, then munched, cool, calm and comfortable.
Today is even hotter than yesterday, and when I once again turned on the water, everyone repeated yesterday's behaviors...at first. Scarlet and Flash each moved back to yesterday's positions, Scarlet oblivious to getting soaked, Flash basking in the cool air while enjoying the mid-morning treat.
Whether by accident or by instinct, this time Mingus worked his way past his fear and into the cool zone. Like Flash, he reached for the hay and then pulled back, his rich bay coat glistening with the fine spray. He finished his wet snack, then turned to roll in the dust, grinding his neck and working the cooling dust into his coat.
...and Thelonius...
Little Thelonius trotted nervously around the perimeter of the fearful sprinkler mist...wanting that hay, wanting to keep Scarlet from eating that hay, wanting to be near Mingus, but unable to make that move into the mist.
Perhaps tomorrow...
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