Rabbits, Raccoons, Refrigerator Crates and Un-neutered Dogs

Florence, OR basically sits on sand (which has been flattened over the Eons). In the early 50's, Dean & I buried in the back yard (in the sand), an empty referigator crate. This was during the 'cold war,' when bomb shelters were popular. I'm not sure what we used it for, except that if one wanted to emphasize with the homeless, one should try living in a refrigerator crate for a time (for those with 'big bucks,' get two and have a 'double-wide!)

One Easter weekend back then, the I.VS.. Sampson kids found the right egg on the local 'hunt,' and won a rabbit which they named 'Flopsy(?)' - a female. Unfortunately, the J.O. Sampson kids found a similar egg; won a rabbit (a male) who they named Buck. At some point, there appeared a 14 X 14 chicken wire enclosure (with rabbit hutch) attached to the ocean side of the J.O. Sampson garage. Flopsy somehow joined Buck, and we came into the 'rabbit business.' Since we WERE NOT going to eat our 'pets,' they all went away at some point.

About this point, someone gave us an 'orphaned' male raccoon who we named 'Snooper,' and he occupied the rabbit hutch. Feeding him each morning was a challenge. He would come to the opening of the hutch, all sleepy, (but wanting a hug), and would then go to his food on the ground, wash it, and then if the 'feeder' was still there would 'hug' the 'then' pink or yellow corduroy pants which were popular. As Snooper got older and was brought into the house, one had to be careful of one's cocktail (or plate of watermelon), because Snooper would be playing with the ice cubes, - or watermelon juice, at the turn of a head. When he got older, and there became a fear for kids who might be walking by, Snooper went to the Woosley's place on the North Fork (they had hounds).

Also, during these years, we had Duke, an unneutered black lab. He made his daily rounds. In one case, the people who ran the cafe at the intersection of Rhodendron & main street (101), proclaimed that Duke had kept them from being robbed by showing up at just the right time. Duke also impregnated most of western Lane County dogs who came into heat (he'd come dragging home after day's several absence, and take awhile to recover, then go off onto the next 'scent'.)