I had a wonderful day scrapbooking with my friends. I got through my backlog of photos because I used one of the new Ahni & Zoe slide-in pocket albums. They go so fast because you aren't embellishing every single page. I slipped the photos into the sleeve and then added filler cards, some journaling, and a little bit of decorative paper and/or stickers here and there. These horizontal and vertical pages make quick work of getting through a stack of pictures that might otherwise not even make it off the computer! It was very fun to relax with the ladies and catch up on everyone's news and views - it's been too long since we all got together. Afterwards, I felt so buoyed and happy to have that time for something I enjoy so much with such great women.
However, the day started out in a weird way. I went to open the blinds on the door in our kitchen that goes to the deck. I noticed the bar-b-que cover had blown off and as I started to unlock the door I was startled to see a big ball of fur sitting on the side shelf. Obviously it was a raccoon and I could see it was breathing heavily and shivering. After it finally lifted its head it looked like it had an injury and it was scratching at the wound. I could also see that its nose was dripping. After a few minutes, perhaps sensing my kids and I were watching, it moved up onto the roof.
Eventually, animal control arrived and the officer found it curled up in a protected area of the roof. She tried to catch it with a net but it came scrambling back down and took off out into the yard. The officer said that unfortunately, the animal had distemper and would not survive. Poor thing. I was instructed to clean the area as distemper is very contagious to other animals (like my dog), although not to humans.
It was a shame to see the raccoon in distress and I felt so badly. I of course did a bit more reading about distemper and am relieved my dog's vaccines are up to date. To be safe I won't let him out on the deck for a while, until we've had a good rain (and I did bleach everything as well as I could). Please make sure your pets' shots are up to date. Distemper is fatal as there is no cure - a horrible way for an animal to suffer.
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