[Jeff Higgins]

So, my wife and I are out in the backyard trimming our laurel hedge that separates our back yard from the neighbor's. This is the same laurel hedge that provides some of the cover for the local rat population that comes up from the shopping center and woods below us. It's provided endless hours of sport, as I have hunted them with my air rifles for years, baiting them with peanut butter or cream cheese.

Well, Ed, our illustrious (now eleven month old) Golden Retriever, apparently found one of the casualties. I was down at the other end of the hedge when my wife started in with a very stern "no!! drop!!!". I turned around just in time to see Ed chomp away and swallow.

My God, I haven't heard my wife lose it like that since the turd in the shower. "HE ATE A RAT!!!. HE ATE A GOD DAMN RAT!!! HE ATE A MOTHER FREAKIN' RAT!!!! EEEEEEE!!!!" as she ran up the stairs to the deck, into the house, and locked the door.

Ed and I just kinda stood there looking at each other. I went back to trimming the laurel.