Street Drama

Who says nothing ever happens on Walton Drive in Plainfield, IN?

Yesterday afternoon, I was sitting at the computer when I saw a police van--a K-9 unit without the canine--park in front of my house.  The policeman went across the street to talk to Good Neighbor Fred.  It is not unusual for Fred to call the police.  If there is a car illegally parked or abandoned or without valid plates, he will call.  (It is to my advantage to have a neighbor like this!)

A few minutes later, a car pulled up behind the police car.  I recognized the people as folks from my church--licensed animal rehabilitators--but still didn't know what was going on.  The two guys crawled up on the hood of their vehicle, waiting for something.  Hmmmm....

The next time I looked out, there was a raccoon standing in the middle of the street, looking quite sick.  The plot thickened.

For a minute or two, there seemed to be a "Mexican standoff".  No one was doing anything.  And then another vehicle drove up--an SUV.  The driver brought out an animal carrier from his vehicle, then had a catch pole in his hands.  In very short order, and with absolutely no resistance from the raccoon, he had the 'coon caught and put safely into the carrier.  I clapped loudly.  So loudly that the guy heard, looked at me, and grinned.  Then off they all went.

I called Fred.  His wife called me back a bit later.  Turns out that the raccoon had been in MY yard first, near the fence, then had meandered across the street and into their back yard.  Sharon thought it might be hungry so she threw some bread out to it but the critter didn't touch it.  She called police who apparently called others, and the whole thing transpired.  A raccoon out in mid-day, unresponsive to food and not fighting capture, is a sick animal.  I have no idea the fate of the critter after that.  I'm just happy that it was caught without incident.

As the World Turns on Walton Drive!