LOCK DOWN SIDE EFFECT AND ONE SMART COOKIE

Side effect.

I think we have all seen the pictures of the changes in the air quality above large cities due to the fact that so few cars are on the road today with the lock downs.  But the other day I saw another change in nature due to the lack of traffic that was both good and bad.

Coming home from a prescription run I saw a strange sight on the road.  The road was squirming with birds.  There were three large vultures and about 6 smaller black birds, probably crows.

When I got closer, I had to honk the horn to get them to move and I saw what they were fighting over. It was the small body of a squirrel.  Then it dawned on me.

The lack of traffic has made it so much safer for the four legged creatures. Road kills are rare if at all.  Great for the bunnies, armadillos and such but not so good for the scavengers who often depend on road kill. They have to be a lot hungrier now to have so many fight over such a small body.

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One smart cookie.

My neighbor calls me every day on the phone.   She is thoughtfully checking in on her old neighbor and I really appreciate her.  Most often she usually tells me something that makes me smile.

They have a relatively new dog named Cookie.  Now that was a problem at first for my dog will stand on her head for a cookie.  She can be chasing a rabbit and if I say, "Callie, you want a cookie?" she will slam on the breaks and run to me, bunny forgotten.  So with the new dog's name, she got a bit confused. We have since worked that out and Callie now realizes she only gets a cookie if I offer it, not if she hears it said randomly.  Now if I could just train Alexa to be that selective.

However, it seems Cookie has a unique talent. They bought a Ford Escape a while ago that has one of those hands free trunk options that opens the trunk if you just wave your foot under the bumper.

Her husband was beginning to think the system wasn't working for he would shut the hatch and head for the house. Then he would hear it opening again.

Turns out Cookie was opening it by wagging her tail under the back of the car while he had his back turned.   One might think it was accidental if she weren't one of those dogs that constantly wears a smile.

 I told my neighbor this could be a good thing. All they have to do is teach her to go wave her tail on command when they wanted the hatch opened or closed like after a grocery run.

Perhaps on the command of  "Cookie wave" when they want her to activate it.  Then they wouldn't have to do that unbalanced foot waving thingy. When you are 80 like we are, balance is the second thing to go.  Cookie doing it on command would be a huge plus.

If they could, I think that would make a cool commercial. Hope they work on it.

Aww phooey. Got curious and just checked. Just when you think you have a good idea you find out it was thought of years ago.  That commercial was all ready made in 2012 for the Super Bowl. Following clip is not Cookie, my neighbor nor his car but this is exactly what happened.  Maybe having Cookie doing it on command would make it new again.

Hey, I am only 8 years late with my idea.

Stay safe and sane. I'm trying.