Before you read any further, let me warn you that this blog is graphic and could be disturbing to some. There, I said it. Now, let me rewind and start at the beginning…
My mom let me outside as usual. It was that time of day when the sun is weak, but the moon isn’t quite glowing yet. My mom was walking around the yard enjoying the nice weather. I was supposed to do my business, but I immediately got the scent. Off I went running to track it down.
What happened next, I can only explain as pure instinct. Remember, my breed is over 3,000-years old. Shiba Inus have forever been bred for hunting small game like rabbits, squirrels, mice, and yes, birds. My mom has trained me to not attack bunnies. I alert her of their presence, and she commends me. We then move on.
Today, no such command worked. As I honed in on the scent, my mom’s voice disappeared. I heard nothing but the squawking of the baby birds. I saw only a bunch of bird eggs that recently hatched in a bag of dirt by my dad’s boat. From it, baby quail birds were jumping and running.
I don’t know how my mom does it, but she always knows when I’m up to no good. She came running over to 
where I was and immediately saw the baby quail. She attempted to escort me away from them, but it was too late. I had one in a death grip. She told me NO and to drop it, but I couldn’t. I was overtaken by the thrill of the conquest. I have only once bitten into a living being…a mouse back I my Colorado days. I heard that sucker under a foot of snow, about four feet away from the running path. I leapt into the air like a Ninja and pounced through the snow to capture it and quickly destroy it. My mom was devastated then, and she was mortified now.
Mom yelled for backup: my dad. It didn’t matter, I was on to the next bird, crushing the life out of it with my bare teeth. Mom was trying to capture me (cue the song “Who let the dog out?”) while dad picked up the baby quail one by one. They are fast critters; I will give them that. From our best estimations, they were just minutes old, and their eyes were still closed. Yet, they jumped and ran like crazy. However, they were no match for me. I am a Shiba Inu, after all!
I snatched another and another. I killed four baby quail in all before my folks could corral me into the house. I was pretty proud of myself until the sensation disappeared, and I saw my mom’s face. She was sad, and I never like to make or see her upset. Dad rescued four baby quail and made them a nice bed with a heat lamp to keep them warm. He ground up seed and provided water. The babies were scared and wondering where their mama was, and that’s when I realized they were alone.
We looked for the mama quail, but she was no where to be found. She either abandoned the eggs or was eaten herself. I can’t imagine that feeling as I have been cared for since I was itty bitty. Mom named the quail: Huey, Dewy, Lewy, and Chewy. I wondered if they would become a part of our family and if they would ever forgive me. I didn’t mean to, but I was taken over by ancient instincts.
The next morning, two additional birds were in the backyard, but they didn’t survive the night. We all missed them. They sure are good at hiding! The rescued birds weren’t eating or drinking, so my dad found a quail rescue that would nurture them to full development. Mom said goodbye, and the excitement ended. I now have the label of bird killer, which I wasn’t trying to earn. My mom has forgiven me, and I hope you can as well.
Hi! I am Kumaito (Kuma for short), a multi-tan Shiba Inu. My breed is one of the oldest and purest from Japan. I personally was born in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, moved to Friendswood, Texas, and now call Phoenix, Arizona home. I enjoy running or hiking almost every day with my mom, chasing rabbits out of my neighborhood, playing with toys, pestering my brother Edmond, eating, napping … well, I love just about everything and everyone!
My mom, Lorraine Bossé-Smith (Founder of the FIT Leader Formula™) is kind enough to help me share my Great Adventures, big and small. My mom is a motivational speaker, corporate trainer, business consultant, executive coach, behavioral-wellness expert, and author of eight published books. More importantly, she’s the best doggy mom ever!
Enjoy my blog at https://www.lorrainebosse-smith.com/category/kuma/ and be sure to follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kumathedog?ref=hl
Get outside! You never know what you’ll discover, and our paths just might cross. Happy tails!
