07/18/08 Rat Patrol II

Not all ranch dogs have to be top-notch livestock herders to be useful. I'm Jeff Keane; today I'll finish the story of Charlie and Bell. Yesterday, I told you how Charlie and Bell had established themselves as rat disposal experts when a gang of rats invaded Mike and Pam's barn and vehicles. My brother found out just how much rat protection is worth when he had to pay six hundred dollars to repair rat damaged wiring in his pickup. With Charlie and Bell on guard Mike was not going to have to pay for rat damages, but sometimes the cure is as bad as the disease. When Charlie found the fifth rat on the motor of the truck, Mr. Rat headed underneath with Charlie in hot pursuit. Charlie was in such a frenzy he attacked anything that looked like any part of a rat's anatomy. First the vacuum line was torn away from the transfer case, then the electrical line to the four-wheel drive indicator was ripped out. Mike is adding up repairs and is trying to call Charlie off, but like I said Charlie only has one thing on his mind and that was a sneaky rat. Charlie persevered and quiet reigned again, but only until Bell went on rat point the next morning at the hay field tractor. Mike might not have had to go to town for tractor repairs if Charlie had not got into action, but when it comes to ferreting out rats Charlie is like a professional auto wrecking yard worker. Let's just say Charlie is thorough. Charlie and Bell' latest count is seven rats, one tractor and one pickup in ten days. So if you visit Mike and Pam know your vehicle will get a Charlie inspection and you better hope you didn't bring a rat with you. I'm Jeff Keane.