Intruders

I think you will find this story quite interesting. It happenened just yesterday evening. I was standing out in the driveway or at least what I call a driveway. It is actually a gravel road that leads from the entrance gate of The Chicken Ranch into the farm area. Me and a friend by the name of Alex were discussing the completion of the "Beyond Help" CD and DVD of the recording sessions. All of a sudden I look out towards my field to see a teenage boy and his dog barrelling through the weeds. "What the" I said as I dropped the conversation and took off running after him. I yelled "Hey"! extremely loud and he just kept on truckin'.

Now, he was a good hundred yards ahead of me, but keep in mind I run 4 miles, 5 days a week. And occasionally I will sprint the last two miles at top speed on hot days just to test myself. Needless to say I was gaining on him as we passed the barn area. By the time we got out to the woodshed and stockade (A rooster correctional facility) he was losing wind and stopped. He made it to a nearby log table and sat.

"What are you doing?" I asked,almost as windless as him. "I'm trying to make it home before my curfew," he replied. Back and forth I would ask questions and he would answer as we slowly regained normal breathing.

"Well, I am not so concerned about you cutting through here as I am the dog being in here," I finally told him

The young man had a pitbull and was using an electrical cord (like a lamp cord) as a leash. "Is that a lamp cord?" I asked. He shook his head.

"Allright well look ,I am not too upset with you cutting through here, but I don't want the dog in here, I have lost quite a few chickens to dogs," I told him.

Then I asked "How did you get in here?" He replied "There is a hole in the fence" as he pointed to the east corner of the ranch. "And how are you getting back out." He pointed to the west corner. "Ah! so you are what has been bending my fence." The kid stood there a minute then goes "I've seen you somewhere before." I kinda smiled and wondered if he was going to make the connection. "I thought a deer had been bending my fencem" I said. He looked a little puzzled and seemed to be being quite honest with me. "OK, well go on so you make your curfew," He looked at me again, "I know I've seen you somewhere".

The kid and the dog went toward the west corner and I went back up to the gravel road where Alex was still standing. "Wow, that was like something out of a movie" he said. "Yeah, I can move pretty fast when I want too".

Anyhow, I thought that was a pretty cool story. I have tried to secure the place pretty well . I have been totally surrounded with homes and industry. I lost seven chickens a while back to two Jack Russell Terriers and here lately another neighbor who lives behind my barn area said that some kids had been throwing rocks at the goats. What?! I could not believe it..well maybe I can. So you become a little more cautious to intruders. I even came home one day to find two small children had slipped through the gate rails and were inspecting an aquarium holding a snapping turtle...NOT GOOD , they did not appear old enough to be educated on the damage a snapping turtle can inflict. So a lot of time and expense is put into maintaining the fence around here, to keep livestock in and people and predators out!

Anyhow, the kid was telling me the truth. I found the hole in the fence on the east corner.I also noticed that a gate was left open in the neighbor's yard next to my fence, so I am assuming they came through there.

But leaving her gate open was not a good idea, as she owns a dog also that may have escaped. I was going to offer to buy her a padlock so as to prevent it from happening again. A few days later I saw that she had beat me to it and installed her own padlock.

After a little bit of thought I went ahead and called Roanoke County dispatch and asked that they send an officer out. I had been around the farm all evening with a pair of cargo pants on and no shirt. So I went inside and told Janet, "The police are on the way, so I am going to put om a shirt so I don't look like one of those guys off 'Cops'". Janet replied with "You don't want to look like one of those guys off of'Cops' so you're putting on a 'Kiss ' tank top?! "Oh yeah," I said...Oh well.

The officer was very nice and he said it was a good idea I called just in case they kept coming through, we already had some info.

I got to thinking later that it would be pretty funny if the kid cranks on the TV later that night and there is the guy who just chased him across the field!

Take Care and Leave Me Alone!

Dr. Charles E. Cullen