OK maybe I am just a big baby but the GROSSEST thing happened to me yesterday. I got home from work and the first thing I always do is go out to see the girls-they are in the backyard. Well I look down next to the deck is a BIG lump of fur with a long black tail coming out the back of it. SOOOO I scream, bring the girls inside and call my husband who just laughs and tells me to find a neighbor to come check it out (he was at work still). I am thinking opossum b/c it is so big-probably about the size of a large mens shoe-without the tail. So I finally find someone to come over with a shovel and it is a HUGE RAT!!!!!! It was dead but no blood or anything so I am guessing the girls 'played with it' to death. I checked them all over for bites and called the vet. Has anyone else had this happen???? I don't live in the country but I do have a creek and woods behind my house. I am still shuttering at the thought of that thing being back there with my girls!