Local Yorkie Saves Crowd from Marauding Mountain Lions

Saturday nights in the Fall are celebrated with campfires by the lake in the sleepy town of Rockaway Beach, Missouri. The calm evenings meld with the crackle of logs to produce an environment of peace and camaraderie around the fire. Which is why last Saturday night was such a shocking experience.

A local Yorkie (who was obviously a "Guard Yorkie" incognito) was with his owner at the Rainbow Haven Resort campfire when his ears perked up, accompanied by a small growl deep in his throat. Friends and guests around the fire thought it was simply cute..... Until he started seriously barking out at the darkness. (By the way, according to our good friend and local wildlife expert, Wild Willie, Yorkies were invented in South West Missouri)

Mountain Lion Print found

near the fire pit.

When the crowd looked up from the Yorkie, they saw what appeared to be two sets of eyes peering in at them from the edge of the darkness, stalking closer and closer. No doubt these were a pair of Marauding Mountain Lions from the deep recesses of the Bull Creek area creeping into town to wreak havoc and mayhem among the innocent residents of the community. The laughter around the fire ceased as the pair of cats grew closer. This is when the Yorkie sprang into action, jumping back and forth and barking like Cujo!

Realizing the danger to the crowd, the Yorkie's owner (or shall we call him the "Handler") stood to his feet and gave the furious Yorkie plenty of leash to solve the problem and save the day. Secret Agent Joey (his code name) stormed into the street directly toward the pair with absolutely no fear or regard for his own safety. There was a brief moment of hesitation on the part of the Lions before pandemonium broke out. In that split second when they turned to run, it became obvious that they were nothing more than a pair of local feral cats out carousing and causing mischief. (or was it? We assume they were feral cats...…. It was dark...… and they were cats...….. hard to tell the exact size........) Anyway... Just as quickly as it started, it was over. As Agent Joey and his handler returned to the fire, it was very clear that the peace and serenity had returned once again.

Agent Joey investigating mysterious Mountain Lion paw prints

Joey's handler was heard to say that "Joey regularly protects me from danger but this is the first time that mountain lions were present." (or were they). "Anyway" He went on to say, "We get to patrol the city often and are only happy to provide such an important and valuable service to the community." Joey was quick to ask that his true identity not be revealed. The low profile helps him stay close to the action around town.

copyright: Willis Montgomery

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