D.O.P.-T.

The rain came back at about a quarter to midnight, light but blown by a stiff wind. The dog shot towards the housemate's bedroom, where she had just gone to bed; I leashed her and took her out, but she was scared and wanted back in, so we got her bedded down beside the housemate. However, less than ten minutes later, as I opened this, there was a commotion; the dog was standing up against the housemate's window, barking at something that had run along the side fence. I went out in the side yard to investigate, followed the panicked rustling, and found ...a clutch of juvenile raccoons scrunched up together on the top of the neighbors' side gate, under our loquat tree.

( Three and a half raccoon teenagers, after I went back for the camera, laughing. )

The dog had by then been shut out of the poor housemate's room. I took her out on leash again; the rain had paused and she went potty, but was very disappointed I wouldn't open the gate to the side yard.