🤔 Come again?!

Yeah, you read it right.

I bought this tent for 20-some odd dollars. It folds up (sort of) and fits into a zippered carrying case, and becomes about the size of a record (a 33, for those old enough to know, or who are retro appreciative).

It’s purpose is actually two-fold, you’ll know why as you read on. In having a lizard, a raccoon, and a dog, I had to juggle when which of them could roam the house. Murph and his dog brother, Bandit, had a good relationship. They were together a lot. Despite the dog’s 40 lb. size, he was careful not to hurt his lizard brother.

I only had to watch he didn’t step on Murph after doing a poo because post-poo, Bandit would bounce around as if he were much lighter, downright airier, and I think he lost 2 IQ points every time he went! Not joking.

Wherein the problems lie were when twice I saw Bandit with the ‘kill look’ as he watched the angelic fuzzball of a coon playing. I jumped up and stopped him before he lunged onto her. So, now I had to keep a dog from Gypsy, the raccoon.

Problem 2: Now that Gypsy is no longer a bubbly sounding, sweet every second baby, she must be kept from Murph, for his safety. Gypsy now snarls at me often, and only me, when I enter her room, or walk by her… or breathe. Perhaps she wants ‘Queen of the House’ status, or is rebelling against her human Mama, as teens often do. But, sometimes she allows me to love her & kiss her nose. This is a joy in my life. She deserves a few Muddy Buddies when she graces me with the love she has in her heart.

Murph gets what he wants most of the time, but it is Gypsy’s turn for exercise and house roaming during the evenings and nights. Murph is content within his enclosure, beneath his lights at this time.

Bandit is no longer physically here, Lil’ Murph Has Lost A Brother, this alleviates some stress for Gypsy. In trying to make her feel more at home again in the living room and elsewhere, accommodations have been made.

When her den door is opened, a couple other doors are closed to keep her out of other rooms (she steals gum from my purse in the bedroom, snoops around in the small jewelry armoire’s doors & lower drawers, etc.). Isn’t that just like life? when some doors are opened, others become closed.

I had to install child locks on the treat drawer in the kitchen, as well as onto the cabinet doors beneath the sink. Oh, and on the “lazy susan” because she discovered that she could open it and use the two shelves as a ladder to get atop the counter. Smart booger.

I thought that tent could be a hide for her, to be more content in the living room. She needs to spend more time out of her room and out of her beloved bed. The girl needs exercise, she is gaining too much adorable weight!!

She has entered the tent a few times within a week + a half, but only to eat and wash her food, as raccoons do (it’s precious). I cover the tent with a thin blanket to make her feel more hidden. I placed a food and water dish inside, as well as an old robe to lay on. Maybe in time she will like it.

Murph, however, loves the tent!! He, as you can see, is perfectly at peace being inside of it. He is smart, way smarter than anyone could presume. I believe he understands it protects him. Those hawks and vultures worry him like no other animal. He has walked into the tent (as I’ve been leaving it open and on the floor) voluntarily. The first time was to check it out. The other times, is because I brought him indoors and he wanted back out. Don’t believe me? Murph walks to a potty pad on the dining room floor to poo. I place a pad down when he walks around. I have multiple photos of multiple potty proofs. I’ll share next time. The boy is a smart one!

I have always been frugal. Being that this tent is a reasonable price for the needs at hand, I thought, “Hey… this thing not only has an opening wide enough for Gypsy’s big o’ butt… I can also place Murph inside of it so that he can be outside with me as I toil in the yard! More natural sun exposure is what he needs, and I can conserve his bulbs. I won’t stress his safety as much as I currently do with the other end of his harness leash wrapped around my finger or placed under my foot!!”

Not only is Murph now a more difficult target for the “Birds of Prey” above, the tent’s netting will not allow lightning bugs inside, which are toxic/deadly to Bearded Dragons!! This thing is awesome for small animals to be outside safely with their human parents!!

So yeah, folks, I highly recommend a tent for your wee furry, scaly, or even feathered ones. Of course, if the weather is hot, supply water and partial shade for an option to cool down.

Enjoy a few more photos below.:

“Give me Lizardry or give me Death!” – Dawn Renée ♥️