At first, it was just noises. The sounds of paws in the soil on the other side of their fence as the scouts patrolled it. Like they were following with interest, but too wary of men and women with guns to do anything. This behavior earned them the nickname “dirt dogs,” which stuck, despite attributes of other animals in addition to canines. They only came out at dusk in the beginning. Once it was completely dark, they left, and they never showed themselves during the day. Ken increased patrols around their most active time and insisted that everyone be particularly alert.
As their numbers grew and the animals got more courageous, the town built up their defenses. Sharpened sticks were placed at forty-five-degree angles on the outside of the barriers. More barbed wire was added. Large rock
