Day Of The Jackal

it is 10:00 a.m. in the holy city of safed.  i took the dogs out at 7:00 a.m.  yesterday afternoon, i took them to the end of the road where there are no humans around and lo and behold, i saw a large animal that resembled a dog.  i always say a silent prayer that i should not run into viscous dogs.  lately, i have been praying that i should not run into any viscous animals.  i stared at the animal who was larger than my medium sized dog and it kind of hopped and ran away. i knew that this animal was too large to be a fox but it did have a fluffy tail and pointy ears.  it was beige and it was quite beautiful.

 i called my friend who sees jackals in the valley all the time.  she said that they run away from people and other dogs.  she told me to say a blessing upon seeing one.  apparently, there is a certain mystical and spiritual thing about these animals but i didn't find any jewish blessing to say.  i actually, didn't know that there were jackals in safed.  i certainly, never thought i'd see one in the neighborhood.

i saw a neighbor hanging laundry outside on her veranda and i told her that i has just seen an unusual animal near her house.  she knew immediately, what i was talking about.  it apparently, had been there for awhile.  i walk that path almost every day and have never seen it before. she told me in Hebrew what is was.  she didn't seem the least bit concerned.   i looked up the word on the computer and found out that it was indeed, a jackal.  i felt truly nervous.  i saw an old add by the local health administration in safed from 2018; searching for a rabid jackal.

i read all about them online.  this animal did seem docile.  there was a cat lying higher up on a rock and the jackal didn't do a thing.  he was lying down in the grass and seemed at ease with the world.  i read up about rabies in Israel ;especially in the region where i live.  there have been no cases of rabid dogs in safed.  the few cases of rabies in the north have all been by people bitten by jackals.  the animal wasn't foaming at the mouth like steven king's cujo, but none the less, i didn't sleep so well last night. i was thinking of letting the dogs roam free; in lieu of the virus and restrictions to stay in.

my male dog never got a rabies shot.  i did try a few times.  he got his first couple of puppy shots and then i waited awhile.  he threw up after his first visit to the vet.  when i went back to inquire about the rabies shot i was told that he had to be neutered, first.  according to jewish law, this is forbidden.  it is also expensive.  i called a private vet to the home but she said that i needed a form from the city. she didn't know where to get the form, either.  apparently, no one else did.  i asked all my pet loving friends and they didn't know. 

the city was giving rabies shots for 60 shekels down in the industrial zone. no one knew exactly where, either.  my dog was a lot larger now and most taxi drivers refused to allow dogs in their cabs. i called the official vet of the city and explained my dilemma.  he said i could bring him to the clinic, not far from my house.  i recently went back to the clinic to get the new puppy inoculated against rabies and she had to be registered and micro chipped.  it cost about 70 shekels for the registration, alone.  i asked if i could get the older male dog registered and they told me it was 760 shekels, according to a new law.  he was now 5 years old. 

last night i walked them in our usual way, towards the bus stop, about the length of 2 1/2 city blocks. we are not supposed to wander more than 100 meters from our homes.  it was 8:00 p.m.  i saw a police car speed by and then i saw a police van cruising near the synagogue.  they were checking to see if anyone was there.  according to the law, they must be locked. i saw the cops and i took off in a slow run.  i was so scared that they might give me a fine. who has any money now to pay for one?

i was talking  to my neighbor.  he has seen jackals running down this street looking for food.  where have i been all along?   my other neighbor also has seen this one, in particular.  he warned me about the dogs.  i am definitely, not having fun right now.

update:  it is now 1:30 p.m. in the holy city of safed.  i have been a busy lady.  i called the safed health department to report a jackal.  they referred me to another organization in the upper galilee.  i called the animal clinic here and they gave me the phone number for that group.  they took all of the information down.  they asked if the jackal was healthy.  i told them that i am not a doctor but yes, it did seem well.  then they referred me to another organization that i guess, deals with healthy animals.  they have not answered.  the only other choice is to call a local worker who rounds up sick cats and dogs.  how can he catch a jackal is beyond my imagination.  the only trick is that you have to call him the exact moment that you see the jackal.

aftermath:  finally reached someone and she took down my information.  what they do is beyond my comprehension. actually, she didn't explain anything about whom they are.  in the meanwhile; the Sephardi family wants to go back home.  it's too cold downstairs.  the father is tired of being left alone.  i couldn't amuse him for fear of catching the 'rona'.  i felt bad at first.  i thought i failed as the hostess with the mostest. everyone should be comfortable in their own space.  by now their house is probably, mold free and clean for pesach.  if i had been given advanced notice; i might have been able to go out and buy more heaters.  it is what it is.