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A small traditional “front yard” cache, set behind the property on public access. Easy P&G, but because of height, is not wheelchair accessible.
This cache is placed in loving memory of Bo, Uwe, Akila, Penny, Woodrow, Brandy Tippy and Suzie. My first geocache, this one honors our Canine friends & companions, and their nearest living relatives. The Wolf. The Gray Wolf, or Timber Wolf, is the largest and most widespread of the living wild Canines. Once thought to be the direct ancestor of the domestic Dog, recent genome analysis indicates that both the Gray Wolf and the proto-Dogs branched off from a now extinct species of European Wolf. For millennium, they lived beside the ancestral Humans and their next-of-kin Dogs in the making. Then Humans became “domesticated”, and the already tense relationship began to really go south. They were almost universally depicted in art and literature as an enemy to Humans and their livestock, including stalking & killing them, and were even anthropomorphized into images of wanton slaughterers, cradle robbers, liars, schemers, and even fairy-tale despoilers of young women. Thus, with the image of the “Big Bad Wolf” burned into the “civilized” psyche, they were hunted out of many of their former ranges, with the threat or “promise” of actual worldwide extinction not far off. But in recent times, we have taken another look, and found most of our assumptions and fears to be unfounded. Wolves actually play a vital role in maintaining healthy Animal populations, by weeding out the sick, injured, weak, old, or otherwise unfit or “inferior” members of their species, as well as keeping their population numbers and densities in check. As for stalking and killing Humans, actual attacks are extremely rare, and are mostly due to rabid ones. In most of the remaining instances, they are usually due to being provoked, or by the victim being already dead or dying of another cause, and then being scavenged. With our new knowledge came new appreciation, and efforts began to reverse the damage. Old habitats were put under protections, and Wolf pairs or even entire packs re-introduced to these areas. Through movies, television, documentaries, and books & articles, people began to see the Wolf in a new light. Much remains to be done, but we are now well on our way in the right direction. The future of the Wolf and our relationship with them is looking better than its ever been. The Dog. Our first animal companion, the Dog has been with us, in various stages of development, for somewhere around thirty three thousand years. As mentioned in the Wolf section, Dogs were once thought to be the direct descendants of the Gray wolf, but recent genome analysis indicates that both the Gray Wolf and the proto-Dogs branched off from a now extinct species of European Wolf. The Dingo on the other hand, is a wild dog descended from domestic Dogs that became feral thousands of years ago. In spite of this, some component of the Gray Wolf is present in some modern Dogs, as they and most of the other wild Canines, including Coyotes and Jackals, can interbreed and produce fertile offspring. As subtle as the differences may be between populations of Gray Wolves on different continents, no other animal is as diverse in form, size, or behavior as the Dog. Currently, the FCI recognizes over 350 breeds, and the AKC, over150, ranging in size from the Chihuahua to the Great Dane. Throughout history, Dogs have served as guards, herders, hunters, pest control, scouts, materials & disease detectors, guides, and even food. But it is as companions that Dogs have their most important roles Having or just being around them helps to lower blood pressure, relieve stress, and improve our general physical and mental well being. Loyal to a fault, they will even sacrifice themselves to protect us from harm. For these and many other reasons, Dogs have earned their most enduring sobriquet as “Man's Best Friend”. The inaugural contents include, along with the log & pen... A blank stainless steel GI type dog tag with USA made stainless steel ball chain, ready for stamping. A blank stainless steel paw print style pet tag with stainless steel split ring, ready for stamping or engraving. A carabiner type clip. A bison tube. Two bouncy balls. And... For the first-to-find, an FTF “trophy tag” on a real USA made stainless steel ball chain, designed and made especially for this cache. The cache is at public access, no need to cross fences or enter any property. Parking is usually available nearby. Traffic is scant, but watch for it, Scarcely any obvious muggles, but keep an eye out for window peepers. Wild critters unlikely, but watch out for the “usual suspects” at night, and for Dogs at any time. By the way you will be barked at by two real wolves in the back yard you are attempting to get the cache from. Thankfully they cannot jump as high as your hand will be. If you happen to drop the cache on the wrong side of the fence, where the wolves are, then toughki shitzki. It will be reset when I discover what happened.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
JNGPU BHG SBE GUR ERNY 2 JBYIRF. GURL ONEX WHFG SBE SHA.