I took this photo this afternoon of our veteran escape-artist, Travis, looking through the new six-foot high (1.8 m) "no-climb" mesh fence we just finished having installed. (Click on photo for larger image.) We have tried everything to contain this boy, but he is so athletic and agile that he continued to outwit us at every turn. He's an incredible climber and jumper, and we finally realized that what we needed was a really tall fence — with matching 6-foot high gates — to keep him in.
So we fenced the full perimeter of the east yard of Widget's House with the new fence and also put a fence-line down the middle to give us two separate sections, just in case we needed the flexibility down the road (i.e., in case we get another climber/jumper in the future who doesn't get along with Travis, for example).
The new gates are also easy to adjust for height, so as the snow piles up, we'll be able to loosen a couple of bolts and simply raise the gates up. That should save a lot of time and effort digging out the gates all winter long.
The first time I put Travis in the newly fenced yard, he ran along the full perimeter of the fence, as if he were inspecting it to see if there was a gap or … well, some way to get out. There wasn't. We've also learned to keep dog houses, cots, and any other structures a good distance from the fence because he will use them as a springboard for a jump.
We think the Steve McQueen of the Rolling Dog Ranch won't be making any more great escapes for a while. But if Travis shows up in the yard with a motorcycle one morning, at least we'll know what he's planning.
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Don't forget, you can vote every day for us in The Animal Rescue Site/PetFinder's Shelter Challenge.
Enter
"Rolling Dog Ranch" and our state postal code, MT for Montana,
and it will bring up our listing so you can cast your vote. Invite your family and friends to vote, too!
Wow .. still No. 3, and that means a $3,000 grant if we can hold that spot! Please keep voting — thank you!
Rolling Dog Farm Blog 
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