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Security Alert ... The Masked Bandits Gained Entry Through The Pet Door!

By
Real Estate Agent

Security Alert ... The Masked Bandits Gained Entry Through The Pet Door!

These days, there seems to be a new security alert daily. In today's world of identity theft, Facebook warnings and TSA advisories, I am compelled to add one more threat - Pet Doors. That's right. I never imagined the breach in my home security would be a Pet Door. I thought I was improving the quality of life for our beloved feline friend when I bought and installed this portal, and never thought I would later be saying the nine deadly words, "it seemed like a good idea at the time."

Dear Readers, please excuse the poor quality of this video, but this was never planned. This was a "grab a camera and just start shooting moment," to capture the intruders on video should it be necessary for identification purposes in the future.

 

Well, apparently these nightly raids had been going on for some time, and we were largely unaware. We did notice, however, the cat's food dish was always empty in the morning and there was dirt at the bottom of the water dish. That's right, they were washing their "hands" in the water dish before eating!

If you would like to know why I chose Seacoast New Hampshire to make my home, click here to email me, and I can make a real convincing argument for you to choose it too! Or, if you would like to do your own home search, sign up NOW for our exclusive Home Scout Program.

 

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         John McCarthy

         Your Seacoast NH Realtor

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         1150 Sagamore Ave

         Portsmouth, NH 03801

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Comments (19)

Donna Yates
BHGRE - Metro Brokers - Blue Ridge, GA
Blue Ridge Mountains

Oh my gosh!  He's cute but only outdoors where he belongs.  It's funny how he starts to leave and then, hmmm on second thought... he turns around and looks at you again but decided to go on out.  How you were able to stay so calm filming this is admirable.  I've shyed away from pet doors for this very reason and if they are too big, the two legged kind of intruder could come in too.  Great video.

Feb 04, 2011 11:00 PM
Wallace S. Gibson, CPM
Gibson Management Group, Ltd. - Charlottesville, VA
LandlordWhisperer

My hounds love their doggie door in our storm door.  It goes to the deck and into their dog yard.  I can close the door and keep other "critters" out!

Feb 04, 2011 11:14 PM
John McCarthy
North Hampton, NH
Realtor - Seacoast NH

Donna - Thanks for viewing this one. During the late evening my Chris heard the click on ther magnetic closure on the door, but the cat was within sight. Approaching the kitchen and seeing the little guy, she grabbed the camera and started shooting. I did find a way to modify the door so the larger raccoons could not fit and still allow the cat to use it.

Feb 04, 2011 11:18 PM
John McCarthy
North Hampton, NH
Realtor - Seacoast NH

Wallace - Pet doors are great for the pet as long as you know who is really using them!

Feb 04, 2011 11:21 PM
Kevin J. May
Florida Supreme Realty - Hobe Sound, FL
Serving the Treasure & Paradise Coasts of Florida

John, that could interesting stumbling into that family when you're getting the midnight snack.  Even one irate customer could really do some damage.  Very smart of them to conceal their identity! 

Feb 04, 2011 11:42 PM
Richard Strahm
American Foursquare Realty - Lansdale, PA
Lansdale and North Penn Real Estate

I'm all for the doggie doors that only open when a magnetic transceiver on the dog's collar is sensed.  I don't think I want other critters in my home!

Feb 05, 2011 12:10 AM
John McCarthy
North Hampton, NH
Realtor - Seacoast NH

Kevin - Good point. Not sure why my wife wasn't afraid, but I'm glad she was able to take this video.

Feb 05, 2011 12:25 AM
John McCarthy
North Hampton, NH
Realtor - Seacoast NH

Richard - The magnetic transceivers are a little too high tech for me. Its all about beating them at their own game.

Feb 05, 2011 12:27 AM
Anonymous
Chris McCarthy

What a night! I was up late writing.  The click of the pet door closing caught my attention because Jasmine, the Guard Cat, was sleeping soundly under my desk.

Imagine my surprise - not one but two juvenile raccoons were washing their paws in Jasmine's water dish and helping themselves to her leftovers. Judging by the way they had to squeeze themselves through the pet door,  this had been a nightly event for them for quite some time.

I thought it was cute; John did not. He re-engineered the door so only petite Jasmine could fit. Two nights later, the Lone Ranger and Zorro were sitting on John's gas grill trying to figure out how to open it.

We were lucky. They just came and went without damaging anything and left us with some amusing footage. All while our guard cat Jasmine slept.

Feb 05, 2011 12:44 AM
#9
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

A can't believe this...Chris is my hero!  So calm, like she is talking to a baby.  I would have freaked right out.  LOL!!  Way to go Chris!

Feb 05, 2011 01:00 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Outstanding detective work. Thanks for the story and video. You have very assertive furry neighbors.

Re-blogging is evidently disabled. I posted this on my Facebook real estate page.

 The colors of winter in Maryland. Life is good!

Feb 05, 2011 02:20 AM
John McCarthy
North Hampton, NH
Realtor - Seacoast NH

Sharon - Chris was a real trooper in this one. She stayed calm and spoke without getting excited and I think that's why the raccoon remained calm. Animals make great video!

Feb 05, 2011 02:48 AM
John McCarthy
North Hampton, NH
Realtor - Seacoast NH

Roy - We do have quite an assortment of both furry and feathery neighbors! We have taken a great many still photos of them over the years. I think AR is working on the re-blog function right now. Sure hope your Facebook visitors enjoy the video!

Feb 05, 2011 02:53 AM
Dawn A Fabiszak
Private Label Realty ( Denver metro area, Colorado - Aurora, CO
The Dawn of a New Real Estate Experience!

John ~ that was so cute!  I think Chris did an outstanding job filming.  Those little guys were so cute.  But I, too, would prefer them to be outside.

Feb 05, 2011 03:00 AM
John McCarthy
North Hampton, NH
Realtor - Seacoast NH

Dawn - She DID do a great job with the camera! They are definitely better outside, but that is not always something we can control. We have had grey and red squirrels make their way into the house too. I think I have some footage of a red squirrel in the kitchen helping himself to the birdseed. Maybe I can find it! Enjoy the weekend.

Feb 05, 2011 08:08 AM
Rebecca Gaujot, Realtor®
Lewisburg, WV
Lewisburg WV, the go to agent for all real estate

John, that is one reason we do not have a doggie door.  One reason Zeke, our chocolate lab, keeps growing.  Enjoyed the video and also admired Chris for not screaming "Get Out".

Feb 06, 2011 04:00 AM
John McCarthy
North Hampton, NH
Realtor - Seacoast NH

Rebecca - Thanks for dropping by. The doggie doors I have seen really could be a security threat - especially one big enough for a chocolate lab! I'm glad you enjoyed the video.

Feb 06, 2011 04:59 AM
Toni Weidman
Sailwinds Realty - Trinity, FL
20+ Years Selling Homes in New Port Richey, FL

John - I can't believe I missed this one. Now, if it had been midnight, do you think they would have turned into a carriage and horse?

Aug 01, 2011 02:14 AM
John McCarthy
North Hampton, NH
Realtor - Seacoast NH

Hi Toni - The photo I posted was taken out of this video. With some of the photos I post, you might think we live in the deep woods, but the Post Office, our bank, two shopping malls and Dunkin Donuts are only a quarter of a mile away! Chris managed to get the last one out the door before midnight so I don't know if they would have transformed. :-)

Aug 01, 2011 10:15 AM