I have been so inundated with mice this winter, I thought it was a mouse tail at first, then a pet rat LOL Glad it was a dog. I used to try to catch mice live and set them free but they have been so bad this winter that I catch them in a humane trap and then have my son take it outside and let them free. The barn cats love it they think it is a dinner deliverd to them. I love animals and hate to see them dead but the mice are very distructive when they are as bad as I have had them. I do not know why I have them this year & have not had them before and have lots of outside cats and one indoor cat who have been busy catching them.