What Happened, Charlotte?

When Max and I walked into the house yesterday he immediately noticed something different about Charlotte, "What Happened ?"he asked.   "To what?" I said.   "To Charlotte."   "Nothing happened to Charlotte," I said, "What do you mean?"  "Part of her ear is missing."   "WHAT!!"  Sure enough the tip of Charlotte's ear was gone.   Her perfect little symmetrical face, with two pointy ears, was perfect no more.    How could this happen?  She lives inside, we touch and play with her constantly -- when did this happen?


Charlotte on her way to the Medical Center

 I immediately called the Washington Animal League's Medical Center to make sure that a veterinarian could see her right away.  Max put Charlotte in the carrier and the three of us zoomed to the League.  I was sure that Merl ate part of Charlotte's ear.  Dr. Shillito said that it was possible that Merl bit Charlotte, but not so probable.  He said that these things happen -- maybe Merl hooked a nail on the tip of Charlotte's ear and it ripped off.  YUK!  Or maybe she caught it on some object and ripped it off.   EEEEK!  --  How can I Charlotte-proof everything, including Merl?  In any case, Dr. Shillito said that the ear tear was not life threatening.  In fact, he didn't even stitch it (there's nothing left to stitch), or  send us home with antibiotics.  He said that, although not perfectly pointy, her ear is fine; however, he said that she should lose weight.   Little Charlotte, he said, is FAT.