Field Follies

 

Tennis Anyone?

 

After inspecting the interior, I was ready to take exterior photos of the subject property. I went to the rear of the house and because this was a new development, there were no fences, trees or landscaping. I saw the darkest, biggest and meanest looking German Shepard about three lots away. My first thought was "I sure hope he doesn't see me.”  After I took the pictures I looked to see if the dog was still there. He was, and he was looking right at me! That's when he started to run towards me at what seemed like ninety miles per hour. My first reaction was to run, but I remembered reading somewhere that running is the worst thing you can do. He came to a skidding stop about a foot from my leg, opened his mouth and out dropped a tennis ball. When I quit shaking I picked up the ball and threw it back toward his yard and quickly walked back to my car.

 

Steve Tadevich

Madison, WI

 

Here Kitty, Kitty

 

The appraisal assignment was just west of Madison, Wisconsin. It was a big house on fifty acres with three trout ponds. The owner raised trout for high class restaurants in Chicago. As I walked to the front door I noticed a chain link fence about fourteen feet high and about 100' x 100' square. A fence of that size is nothing unusual because there are many people that have pet deer in that part of Wisconsin. The owner let me in and I started the appraisal. As I was walking down the hall on second floor, the biggest mountain lion I have ever seen came walking out of the middle bedroom. The lion was three feet high and six feet long. After looking at me for a second he walked to my side and stopped. I remember reading in USPAP that in these situations the best thing to do is not let the lion know you are afraid! So I reached over and petted his head and said "nice kitty.” The lion followed me through the house for the rest of the appraisal. When I went outside to take the photos, the lion wanted to go out with me and I didn't argue. After taking the photos I calmly walked to my car, got in, and drove off. I'll tell you, it’s a jungle out there. Three weeks later the owner of the house was arrested as the king-pin for a major drug ring. The trout ponds were only a front for his real business.

 

Steve Tadevich

Madison, WI