This newspaper photograph from the Tampa Tribune, July 24, 1995, was taken outside our former home.  Rodger is holding Black Cat, who of course didn't understand there had been a shooting - all she knew was that there was too much chaos and so Rodger gave her the comfort she wanted.
      This was not the first time our house had been burglarized - however, for the first time it was in the middle of the day and Rodger just happened to be on the other side of the property at the nursery.  After hearing glass breaking (which turned out to be our kitchen window), he drove over, got out of his truck and stood at the end of the driveway, noticing a small yellow car parked on the side of our house.   While on the phone with the 911 operator, he watched as one of the intruders, who apparently saw Rodger outside and began trying to break down the dead bolted front door.  After several tries, the burglar succeeded in kicking through the solid wood door and proceeded to run out.  Rodger saw something flashing in the sunlight and thought it was a handgun, so he shot with his .44 magnum, wounding the burglar in the thigh.  His teenage girlfriend came running out behind him, screaming, as he picked himself up and they made their way to  their car.  They were soon captured by Sheriff's deputies who, upon hearing of the shooting, were able to corner them.  They had stolen some jewelry of mine, primarily inexpensive watches such as my favorite Garfield watch and a "spider & web watch,"  which were never recovered.  The man was not badly injured as Rodger's gun was loaded with target ammo instead of the better ammunition he usually kept in there.  We had been target practicing not too long before and had not replaced the reloads.  The perpetrator went to jail for a few months, was ordered to pay restitution but quickly and happily (I'm sure) returned to his chosen career after getting out of jail.  Currently he is in State prison, serving a 48-month sentence for other crimes he committed afterwards, in the dedicated and relentless pursuit of his career goals.
     After the incident, Rodger was allowed back in the house by deputies (I was on my way home from work after the phone call from him), his main quest was to find Sweetheart, our elderly cat, and Pookie, who at that time were our strictly indoor cats.  He found Pookie cowering under our bed and then located Sweetheart under the bed in the spare bedroom, both shaken and traumatized.  To this day, at the sound of loud noises such as heavy boots walking in the house, Pookie will still scurry out of the living room in search of a hiding place.  We consider him also a victim of crime, just as we were, a crime committed by the dregs of society.  We're just thankful no one innocent was hurt.