Since we have a variety of experts on everything here, I am offering this post in hopes of getting some suggestions.

Ever since Marcie told a story about owls picking up little dogs, I have been a bit leery about letting my Papillon out at night on his own (he only weighs about 7 lbs). Lately, when I drive up my lane after dark, I have seen a rather large red fox. A guy who I let on the property for deer control during season told me that he saw this fox roaming over my pool deck, and walking under the porte cochere like he owned the place. The other night, Zeppo was let out, and I heard a bark that was not his. Then Zeppo went nuts barking in his own voice. I ran to the door with a flashlight, screaming to my dog to come in. The flashlight turned up a set of eyes close to the ground that I assumed was the fox. They were having a show-down of sorts. Zeppo thinks he weighs 80 pounds and is king of the earth, but finally he came back in the house. I never knew that a fox could bark, but my sister-in-law next door said they do, and that this fox has been on the property for several years, and they often hear him barking. Should I get him trapped and relocated? Or do foxes only go after dead animals, sort of like the turkey buzzards I have lately found gathering on my roof? It has really been weird here in the past few weeks. I am obviously not a protector of wild animals, (the deer and the Canada geese can eat anything in sight, and the geese feel that my driveway is their toilet) particularly if they are going to eat my Zeppo! Ideas anyone?