There was a time, long ago, when Halloween was more about the tricks than the treats. In the early 19th century, Americans would pull pranks and bring on the mischief in honor of Halloween. The shenanigans evolved over time—from letting farm animals out of barns to soaping windows to egging houses.
It appears Harvard has its own Halloween prankster spreading a little bit of mischief in his/her path along East Bare Hill Road. It’s common to see signs for missing dogs and cats posted to trees along Harvard’s byways. Frantic owners eager to find their lost pets take to the streets to post notices and engage the help of neighbors in their search. But in this case, it’s not the pet Labrador or cocker spaniel that’s on the loose. It’s a case of someone with either a wicked sense of humor or a lot of time on their hands.
The missing pets in question are a dog tick, a goldfish, and a garter snake. Their signs are posted along East Bare Hill Road, complete with photos of the missing. The signs even appear to be laminated. According to the postings, the sweet and cuddly dog tick named Miss Piggy was last seen on a family picnic at Fruitlands in October 2021 (not a misprint). She loves to watch “Star Wars” and responds to classic tick mating calls. The goldfish, a big fan of the band Phish, was last seen leaping away during a walk near Fruitlands in the year 2020 and will not respond to her name (Georgina); make fish noises instead to get her attention. And be sure not to chase her—she’s vicious. The garter snake (photo supplied is that of a cobra ready to strike) loves to wander and bite. Mr. Cuddie Pants, as it’s called, is a mere 20 feet long and was last seen in 1934. The signs are descriptive and tongue-in-cheek, and if they don’t get a laugh from the many passersby on the road, they’ll at least get a double take.
Halloween is done and gone for this year, but hints of it remain—the candy bars no one likes and these prank signs. As of now, these postings have not turned up on Nextdoor, but a thread might be brewing. Until then, check your pant legs for Miss Piggy.
Not-your-average missing pet signs. (Courtesy photos)
