The Androscoggin Beastie

As a blogger I feel compelled to mention the hot story that everyone is talking about here in Maine, where I am vacationing with the family. Some horrific creature was discovered dead in Androscoggin County, Maine earlier this week - one which fits the profile of a beast which has been reported to have killed dogs and haunted local residents:

Michelle O'Donnell of Turner spotted the animal near her yard about a week before it was killed. She called it a "hybrid mutant of something."

O'Donnell tells the Sun Journal of Lewiston, "It was evil, evil looking. And it had a horrible stench I will never forget," adding that, "We locked eyes for a few seconds and then it took off. I've lived in Maine my whole life and I've never seen anything like it."

All of the old salts at the local lunch counter (as well as tourists and summer people) are gabbing about this over clam rolls and ice cream. Needless to say this is exactly the type of local wierdness that has so inspired one of Maine's favorite sons, Steven King, over the years.

Of course, an expert is suggesting that it may only be an ugly dog, but the popular imagination has already been provoked.