I found this spider in my dog's water dish already dead! I do not know how long it had been there but they definitely did not drink from it! I am worried that it is a brown recluse spider and I live in CA. I know they are not common but I am terrified of spiders! Please if you can help put a name to this spider for me!!
Unfortunately, I cannot provide a specific i.d for this one, as it appears to be upside down, but you don't need to worry about it as (1) It is not a brown recluse spider, and (2) it is dead. See http://tinyurl.com/gtgg for detailed information on the brown recluse, and http://tinyurl.com/cjcxds for information on common California spiders.
