Ranting about stupid dog ownership

[teigyr]

This thread definitely took a turn.

I think anyone who takes the responsibility for a life (whether it be human or animal) has a responsibility to make the right choice when they decide to do it. I've seen pets (both cats and dogs) taken to the shelter due to convenience and lack thereof.

When you first adopt an animal, there is adjustment. NONE of our cats are perfect (though they'd probably like you to believe it) and all went through a lot of time before they learned the rules.

I really feel sorry for offleash/poorly trained dogs because no matter what the breed, it isn't their fault. There are some less than stellar people who seek out certain breeds just for the status factor. Yeah, I get scared when I am riding or running and there is an offleash dog but to be honest, the most nipping ones have been the smaller dogs. I've been known to yell at the owners, especially if the dog is circling me and looks menacing.

I guess I put a lot of thought into life decisions and a pet is one of those. We can't own a dog due to time constraints and as much as I'd love to, I realize it wouldn't be fair. I have little patience or tolerance for people who take these things lightly and if I could have them put down instead of the dog, I'd probably be good with that.

And Mimi's right re the nature of animals and size. We have a 25 lb cat who really IS a nice guy but if he takes a swipe at us (or jumps up on the bed using his claws), it is a lot more damaging than one of the 9 lb cats. It just is...it's not that he is bad but he has the capacity to hurt us even if he doesn't intend it. He also knows his size and I'm sure most animals do. Lesson learned...always cover your feet at night

[tulip]

A 25-lb cat?? Picture, please!

[Dogmama]

But if you look beyond the media hype and see what breeds are actually biting, Pits do not stand out.

When I was a kid, it was GSD's. "Oh, they're vicious, never approach a GSD." Now I'm hearing that they're so gentle they're not the best breed for police work.

Unfortunately, pit bulls and rottweilers are the dogs that inflict the most damage. It's difficult to find a reliable source citing which breed actually bites more. I suspect that we'd find they are mixed breeds. And, as we know, people often mistake one breed for another - like a border collie mix for a pit bull.

GSD's are being replaced by the Malinois because American GSD's have health problems. Many of the GSD's used by police are imported from the Czech border. The Malinois have not been tainted (yet) by irresponsible breeders. Unfortunately, many GSD's I see these days are difficult to handle because people won't take the time to train. This is a breed that needs guidance - early and often.

As an aside -- I don't know one cop who likes the Malinois. They call them "mayonnaise dogs" because they are hard to warm up to.

[MM_QFC!]

This thread definitely took a turn.

I think anyone who takes the responsibility for a life (whether it be human or animal) has a responsibility to make the right choice when they decide to do it. I've seen pets (both cats and dogs) taken to the shelter due to convenience and lack thereof.

When you first adopt an animal, there is adjustment. NONE of our cats are perfect (though they'd probably like you to believe it) and all went through a lot of time before they learned the rules.

I really feel sorry for offleash/poorly trained dogs because no matter what the breed, it isn't their fault. There are some less than stellar people who seek out certain breeds just for the status factor. Yeah, I get scared when I am riding or running and there is an offleash dog but to be honest, the most nipping ones have been the smaller dogs. I've been known to yell at the owners, especially if the dog is circling me and looks menacing.

I guess I put a lot of thought into life decisions and a pet is one of those. We can't own a dog due to time constraints and as much as I'd love to, I realize it wouldn't be fair. I have little patience or tolerance for people who take these things lightly and if I could have them put down instead of the dog, I'd probably be good with that.

And Mimi's right re the nature of animals and size. We have a 25 lb cat who really IS a nice guy but if he takes a swipe at us (or jumps up on the bed using his claws), it is a lot more damaging than one of the 9 lb cats. It just is...it's not that he is bad but he has the capacity to hurt us even if he doesn't intend it. He also knows his size and I'm sure most animals do. Lesson learned...always cover your feet at night

lol...I forgot about that 25lb kitty of yours, Teigyr!

Yes, like you, I was chiming in on the rant, in agreement against irresponsible pet owners...and not lecturing anyone here - sheesh, I've been an appreciative member of the TE forum for years and trust that most others here read my remarks as intended: speaking generically to those who let their dogs run loose...hmmm, maybe it's time I checked into that 'ignore' button for those types who state their enjoyment for annoying others...

[7rider]

I love bunnies.

[GLC1968]

A 25-lb cat?? Picture, please!

What she said!

[PamNY]

As an aside -- I don't know one cop who likes the Malinois. They call them "mayonnaise dogs" because they are hard to warm up to.

Interesting -- I saw an explosive-sniffing demo with a Malinois and the guy raved about his dog (but it was a public presentation, so of course he did). I do notice the police here still have GSDs, but had heard they are going out of favor as you said

I can't determine any preferred breed among the dogs that sniff for explosives. They are handled by private contractors, not police. There's such a variety of dogs, and I've wanted to ask the handlers, but usually have my dog with me when I see them, so I can't.

[teigyr]

It's difficult to show his size unless you realize that what he's standing on is about 2.5' long. He's a good boy but he knows his size (ie when he wants food in the morning he knows that sitting on my chest and staring at my face will usually get me up) and he's been known to accidentally hurt us

[Selkie]

Sorry for stirring up a poop storm. I have a very low tolerance for self-rightgeousness, and I felt compelled to 1) correct some facts and 2) add some balance. The statements seemed to be very much anti-dog and pro-cat. That was my perception, and I stand by what I wrote.

The cat that bit me did latch on to my hand, which is why it took my slamming her against a wall to get her to "release" -- maybe she was part shark? I still have a scar from that encounter and it happened more than 30 years ago. The cat, by the way, was petite. In this instance, size had nothing to do with it.

I agree that dog owners should both train their dogs and keep them under control. I also think that cat owners should show the same courtesy. Believe it or not, I've had more CATS run out in front of me when I'm out riding my bike (there is a strictly enforced leash law where I live---applies to dogs). Why is it ok for cats to roam free? By the way, that last sentence was tongue in cheek so please don't attack. I do appreciate them keeping the rodent population under control, so long as they don't use my garden as a bathroom.

[tulip]

I have lots of scars from where my (former) parrot bit me over the years. Ouch.

[Irulan]

Why is it ok for cats to roam free? By the way, that last sentence was tongue in cheek so please don't attack.

Why should that be tongue in cheek? Don't want to make the kitty owners mad? I detest the neighborhood cats that run free in my neighborhood. They are unlicensed, untagged, they go after the birds that nest in my yard, they use my garden beds as a toilet...

[PamNY]

I've always had mixed feelings about outside cats. As a cat owner, I let mine run free when I was very young, but got more conservative as I got older. I have often enjoyed visits from neighbor cats

I can see why people think cats need to go outside, but my indoor cats seemed quite happy. One of them ran out during a snowstorm, made a fast U-turn, and never went anywhere near the door after that.

[Cataboo]

Why should that be tongue in cheek? Don't want to make the kitty owners mad? I detest the neighborhood cats that run free in my neighborhood. They are unlicensed, untagged, they go after the birds that nest in my yard, they use my garden beds as a toilet...

I think part of the decline of american birds is the well fed house cats that can afford to hunt for sport, as opposed to just what they need to eat... So pit a human fed cat against birds that have to struggle for their own food (unless someone's feeding them close by as well.)

I'm not entirely sure why with the skyrocketing divorce rates wehre people trade in their spouses on a whim, you guys find it odd that people abandon theirpets. Husband/wives, kids, pets can all be disposable.

I think the lady in the original post who took the dog back to the human society did the right thing - if she wasn't prepared to take care of that dog or fully committed to it, then she should have brought him back as soon as possible. Ideally, she wouldn't have adopted him in the first place - but if you've never had a high energy dog before, you may not realize how much time and work they can be. I'd love to have a dog, but I'm fully aware that I don't have time for a dog and it would be neglected terribly - so I don't get one.

The rest of this thread - I'm not entirely sure why everyone's so touchy here lately, lots of threads seem to devolve down these routes.

[Biciclista]

the major part of the decline of bird species is habitat destruction.
blame humans. cats do not demolish forests and put in apartment complexes nor do they build sky scrapers that are so immense and reflective that birds fly into them by the thousands nor do cats build automobiles which move so fast that they kill millions of birds every year and the drivers don't even notice them.

and this is very seriously off the subject ridiculously so.

[GLC1968]

teigyr - wow, that is one HUGE cat! I'm glad to see that he's just big, too...not a fatso. I love that he knows that sitting on you is punishment enough to wake you up!

I was friends with a guy in college who intentionally over-fed his cat because he liked fat cats. His cat was about 25 lbs too...but super fat. It just pissed me off.

Of course, this same guy shelled out the dough for an Anatolian Shephard (at 165 lbs) and a Ford Expedition. Had to have the biggest of everything. Wonder what he was compensating for?