This is Sad

[SadieKate]

My black dutch rabbit was leash trained and lay on the dog shelf in the camper with the standard poodle and the black lab. Border inspectors were always blown away by these 3 calmly all snuggled up together.

[Lise]

My black dutch rabbit was leash trained and lay on the dog shelf in the camper with the standard poodle and the black lab. Border inspectors were always blown away by these 3 calmly all snuggled up together.

What a great image, SK! L.

[onimity]

I get really sad too when I see animals of any sort hit on the roadside; I've really been amazed at the numbers since I started cycling. The other day I saw a coyote that had recently been hit on the center line of the road. His head and mouth were positioned so that it looked like it was howling and the image sticks with me; I think that they are such beautiful animals and their habitat is increasingly taken over by highways and tract housing around here, very sad. So many beautiful birds killed by cars too, I see several new ones on my commute every day.

I agree that we are too often in a hurry and cycling has really changed my perception of that. I haven't driven since March and I don't miss it a bit.

I have a leash trained cat; she likes to go out in the yard on a leash attached to a stake (you have to watch them though, and keep them out of range of anything climbable!) She likes walks less because she always wants to climb a tree, but if you go for a picnic and give her 10 feet to roam around you she is in heaven. My other cat hates anything new. He got out once without me realizing it and I shut the door. Minutes later there was this awful howling outside and he was desperately howling at the window. He does play piano though...

Anne

[onimity]

My black dutch rabbit was leash trained and lay on the dog shelf in the camper with the standard poodle and the black lab. Border inspectors were always blown away by these 3 calmly all snuggled up together.

Very cute.

There is an act on our local pedestrian mall that involves a dog, a cat that sits on the dog's back, and a mouse that sits on the cat's back. I haven't seen it personally but my sister did recently. She talked to the guy and he said that it was relatively easy to train the dog and the cat...but he goes through a lot of mice!

[DDH]

Not only do some cat owners let their cats run wild, but dog owners do it too. In fact, in my area, I see many more dogs on the side of the road than I do cats. Plus the fact that I live in the country and out here is where everyone thinks it's okay to come and dump their unwanted pets.
I have a stray cat at my house now that someone dumped out there. She is sweet and wants to come in, but I have two dogs that have not been raised around cats and will eat her if I let her in, so out she stays.

[Python]

Over here in the UK you have to keep dogs under control - they're not allowed to run wild. Cats on the other hand are still classed as wild animals. If you run over a dog you have to report it to the police - not so with a cat.

I'm hoping my two Bengal kittens will take to the harness and leash as we have a huge woodland to the rear of our house - out through the back gate and we're right in the middle of it. It's a beautiful area with many protected species of plant - some of which only grow here and nowhere else in the UK.

There are some fields in the middle of this woodland and a stream with a small wooden bridge going across. That should please the Bengals as I believe they like water!!!

They're not going to be happy with me tomorrow - they're off to the vet for their vaccinations. I've no doubt they'll let me know what a horrible human I am - in very vocal terms. Harley especially LOVES to talk to you

Onimity - that's a great video of your cat. Very talented. Should be on the X-Factor

Just a shame one idiot's posted a rude comment.

[SadieKate]

Over here in the UK you have to keep dogs under control - they're not allowed to run wild. Cats on the other hand are still classed as wild animals. If you run over a dog you have to report it to the police - not so with a cat.

There are leash laws here also. But there is a difference between "have to" as required by law and what the owners actually do.

[Dianyla]

Cats on the other hand are still classed as wild animals.

Oh, isn't that the truth!

[Python]

We have quite strict laws here regarding loose dogs. We have a piece of legislation that was brought in a few years ago - The Dangerous Dogs Act. In it, certain breeds of dog have to be muzzled and owning Pit Bull Terriers is illegal. It still doesn't stop people doing it though and this year several Pit Bulls have been seized and destroyed.

The vast majority of people keep their dogs under control. Very few roam wild now. Any that do are usually dogs who have managed to escape from their homes and are usually found fairly quickly. We had an incident like that two weeks ago. My son was putting out the rubbish for collection when he came running back in to tell me there was a white dog that was limping badly (this was 1130pm). I went out to have a look and sure enough, there was a Retriever. Obviously someone's dog. Poor thing looked totally disorientated and was having great difficulty in walking - his left leg seemed to be damaged in some way. It was dark so we decided to ring the RSPCA (we didn't recognise the dog) and stay with the poor chap who was shaking like a leaf but appeared to be well cared for and very friendly. He did have a collar on but no name tag. Eventually he stood up and decided to follow us into our house. We kept him in the hallway - and what a lovely dog he was too. The RSPCA inspector came after about an hour and she agreed that she thought he was someone's dog who'd escaped and got lost. We were just about to put him in the van when a young man came running up claiming the dog (who by now was tail wagging furiously). Turned out that the dog suffers quite badly from hip displasia (sp) and as it had been a warm evening the people had left the kitchen door open so the dog could go sit in the back garden. Their garden slopes quite steeply and because of the dog's disability (and they thought the front gate was closed) they didn't think he would climb the fairly steep part out of their back garden. They thought the dog was still in the garden!

The reason I didn't recognise the dog was that they had only just bought the house and had only lived in our street for a little over a week. Definitely a new way to meet your new neighbours As it turned out, had the RSPCA taken the dog he was microchipped so he would have been reunited with his owners fairly quickly. Alls well that ended well - and we've made some new friends - especially the four-legged one

[oxysback]

We have quite strict laws here regarding loose dogs. We have a piece of legislation that was brought in a few years ago - The Dangerous Dogs Act. In it, certain breeds of dog have to be muzzled and owning Pit Bull Terriers is illegal. It still doesn't stop people doing it though and this year several Pit Bulls have been seized and destroyed.

I'll try not to get on my soapbox too much about breed specific legislation. Pugs are even on the list of banned breeds in one city!! PUGS!!

It's not the poor dogs fault that some owners are idiots! Here's a good site that illustrates my point...

http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/findpit.html

Props to anyone who identifies the Pit on the first try!!

[Jolt]

Not only do some cat owners let their cats run wild, but dog owners do it too. In fact, in my area, I see many more dogs on the side of the road than I do cats.

Good point. I once saw two little dogs (a pug and a chihuahua) running loose in the street while riding home from the grocery store. I managed to chase them into the nearest yard and then started ringing doorbells trying to find the owner--nobody was home, so I asked a lady who was in her front yard a little further down the street. She knew whose dogs they were but said the people let them run around like that all the time and didn't really care. UGH!!! With that kind of attitude, why even have pets in the first place?

[Jolt]

I'll try not to get on my soapbox too much about breed banning legislation. Pugs are even on the list of banned breeds in one city!! PUGS!!

Holy cow!! Pugs have to be about the most non-intimidating breed that exists! There must be a story behind this one...

[oxysback]

Holy cow!! Pugs have to be about the most non-intimidating breed that exists! There must be a story behind this one...

I don't know what the story is...or even what city! Here's a link to the list. I was surprised at some of the breeds on there...

http://www.povn.com/rdows/banned%20breeds.html

[Tuckervill]

Good point. I once saw two little dogs (a pug and a chihuahua) running loose in the street while riding home from the grocery store. I managed to chase them into the nearest yard and then started ringing doorbells trying to find the owner--nobody was home, so I asked a lady who was in her front yard a little further down the street. She knew whose dogs they were but said the people let them run around like that all the time and didn't really care. UGH!!! With that kind of attitude, why even have pets in the first place?

The only rational thing to do is call animal control to come and pick the dogs up. If the owners are that callous about their dogs, they can pay the fines. In my town, third time's a charm--you have to surrender your dogs.

Karen

[abvnx]

I don't know what the story is...or even what city! Here's a link to the list. I was surprised at some of the breeds on there...

http://www.povn.com/rdows/banned%20breeds.html

good god! 75 breeds great pyrenees are on the list. the lovely, fluffy white boy you see in my avatar is a great pyrenees. this is not the first ive heard of pyrs being banned. but pugs and boston terriers?

ive met pits that were total sweethearts. all they wanted to do was snuggle.

ill never understand the thinking behind bsl



also, ive had a few dog bites, but not by any of the breeds on that list.