Dogs

[CorsairMac]

ROFLMAO....Thanks for the little bit of humour in the middle of my day!

[spazzdog]

I know, I know... this is the dog thread. But we've discussed almost every critter that moves so I thought I'd share this here.

It's true... it happened to me today.

WE have an "outside kitty" named Merlin. He was left behind by his family 2 yrs ago when they moved and my partner took him in. He lives on our enclosed front porch... comes in for meals twice a day... comes in to sleep in the kitty igloo I put out there.

Today when my pet service dropped my dog off from playgroup, she came to the door and sadly told me that there was a dead kitty down the block that she thought was Merlin. I told my roomie, and got my gloves and a big hefty bag and started the walk down the street... my dog walker came too because she really loves Merlin.

I got there and yes it was him... same beautiful coat, big emerald green eyes... I picked him up to examine him and make sure he was gone. No doubt. We wrapped him in the bag and I took him home.

I decided to bury him out in the front side yard under his favorite tree. I started digging. I ran into a HUGE rock that took 2 hours to dig out. I rigged a harness and lifted said rock (at least 90-100 lbs) out of the hole. I put Merlin wrapped in his plastic into a box and buried him, rolling the big rock back onto the top of his resting place.

We called all our friends... everyone loved Merlin. Everyone cried.

At about 6 pm my partners brother (he lives with us) had to go out on a detail and he opened the front door. He hollered "Whoa!! Gena come here!" I went to the door and he points and says "look who just walked in." I look and it's Merlin... talking up a storm and asking for dinner.

I am totally confused! I just spent 3 hrs total burying Merlin.

Apparently not. Merlin is happily snoozing out on our porch as I type this. I apparently have buried someone elses dead cat.

I have cried then laughed and now am stuck in confusion. Who's cat did I bury???

[syklnsoph]

i think i would be proud that at least you gave the kitty a decent burial. wait for a couple of days to see if lost posters come up....check the lost & found ads, maybe even post one yourself, of course not illuding to the burial.....you did your best. more than some would do. and Bernie, my black-eyed, polydactyl appurrrrroved of it too. Archie has to nap on it tho...
soph

[spazzdog]

Yes, we will be watching for signs... what a day.

We now have the Tomb of the Unknown Kitty in our side yard.

My neighbor (quite the gardner) is gonna plant some nice flowers around it for me.

[slinkedog]

Well, I'm sorry for the unknown kitty, but I'm so happy for you that Merlin is alive and well. He sure sounds beautiful!!!

[Maine-iac]

Bless all the unknown kitties..

[spazzdog]

My partner tells me there's a whole bunch of feral cats in the area... apparently up the road a piece there are a few feeding stations for them (like in Key West). Who knew!

The unknown kitty was probably Merlins doppelganger... or a distant relative. Better he be buried here than "disposed off" by animal control.

Merlin is now wearing a very bright red collar... for as long as he'll keep it on. So far, so good. He hates collars, but I think I may have appealed to his sense of style. He looks so handsom in red.

[Scotslad]

Good thread to keep reviving. I'm new to these encounters and in my last 5 or 6 rides have encounter some of the situations describe already. The worse was yesterday when about 5-6 dogs all came onto the road from a house and got in front of us to slow us down... fortunately I was with someone who had some experience with these dogs although he said that last time they were friendly... but this time around they seem more aggressive. In this one ride of 50 miles we encounter dogs about 4 separate occasions.... so now I'm looking for solutions as I want to enjoy riding and can't keep avoiding every street I think there might be a dog.

I see the various types of sprays and Spazzdog’s suggestion (with link) looked good, anybody have some success stories with it. I also read of using snap poppers...

"I carry "Snap Poppers" they are paper twists that one throws on the ground to make a popping noise like a cap pistol. They have always worked for us. We buy them around the Fourth of July when fireworks are sold."

I also read of some sort of sonic gun, which sounds promising to me as it’s not going to seriously hurt you or the dog but does the trick of stopping them? Any body using something like this?

[Dogmama]

If you mean stun gun - I would not recommend it. You need to get too close to the dog.

Dogs have a chase instinct. Aggressive dogs are chasing in an aroused state. Anything that causes pain (e.g., pepper spray) CAN make things worse because their first instinct is to fight back.

The second best thing is a VERY loud and authoritative NO!!! yelled in a low voice. If I see that the dog is fixated on my feet - and it's a herding variety of dog (e.g., border collie) I'll stop pedaling because they are likely wanting to nip at my feet (think of cattle.)

The first best thing is to sprint like the crazy, if you think you can outrun the dog.

If the dogs get in front of your bike, you're going to have to dismount. Put your bike between you & the dog(s) and continue to yell "NO" and hope that somebody shows up to corral their little darlings. Just stopping will often take the fun out of it.

Shorter nosed breeds can't run far in the heat. Big dogs can sprint like crazy. Watch their tails - if the tail is up - it's a game. If the tail, ears & head are down they're open for business.

[Scotslad]

Thanks for the reply dogma, and you added some more usefill tips which I didn't think of, like the tail being up. I have also heard that if a dog is barking is usually a call for "hey look over here" or they want help... while if they growl then they are prepared to attack.

With the sonic I mean more of a sound device that sends a high pitch sound that would keep the dogs at a safe distance e.g. found this link today

http://www.kiienterprises.com/dazer/

This, if it worked, would be safer than sprays that can backfire and doesn't harm the dog.