Feeling upset & disappointed...

Re: Feeling upset & disappointed...

Kim Buckley — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:29:41 GMT

My nearly 13 year old collie x springer decided to chase a rabbit this morning. I think it had myxi because it ran further out into the middle of the field. She caught it and then just sniffed it and let it run off. It's all about the thrill of the chase for her! lol Just glad my terrier hadn't cottoned on because she would have had it!

Re: Feeling upset & disappointed...

A Little TLC — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 09:46:46 GMT

As you know i am a wildlife fanatic, it has been my life treating them for a long time after all.

i am all up for vets treating wildlife, however, i do feel then they need to go on to a specialised centre. for example deer will freak out if in the same vicinity as dogs, and vice versa, its not fair on either party...

sound like he is feeling a bit sheepish. my dog was like that, she decided to shout at a herd of cows, of course, they chased her... now se hides behind me if we are in the same field!!!

Re: Feeling upset & disappointed...

Vicky RVN — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 21:00:24 GMT

[quote user="MissVetNurse"]

[quote user="Bouncyfi"]

Thank you NIck, I sometimes get accused of being cold, because of my wildlife views. I do care for wild animals when they with us and do so to the best of my ability, but I believe that we shouldn't interefere too much with some wildlife cases. We should also think about the ability to rehabilitate animals after treatment & if it isn't possible, then should we be treating them at all???

Bad things happen in this world, when you're a wild animal and that's a fact of life!

[/quote]

I agree, your views on this sound very similar to mine! and I am often accused of being cold

[/quote]

I too agree with this, sometimes too much is done for wildlife when it's just not natural for them to be in a vets and they are so obviously stressed. There is a balance between helping them and causing them distress which needs to be considered.

I took Jack back to the forest today, was quite nervous but he was good and stayed with me as i told him to.

Re: Feeling upset & disappointed...

Claire Cameron — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:22:02 GMT

[quote user="Bouncyfi"]

Bad things happen in this world, when you're a wild animal and that's a fact of life!

[/quote]

I agree, your views on this sound very similar to mine! and I am often accused of being cold

Re: Feeling upset & disappointed...

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:51:05 GMT

Rapunzel, I do afford wildlife the same respect as I do domestic animals, but do not afford them the nsame heartbreak of a much loved family pet (ie my own.)

Also Terriers are bred for hunting, I just so happen to have one who's hunting is more keen than I would have liked, but it is not something I would condone, especially just for the sport or fun of it, so please do not imply my pet being out of control.

Also, I do not want to get inhto an argument either, so please read my posts carefully the next time, and actually read what I have to say rather than assuming, that I let my dog run riot on the local wildlife.

Re: Feeling upset & disappointed...

Fiona Leathers — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:13:41 GMT

Bad things happen in this world, when you're a wild animal and that's a fact of life!

Re: Feeling upset & disappointed...

Nick Shackleton — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:00:42 GMT

[quote user="Bouncyfi"]

At the end of the day, I think that we should remember that dogs, although domesticated, cannot decide whether or not to chase & kill things - once they're in that mindset, it's all back to basics, I'm afraid!

Although it is terrible to say it, things happen and no amount of muzzling could prevent it, the deer could still have been chased & died. I agree that a pet being killed is worse than wildlife being killed, because as humans we form a bond with our pets. Although this does not mean that I wouldn't feel terrible about dead wildlife, but I am a realist & these horrible things happen in the wild.

[/quote]

Well put Fi, I was thinking along the same lines, but was trying to work out how to put it!

Re: Feeling upset & disappointed...

Fiona Leathers — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:55:26 GMT

Re: Feeling upset & disappointed...

A Little TLC — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:05:54 GMT

I am a wildlife obsessive... so i m going to hope that it just was him being a wally and biting his own tongue.

i have seen more deer that have been attacked by a dog that anyone to wish for. its just the most awful sight. There would be a fair bit of blood if that was the case though. So fingers crossed, he didn't.

Re: Feeling upset & disappointed...

Rapunzel — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:08:17 GMT

Hi Caro,

I didn't mean to floor anyone - sorry! And I wasn't thinking of your post. What I was referring to - in my usual foot in mouth fashion - was that I thought it was sad that STRVN seems to be saying (and I'm sure that she will put me straight later) that wildlife isn't 'worth' as much as domestic animals. I'm really not trying to start any fights or accuse anyone of anything, just voicing my opinion as STRVN did hers. I accept that not everyone will agree with me, but I feel quite passionately about wildlife and so her comment stood out to me.

Re: Feeling upset & disappointed...

Vicky RVN — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:00:01 GMT

Caro, i noticed your mistake but knew what you meant!

Re: Feeling upset & disappointed...

Caro Laithwaite VN — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:42:22 GMT

Rapunzel l am floored by your post and have re read ALL of the posts edited mine to read zebra and not horse (which none picked up) and se nowhere where your accusation can stand.

Re: Feeling upset & disappointed...

Rapunzel — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 10:49:08 GMT

STRVN - Don't want to get into a row here (doubt if I'd win one with you anyway!), but I think it's a shame that you don't afford wildlife the same respect as you do for domestic animals. I work in wildlife rehabilitation and these creatures have just as much character as domestics and they feel fear and pain same as any other mammal. Just because they are free living shouldn't make them fair game for anyone's out of control pet.

Re: Feeling upset & disappointed...

Vicky RVN — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 22:25:05 GMT

Yeah you're right Caro! I suppose i wasn't thinking logically, there would have been a lot more blood.

Re: Feeling upset & disappointed...

Caro Laithwaite VN — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 22:20:16 GMT

If he killed something he would have had a lot more than a few specks of blood, so go for being a dickhead it is the more obvious one, he would have been bashed up and hurt and had hair in his mouth.

Yes the deer probably looked scared with his behaviour but hardly a surprise they were.

It it has black and white stripes, looks like a zebra, lives in africa in herds and eats grass it is probably a zebra and not a unicorn.

Re: Feeling upset & disappointed...

Vicky RVN — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 22:16:36 GMT

[quote user="Caro Laithwaite"]

He may well have just been a dickhead, run himself stupid and bitten his tongue it had bleed a bit and stopped by the time you found him.

[/quote]

I do hope so, there were only a few spots of blood in his mouth.

Re: Feeling upset & disappointed...

Vicky RVN — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 22:16:07 GMT

It helps to know that Jack isn't always like it, so many times in our garden and out walking birds of varying sizes have been pecking around the ground only a few feet from him and he's paid no attention to them! He sits looking at them or walks off in another direction! Hopefully things won't change now.

Re: Feeling upset & disappointed...

Caro Laithwaite VN — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 22:14:47 GMT

He may well have just been a dickhead, run himself stupid and bitten his tongue it had bleed a bit and stopped by the time you found him.

Re: Feeling upset & disappointed...

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 22:09:44 GMT

I too have had a cat ripped apart, by a dog, a GSD in fact, but because I know what Vicky has went through I think I could see it from that side, and also a family pet being torn apart is a world away from a wild animal IMO, so excuse me if I dont liken them to one and the same.

Vicky I am glad you have got over your shock, albeit not completely.

And as you said and I also believe, they are terriers and its what they were bred to do, but as owners we can only do our best to avoid any future situations.

Re: Feeling upset & disappointed...

Vicky RVN — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 20:32:31 GMT

Thanks Rapunzel, sorry to hear about your poor cat, i can understand that will maybe make you feel prejudiced against the breed. I hate the image staffies are given, ok incidents do happen. But then they do with many breeds. Unfortunately some owners of the breed and similar breeds aren't responsible and don't help the situation.

Re: Feeling upset & disappointed...

Rapunzel — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 20:28:59 GMT

Okay Vicky I'm sorry that you found my post accusing and didn't set out to offend you, but as someone who had a much loved cat ripped apart by a staffie I went with my gut reaction. I sincerely hope you don't have any more incidents like this one in the future.

Re: Feeling upset & disappointed...

Vicky RVN — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 20:27:45 GMT

Yeah Jack loves people, particularly children. He wants to meet every child he sees! I have a young niece and nephews and he loves them, particularly my niece, he'll do anything she tells him to! He is a good boy really.

Re: Feeling upset & disappointed...

Saskia Quinn — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 20:25:09 GMT

I feel normal towards Shiloh now, but it did take me a while. He is so good with my little boys and I suppose that helped.

You will feel the same towards Jack, in time. Just remember all the good qualities he has and what you love about him. And remember also, that today was totally out of character for him.

Re: Feeling upset & disappointed...

Vicky RVN — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 20:24:20 GMT

[quote user="Cat Woman"]

[quote user="Vicky C"] I'm now feeling really guilty that my dog has done something to a poor deer and it's suffering & it's all my fault.[/quote]

I feel sure that you would know if he had done something awful - dogs seem to have a different demeanour after a "kill". Also, I don't believe that if Jack had got hold of a deer, that it would still be alive & suffering. My old SBT's sister once brought down a goat (belonging to the owner) & trust me, it was all fairly quick. Horrible to think of I know. At least you know now, that he has that side to him & you can be alert at all times in the future. Try not to blame him though (or yourself) just learn from it I guess?

[/quote]

Thanks for the reassurance. I do hope that if he got the deer he killed it rather than half did it, as horrible as that sounds. When i grabbed him and put him back on his lead he was panting like crazy from all the exertion but was still pulling like mad on the lead. He did used to pull but have trained him out of it so this isn't really normal for him anymore. I think he was different in demeanor to normal, but then so was i being that i was so furious, shocked and upset so this could have made a difference to him. When we got home he just lay panting on the floor and then after a good while came to me, but only when i asked him to. I think he knew how angry i was. I will most definitely learn from this and be a lot more alert to him in future.

Re: Feeling upset & disappointed...

Kim Buckley — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 20:23:43 GMT

My little terrier has killed my pet rabbit and a few hedgehogs but I couldn't be mad at her because at the end of the day that's what her breed was bred to do. At least you now know for the future and can take the necessary precautions to prevent it from happening again.