Predators and pets while camping

[Guest]

Animals are not the only predators. PEOPLE STEAL PETS for various reasons: re-selling, back yard breeding, testing labs, and worse. I have two Persian cats. Looking at them, you cannot tell that one is very old, or that both have been neutered, or that they collectively have the IQ of a door knob. The only thing most people see is fast cash. Two very expensive looking and obviously purebred animals. <br /><br />Consider parasites and diseases. Coccidia, fleas and giardia have stunningly long lifetimes without a host. <br /><br />Look up "zoonotics" if you think parasites and disease are no big deal.&nbsp;<br /><br /> If you bring a pet, you need to ask yourself how far you're willing to go to defend your pet's life if necessary. Think large aggressive loose dogs, or wild animals, or even nefarious pet thief.

 

[josephusminimus]

4x4:&nbsp; I suppose that's just another way of saying life's a dangerous place.&nbsp; We've all got to deal with it any way we see fit, shuffle values around to try to make the best of it.<br /><br />I think if my cats could fill out a ballot form they'd vote to come along, be free to run loose whenever I can apply my humanly flawed judgement to allow it, and take their chances&nbsp; on the dangers rather than be left behind with strangers.<br /><br />My contract with them doesn't include forcing them to live inside the animal equivalent of a human nursing home.

 

[Guest]

post modified.

 

[josephusminimus]

4x4: You're right. I wasn't being consistent and I apologize for it. These are issues fairly close to my own life at the moment and I've been turning them over in there, my thinking flip-flopping a lot.<br /><br />Thanks for pointing it out.

 

[josephusminimus]

I'd been afraid I was going to have to shoot the last two guineas before I leave the place.&nbsp; They'd been here since they were keets and have slept in trees all their lives.&nbsp; Followed the chickens around daytimes, or foraged by themselves, part of a dozen bought a few days old, most the victims of predators over the years.<br /><br />When I sent the hens and roosters of my chicken flock off to new homes, these two were communists.&nbsp; I couldn't catch them.<br /><br />But they've gradually gotten lonesome for the chickens, I suppose.&nbsp; Began hanging around near the RV pestering the cats, so I finally caught them.&nbsp; The friend who owns the place took them home to live in trees up there.&nbsp; Guineas might be the stupidest creatures on the planet.&nbsp; It's amazing they survived long enough as a species to become domesticated.&nbsp; But they're better watch-dogs than watchdogs if you're willing to settle for something doesn't chew the leg off an intruder.<br /><br />The place seems a bit empty without them, but it's one of the last bugs on the windshield of this place I needed to clean off before hitting the road.

 

[RV-Kitty]

Animals are not the only predators. PEOPLE STEAL PETS for various reasons: re-selling, back yard breeding, testing labs, and worse. I have two Persian cats. Looking at them, you cannot tell that one is very old, or that both have been neutered, or that they collectively have the IQ of a door knob. The only thing most people see is fast cash. Two very expensive looking and obviously purebred animals.

<br><br>They'd be stolen for resale at a large flea market or by the pound to some lab for gruesome experiments.&nbsp; <img src="/images/boards/smilies/frown.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"><br><br>

Consider parasites and diseases. Coccidia, fleas and giardia have stunningly long lifetimes without a host. Look up "zoonotics" if you think parasites and disease are no big deal.

<br><br>Unfortunately, too many cat and dog owners (who shouldn't even have a pet) don't CARE!&nbsp; If the cat/dog gets sick they brag how they put a bullet in it's head or they have a vet euthanize it.&nbsp; I worked for a Veternarin in NY for years and saw some really sad cases.&nbsp; Some people just should not own animals (or have children for that matter). They place little value on their lives...&nbsp; <img src="/images/boards/smilies/frown.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"><br><br>

If you bring a pet, you need to ask yourself how far you're willing to go to defend your pet's life if necessary. Think large aggressive loose dogs, or wild animals, or even nefarious pet thief.

<br><br>As mentioned above. They don't care. They'll philosophize... anything but take responsibility for the pet that the pet deserves.

 

[josephusminimus]

Most folks do manage to treat their pets well, Kitty, within their own priorities, perspectives and value &nbsp;systems.&nbsp; My two 15 year olds and the 9 year old haven't lived in cages or been confined to the indoors, but they are healthy and happy.&nbsp; Two of them are putting on more weight than I'd wish, and I'm somewhat concerned I'll have to watch that carefully once we're on the road and they're somewhat more confined than now, though.<BR><BR>I doubt, given a choice, they'd have wished to live differently.&nbsp; And they'll spend the remainder of their lives living a way I believe they'll be most content, though mobile.<BR><BR>However, I recognize human opinions vary on this and all other matters.&nbsp;

 

[RV-Kitty]

&nbsp;I'm more afraid for my dog's safety in the city than out in the woods.

<br><br>There are far more dangers in the woods than in the city. In the city it's mainly getting hit by a car or falling out a window. Maybe being attacked by another dog.&nbsp; In the woods,depending on the size of the dog, it's coyotes, wolves, badgers, bears, owls, eagles, large hawks, foot and head traps, several serious intestinal parasites such as Giardia, coccidia, internal worms, ticks, fleas and more.

 

[RV-Kitty]

deleted by RV-Kitty

 

[jeanontheroad]

We live in town in Florida, but there are several large parks nearby. We get coyotes. I am amazed at how many people pay $500 for a puppy, then put it out in the backyard by itself to do its business at night and end up feeding the coyotes.