The cat's out of the bag

[dborla01]

I am happy to read Jack and Bob's posts and others too and am trying this year to expunge the rancor from my posts. thanks for good examples to live by. Darrell <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img">

 

[Salida Scarlett]

<br>"Keeping my contract" with my two toms has been a major concern for me. And it is a contract. There is no way I could morally and in good conscience move into an apartment or house that doesn't allow pets. Nor is it an option for me to leave them behind, or even find another owner for 2 set in their ways boys who have never been off this property in the last 11 years. The only other option is to get an RV and take them with me. Yes, they would try to split the minute the opportunity presented itself. So, it's up to me that it doesn't present itself. I do like the idea of harnesses, but it's almost comical to think about the struggle that would go on at first. Kind of like the one that happens when I have to give them a worm pill...(or worse). But they'll just have to get used to it. My contract with them is etched in my heart and I couldn't live with myself if I broke it. And that's just the way it is, even if it costs me some options. They trust me, and I have to be able to trust me too, lol, if that makes sense.&nbsp;<br><br>Besides, we are family <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"> <br><br>

 

[josephusminimus]

<P>

In my experience people who say things like that are actually looking for an excuse to say hurtful things and then blame the other person for being hurt.<BR><BR>But, I'm sure you don't mean that. I hope not.<BR>Bob

<BR><BR>Bob:&nbsp; If you're sure it's not true, as you've said, it's not clear why you made the observation relating what you conclude about the motives of others in this context.&nbsp; <BR><BR>The truth is whenever I post here my words are picked apart, examined through a microscope and assigned whatever the most negative meaning and motive for the posting can be attributed them.&nbsp; I've been called a troll, a non-respecter of women, an irresponsible pet owner, directly, and countless other things by implication.&nbsp; My responses have been considered and restrained to the best of my ability.<BR><BR>What I am and my motives for posting can be conjectured ad infinitum and cast as evidence of my insensitivies and callous disregard for human feelings with as much enthusiasm and as little accuracy as anyone cares to apply to the job.&nbsp; <BR><BR>I have no control over whatever emotions the people who read here experience as they read them.<BR><BR>I've enjoyed posting here, and I appreciate&nbsp;what I've learned reading the posts.&nbsp; Thanks for providing a venue for it.<BR><BR>Henceforth, however, I'll confine my activities to reading what I find helpful and cease posting.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</P>

 

[Where~the~wind~blows]

I will be honest this forum has one of the highest turn overs of posters I have seen. Personally I know there is no pleasing everybody, and I think if what a poster says offends you maybe we should just not post to that post....

 

[dragonflyinthesky]

<STRONG>quote from wtwb </STRONG><SPAN style="COLOR: #3366ff"><STRONG>"I will be honest this forum has one of the highest turn overs of posters I have seen. Personally I know there is no pleasing everybody, and I think if what a poster says offends you maybe we should just not post to that post...."</STRONG><BR><BR><SPAN style="COLOR: #000000"><STRONG>Wendy, walking away instead of taking a stand just to fight so you can get the last word? Good idea. Sometimes its like a room of 4 year olds with hurt feelings, once one crys, 3 more start to cry. Either that or home for the holidays with my family. Not much difference.</STRONG><BR><BR><STRONG>Jack will of course do as he pleases but if this bickering stops his posting, I will be missing his experience and insight. Did some of you ever notice that if you call him on something he does one of 2 things, admits in print that he's wrong or stands for his beliefs and explains himself. Now, if I still don't agree with him, so what? There&nbsp;are enough other happings on this forum to interest me.&nbsp; </STRONG><BR><BR><SPAN style="COLOR: #ff0000; FONT-SIZE: large">Diane</SPAN><BR></SPAN></SPAN>

 

[Where~the~wind~blows]

Diane, I do agree....with all of it...

 

[RV-Kitty]

RV-Kitty, I am going to have to respectfully disagree. Like Jack's cats, my dog is off-leash 99% of the time.

<br><br>Dogs are not like cats. You can't compare apples to oranges. However, dogs do escape from RVs and vanish into the woods or desert never to be seen again. <br><br>

We have gone for very long walks in the woods and desert where I have lost track of him for hours at a time.&nbsp; He's too old now but as a young dog he has killed a fair number of wild animals. He has chased countless rabbits!<br><br>You make very good and valid points, but after giving it serious thought, I just reach different conclusions. Bob

<br><br>And your conclusions are that cats should be allowed out of RVs?&nbsp; Even when they can get lost, get taken by preditors, pick up parasites and possible disease?&nbsp; How is that beneficial to the cats or wildlife?&nbsp; Who benefits?&nbsp; <img src="/images/boards/smilies/confused.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img">

 

[RV-Kitty]

RV-Kitty,<br><br>Well said. &nbsp;I very much agree with you, for many reasons concerning both cats and dogs. &nbsp;I observe that many people project their subconscious issues on their pets, and I think this is what happens when folks let their domesticated animals run free without containing or protecting them. &nbsp;Just my opinion.

<br><br>There seems to be several reasons people allow dogs and cats to run free. Most, but not all, are selfish reasons when looked at closely. They don't want to "walk" the dog or "scoop" the litterpan.&nbsp; They don't want to spend time with the pet or entertain the animal in any way such with toys or cat-trees - whatever. It's easier to open the door and let them out to wander and do as they please. They don't care if neighbors are being annoyed by their pets or if their pets are killing wildlife and livestock.&nbsp; If their cat or dog disappears they simply get another free one and start all over.&nbsp; BTW, I've noticed many years ago you never see valuable good quality expensive purebred show dogs (not the poor wretches from puppy mills) and expensive purebred cats running loose in the city or in the country.&nbsp; <br><br>

I'm sad, however to see the sexist comments are running rampant again.<br><br>"Angry two-legged vocal felines.." &nbsp;REALLY?

<br><br>Yes, I noticed. Perhaps women are not welcome on this Forum, or are seen as lesser individuals than men - or we should not voice our opinions here. <br><br>

What's up with this place lately.<br><br>Jack, although you make good debate points, calling someone who disagrees with you an extremist is not only rude, its a sign that your argument is weak.<br><br>

<br><br>He has no argument so runs off the track......<br><br><br><br><br><br>

 

[bk2valve]

HI, I have never had a cat as a pardner although I like them well enough. In my life I have had many dog pards. <br><br>I am drawn to the hard to place dogs in a shelter and I also make a "contract" as to my responsibility towards them. My current doggie best friend is an example of a skitzy, nervous and hyper-wary herder and she is unbelievably loyal and eager to please...she is now 9 and will be my personal last dog for a while once she has gone over the rainbow bridge.<br><br>I have been to all the RTRs so far and most dogs do their share of running free as would Dina if she would get it in her little brain that she didn't need to bark at them like she would guarding and herding a herd of sheep. It is totally appropriate and all the dogs who are off leash are trained and mellow doggers.<br><br>I am seeing some blanket statements made on this particular thread that are about as worthwhile as any blanket statements are any time...which is not very.<br><br>I have lived in areas where if your dog runs loose and is not with you but either goes onto someones property or is seen running a deer, they will be shot on sight. On Kodiak Island every few months a group of citizens go out with the express purpose of killing any loose dogs that have packed up and are running the small deer there. It is a standard practice that is encouraged by all including the Alaska State Troopers. It is against the law to let your dog run wildlife. On Kodiak transferring Coast Guardsmen often just turn loose their dogs instead of trying to move them....sad but true...so there are often dog packs...dogs will pack up and hunt together...that is their nature.<br><br>In the subdivision I lived in on Kenai Peninsula in Alaska there was a neighbor whose loose dog would attack us as we walked our dog by on his leash. I talked to the neighbor and he laughed it off and said his dog was friendly....I called the Troopers and they said if it was off leash and bothering us we had the right to shoot it. This particular neighbor was recently released from prison for kidnapping his wife of the time at gun point and keeping her locked in his shed for a while and I would be scared to death to kill his dog...if you follow my logic here.<br><br>Life is different in every place you live or travel in and an animal is your responsibility.<br><br>We are friends with a couple who spend their winters in a San Miguel de Allende campground and in the 5 years or so I have known them, every morning and every evening, Jerry is seen out of his Bigfoot camper with his cat in a harness on a long leash and he walks the beast...I say beast because it is a HUGE cat.<br><br>I think if you hang around many highway rest stops for long e3nough, or camp the night there, you will see the many feral cats that live in them...I am guessing from stories I hear that they are cats who disappeared on their owners while they were out relieving themselves.<br>&nbsp;<br>Yesterday I was at a fleamarket booth here in Quartzsite and a man was buying a tool to make it easier to feed his barn cats back on the farm. He was saying he had a herd of barn cats that he hated but they did good work and when they left for the winter he left them a hundred pounds of food in a hopper of some kind and he needed to keep the skunks and other freeloaders out of the feed...<br><br>So there are a handful of wildly disparate events that show you can't corral all events or situations with a handy blanket ideal. Our pets were bred to work at something...we have chosen to anthropomorphize them into our little darlings but many don't play that tune.<br><br>You get to choose your tune to play but we get to choose the tune we'll dance to....I am referring to all of us on both ends of the fiddle....<br>Bri<br><br>Edited for spelling as usual..ugh..

 

[Where~the~wind~blows]

Bri, you are correct in your post ....animals need&nbsp;exercise, and I guess my one post was about the owners who let their dogs rn loose without supervision. <br><br>I have three dogs, <br><br>1 my old terrier who I can walk on a city sidewalk loose is a&nbsp;perfectly&nbsp;controlled dog, she is going to be 14 this april,<br><br>next is a two year old ACD (Australian Cattle dog) and she has more energy than a herd slinkies on speed. While very&nbsp;obedient, she has a tough time with her energy and ADD attitude, if dogs can truly have ADD then she is a poster child for it. And for that the only time she is loose is when I have a tennis ball in my hand.<br><br>the third is a very messed up in the head pitbull. Loves me but is very select about others to the point where I just keep her away from other people because she will turn on a person seemingly for no reason. She was left in an apartment for 3 days before noticed, She was 10 months old, and called "Mommy" even though she was never bred (history provided by neighbors)... she was not house broken, never leashed trained, hates any person of dark color, and will attack anybody she thinks is going to hit her, ie: do not raise your hand for any reason around her. She is a product of truly bad handling. I have had her about 4 months now, and I didn't plan on keeping her, but when around strangers she drools and&nbsp;trembles and I just can't see her paying the price for what humans did to her, so I will keep her. Humans screwed her up good, for this reason she would NEVER be allowed off leash or even around people until she has proven to be safe. She is great with my little terrier but&nbsp;will&nbsp;fight my ACD.&nbsp;My worst nightmare is loose dogs with her. She is very dominate in personality that even a well intended friendly dog would be attacked upon reaching distance. I really would love to see Cesar Milan try and break her of attacking. I have tried everything and the only time she will not attack is a shock on level 7 or higher. I walk her on a haltie, and she always wears her ecollar. She has never been fought as far as I can tell and see. I have no clue and at times feel like I don't know what else to try.<br><br>anyhow....as I have said you are responsible for your choice, my choice is to not let them run loose unattended or ever if my pet or other pets or wildlife are in danger

 

[RV-Kitty]

To Bk2valve:&nbsp; When we adopt cats and dogs we should at least try and be responsible owners.&nbsp; I love both cats and dogs but have been very unhappy at times with neighbors allowing their pets to run loose. I don't appreciate other people's dogs crapping on my lawn and dragging garbage out of the cans.&nbsp; Why should I have to pick up after someone elses dogs and spend my money to buy pest-proof trash cans?&nbsp; Or the dogs are harassing the beautiful wildlife where I live. This goes for when I'm camping also.&nbsp; And cats... my special love.&nbsp; I've put up with other people's cats attacking birds on the feeders to the point I had to stop feeding the birds.&nbsp; I don't appreciate getting cat crap on my hands when planting in my flower beds.&nbsp; Cats love to use the loose soil for a litterpan. Males not neutered spray and stink everything up to the point I had to get rid of the ourside furniture as no one could sit in it.&nbsp; Nothing kept the neighbor's cats away.&nbsp; And those who lose their cats in CGs and those who allow them to wander in CGs are just as bad. I don't want another camper's cats or dogs fouling my campsite and going after the food outside.&nbsp; Once a cat sprays on something like a cushion, you might as well throw it away.&nbsp; And of course there's the dangers to the cats themselves from predators and disease.&nbsp; There is no cure for FeLV and FIV and both are contagious. And I don't want someone elses cats or dogs bringing my cats fleas or some other disease or infestation. <br><br>I think I already posted here about the CG hosts telling me the cats and dogs left behind die in winter of starvation and the cold when the campers all leave.&nbsp; Mostly cats, as the dogs tend to wander off or someone feels sorry for them and takes them when they leave.&nbsp; They didn't really know what happened to the dogs. There was a skeletal boxer at Poole Knobs COE CG last fall but no one catch it, it was so fearful.&nbsp; It was too wary of the traps the local Shelter set.&nbsp; The cats tend to hang around, perhaps wondering where their owners/RVs are that left weeks or months before.&nbsp; Or they just don't know where else to go. Shell Mound, Lebanon State Park and Seven Points, all in TN, almost always have cats that were, for some reason, left behind. We did manage to get one young cat and turned her over to a Rescue in Nashville.&nbsp; <br><br>Oh well, enough on this topic.