I need to vent

Hotshoe

All-Conference
Feb 15, 2012
24,465
3,707
113
Additional info...about 2am last night we could hear a coyote yipping. They don't bark or howl. They yip. It was about a 100 yards from our back fence. On the other side of highway 68. Passed 68 is rolling hills, for miles, with oaks and open space. No houses. I was laying in bed wishing for a long rifle with a thermal scope. My neighbor said at midnight he took his trash out. There were 2 coyotes at the corner. That's about 4 houses from our house. Nature has made our neighborhood a hunting ground. Our safe neighborhood for years has suddenly become dangerous. They must be running low on a food supply. I know there are turkey, skunk, opossum, rabbits, raccoons, deer and foxes in the area. About 10:30 each night we usually let our dog out front for his nightly last pee. He could go in the back yard but he likes the front yard and it has become a habit for him. Now when we let him out both of us go out ahead of him. I am thinking about taking a golf club with me in case I need to drive a 8 iron into a skull. More ranting on my part.
Coyotes absolutely howl. You simply heard their yips. You also don't need a golf club. A coyote isn't going anywhere near a human unless it's rabid. Your club will never get close enough.
 

Moogy

All-Conference
Jul 28, 2017
2,769
1,899
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Who are you?? Ming the merciless?
Why do you say that?

It’s a valid point. Assuming you can ignore grown men being cat people (tough to ignore), you’re still left with the issue of pets being left outdoors.

And most people try to explain that they allow cats to be outdoors so they can go around killing. Well, when you make them part of the predatory food chain, poop happens. Sometimes you’re the hunter, sometimes you’re the hunted.

That’s not to say cat owners should be singled out for poor ownership … in my state, leash laws are a thing. There are exceptions for dogs that are well-trained in recall, but lots of folks think they’re special, and their dog is special, so he doesn’t need to be leashed. And then that dog runs off their property and confronts another dog or a person. And they’re shocked. “Not my dog … he’s so good. Not my dog …. He loves everyone. Not my dog … he’s trained and he listens.”

Everybody thinks they’re special and should be the exception.

I had a neighbor that would let his huge huge dog wander his yard without a fence and off leash. And when they went on walks, he’d often be off leash. Gentle giant, that dog was. My much smaller dog would be on walks and would “demand” we walk by to see if the gentle giant was out, so he could play with him. And the gentle giant never did a thing except play with my dog nicely. You could tell he knew he was much bigger … and he’d just toy around with my dog, and my dog would act tough, but also knew when he was pushing the limit and he’d pull back. My pup would get all up in his grill, and the gentle giant would raise a paw and bop him on top of the head as if to say “dude, calm down.” They were buddies.

Then one day, this gentle giant was walking off leash, and he came across another neighbor’s dog. That other dog was a chill mid-sized dog. Never a problem from him. But, for some reason, while on a walk, he set the gentle giant off, and the gentle giant attacked. And the female owner walking the other dog (leashed), had to get involved to try to save her dog and she got attacked. The gentle giant never acted like that before. But he almost had to get put down. All because his owner thought he was special. He could handle it. The rules didn’t need to apply to him. He was only allowed to keep the dog if they built a fence and had the dog muzzled and leashed on all walks.

I’ve had to deal with “special pups” owned by “special people” at least 4 times while walking my dog through the years. It’s always the same … he never does that. Right. It’s a dog. He doesn’t until he does. Your dog isn’t special, even if he’s special to you.

The lesson? Keep your animals inside and under your physical control when they’re not. If they’re not, they’re the rough equivalent to wild animals during that time and nature has its way. And then, sometimes, the law has to step in and properly parent for you.
 

SleepyLion

All-Conference
Sep 1, 2022
1,856
2,593
113
Why do you say that?

It’s a valid point. Assuming you can ignore grown men being cat people (tough to ignore), you’re still left with the issue of pets being left outdoors.

And most people try to explain that they allow cats to be outdoors so they can go around killing. Well, when you make them part of the predatory food chain, poop happens. Sometimes you’re the hunter, sometimes you’re the hunted.

That’s not to say cat owners should be singled out for poor ownership … in my state, leash laws are a thing. There are exceptions for dogs that are well-trained in recall, but lots of folks think they’re special, and their dog is special, so he doesn’t need to be leashed. And then that dog runs off their property and confronts another dog or a person. And they’re shocked. “Not my dog … he’s so good. Not my dog …. He loves everyone. Not my dog … he’s trained and he listens.”

Everybody thinks they’re special and should be the exception.

I had a neighbor that would let his huge huge dog wander his yard without a fence and off leash. And when they went on walks, he’d often be off leash. Gentle giant, that dog was. My much smaller dog would be on walks and would “demand” we walk by to see if the gentle giant was out, so he could play with him. And the gentle giant never did a thing except play with my dog nicely. You could tell he knew he was much bigger … and he’d just toy around with my dog, and my dog would act tough, but also knew when he was pushing the limit and he’d pull back. My pup would get all up in his grill, and the gentle giant would raise a paw and bop him on top of the head as if to say “dude, calm down.” They were buddies.

Then one day, this gentle giant was walking off leash, and he came across another neighbor’s dog. That other dog was a chill mid-sized dog. Never a problem from him. But, for some reason, while on a walk, he set the gentle giant off, and the gentle giant attacked. And the female owner walking the other dog (leashed), had to get involved to try to save her dog and she got attacked. The gentle giant never acted like that before. But he almost had to get put down. All because his owner thought he was special. He could handle it. The rules didn’t need to apply to him. He was only allowed to keep the dog if they built a fence and had the dog muzzled and leashed on all walks.

I’ve had to deal with “special pups” owned by “special people” at least 4 times while walking my dog through the years. It’s always the same … he never does that. Right. It’s a dog. He doesn’t until he does. Your dog isn’t special, even if he’s special to you.

The lesson? Keep your animals inside and under your physical control when they’re not. If they’re not, they’re the rough equivalent to wild animals during that time and nature has its way. And then, sometimes, the law has to step in and properly parent for you.
I like that in your world all dogs are "he".
 

MontereyLion

Junior
May 29, 2001
172
302
63
Coyotes absolutely howl. You simply heard their yips. You also don't need a golf club. A coyote isn't going anywhere near a human unless it's rabid. Your club will never get close enough.
If there are 2 or more coyotes attacking my dog, because they are hungry, I will be using my 8 iron to take out a divot or two. They may howl but I've only heard them yip. And they do that alot. Did it again last night.
 

SleepyLion

All-Conference
Sep 1, 2022
1,856
2,593
113
Feel free to substitute in “ze” wherever you believe “he” is not appropriate. Your quest for pup inclusivity is a noble one.
it wasn't a quest or anything just an observation.
never heard anyone ever use "ze". I doubt I will start.
 

Connorpozlee

All-American
Aug 29, 2013
2,616
5,014
113
Why do you say that?

It’s a valid point. Assuming you can ignore grown men being cat people (tough to ignore), you’re still left with the issue of pets being left outdoors.

And most people try to explain that they allow cats to be outdoors so they can go around killing. Well, when you make them part of the predatory food chain, poop happens. Sometimes you’re the hunter, sometimes you’re the hunted.

That’s not to say cat owners should be singled out for poor ownership … in my state, leash laws are a thing. There are exceptions for dogs that are well-trained in recall, but lots of folks think they’re special, and their dog is special, so he doesn’t need to be leashed. And then that dog runs off their property and confronts another dog or a person. And they’re shocked. “Not my dog … he’s so good. Not my dog …. He loves everyone. Not my dog … he’s trained and he listens.”

Everybody thinks they’re special and should be the exception.

I had a neighbor that would let his huge huge dog wander his yard without a fence and off leash. And when they went on walks, he’d often be off leash. Gentle giant, that dog was. My much smaller dog would be on walks and would “demand” we walk by to see if the gentle giant was out, so he could play with him. And the gentle giant never did a thing except play with my dog nicely. You could tell he knew he was much bigger … and he’d just toy around with my dog, and my dog would act tough, but also knew when he was pushing the limit and he’d pull back. My pup would get all up in his grill, and the gentle giant would raise a paw and bop him on top of the head as if to say “dude, calm down.” They were buddies.

Then one day, this gentle giant was walking off leash, and he came across another neighbor’s dog. That other dog was a chill mid-sized dog. Never a problem from him. But, for some reason, while on a walk, he set the gentle giant off, and the gentle giant attacked. And the female owner walking the other dog (leashed), had to get involved to try to save her dog and she got attacked. The gentle giant never acted like that before. But he almost had to get put down. All because his owner thought he was special. He could handle it. The rules didn’t need to apply to him. He was only allowed to keep the dog if they built a fence and had the dog muzzled and leashed on all walks.

I’ve had to deal with “special pups” owned by “special people” at least 4 times while walking my dog through the years. It’s always the same … he never does that. Right. It’s a dog. He doesn’t until he does. Your dog isn’t special, even if he’s special to you.

The lesson? Keep your animals inside and under your physical control when they’re not. If they’re not, they’re the rough equivalent to wild animals during that time and nature has its way. And then, sometimes, the law has to step in and properly parent for you.
I’m not an animal person at all. To that end, a couple weeks ago I was using my Blackstone in my driveway, two steps outside my garage. A neighbor comes by walking his dog. He let the leash out so his dog can get right up near me. I stared at the guy, baffled why he would think this was OK. He says, “It’s OK, he (she? I don’t remember the gender) just wants to smell what you’re cooking.” I said, “It’s not OK, I don’t like dogs and he’s right on me.” He then got miffed, pulled the dog back muttering something and continued on his walk.
Dogs should be on a leash and if so, should be kept close to you. I don’t give a **** how good you think your dog is, I don’t want it near me.
 

Indian rocks rich

Sophomore
Jan 8, 2016
127
175
43
Who are you?? Ming the merciless?
How many wild birds are killed by cats every year. Guess you don’t give a **** about them. Just have to have a worthless comment on a message board. I gave my opinion on the subject but I guess there are ******** that don’t like opinions if they don’t agree with it
 

Indian rocks rich

Sophomore
Jan 8, 2016
127
175
43
Who are you?? Ming the merciless?
In the United States, it's estimated that house cats kill between 1.3 and 4 billionbirds annually. This makes them the single greatest human-related cause of bird deaths. The number is so high because it includes both owned cats that roam outdoors and feral cats.
 
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Hotshoe

All-Conference
Feb 15, 2012
24,465
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In the United States, it's estimated that house cats kill between 1.3 and 4 billionbirds annually. This makes them the single greatest human-related cause of bird deaths. The number is so high because it includes both owned cats that roam outdoors and feral cats.
I didn't realize just how much of an impact cats have.

Cats and Birds | American Bird Conservancy https://share.google/Ax7XakmAbEqN8GtYn
 
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mh-larch

Freshman
Nov 20, 2019
43
60
18
Yes, feral and stray cats, and cats let out by their owners, are vicious predators. They kill lots of birds and other wildlife - very sad! While I'm opposed to people letting their cats out, not everyone, just like MontereyLion, has the option to keep their cats inside all of the time. If you adopt a cat that starts coming around that is already adapted to being outside, or start taking care of feral cats, unfortunately these cats will have to be outside, at least some of the time. I have 6 feral cats I care for. I'd prefer not to but this is the situation I'm faced with. However, if one would be killed by a wild animal I would be upset but would accept it as part of the natural order. But MontereyLion's situation is a bit different. He and his family adopted a stray that needed to be out at times. I feel for him losing a part of the family, so it's tougher to lose a pet like that. There are gray areas to this situation. We should cut him a break for his loss.

Ultimately this entire situation is the fault of irresponsible humans not neutering cats in their control. Whether that is house pets, strays, or ferals (when you can). And the worst are people who just dump cats they don't want anymore. Cats are natural predators they'll do what they do. Humans adding to the explosive population growth of cats just adds to the problem of more wildlife being killed.

PS: The studies of how many birds cats kill is most certainly exaggerated. While it is definitely is a huge problem, there are many that question the various studies and their methodology. It's as easy as a Goggle search. Here's just one: https://www.npr.org/sections/13.7/2...ow-that-cats-kill-by-the-billions-not-so-fast
 

ODShowtime

All-American
Aug 17, 2017
3,030
6,043
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Ultimately this entire situation is the fault of irresponsible humans not neutering cats in their control.

This is the bottom line final word on the situation IMO.

Also why Bob Barker is a legend.