I love my rats to no end, and will cry for days when their time comes. (I also cried that time I ran over a rabbit and take the icky, creepy bugs in my apartment outside.) Rats are easily as intelligent, social and affectionate as dogs. Would you feel justified crying over a dog killed in the same way as that rat? Ok, then it’s totally normal and ok that you cried over a rat.
That said, I have no problem with people ridding their houses of vermin. Wild rats are like wild dogs, i.e.: wolves. They can be dangerous and damaging to property. Had I a pack of wild dogs roaming my apartment, I would not have a problem with having them humanely exterminated. See, the analogy goes both ways.
Have i seen dogs killed? yes i Have.
I have had the unfortunate expericence of all but one of my dogs dying from heart worms. One was even poisoned with anti-freeze. Yes, it did upset me.
I have seen pest dogs killed. I didnt like it, but, it was justifiable (pardon spelling)
However, I could never kill one of my own dogs. I oppose the hunting with deer with dogs, because it is a torture on both the dogs and the deer.
I do not keep my dogs tethered in any way. No collars, no leeshes, no fences, and no, they do not live in my house.
That is a true show of a dogs loyalty when they choose to stay at home, depsite the fact that nothing forcibily keeps them there.
and, as i said eariler, i have to problem with pet vermin. I, at one time, owned over 30 hamsters. But, i gave them away over time, as they became difficult to care for.
(they multiply awfully damn fast)
WTF? Heartworm is very preventable. There are chewable tablets, given once a month, that will ensure this never happens. Death by heartworms is very, very, unpleasant for the dog. Dogs are noble creatures that deserve better treatment than what you are giving them.
Shame on you. You disgust me too.
Since I’m a professional exterminator, I thought I’d weigh in here. I can understand that some folks don’t have the heart to kill a mouse, or would be upset if they saw one in a trap still struggling. But we need to clarify a few things.
While mice and rats make wonderful pets, the wild kind are vermin. They can carry fleas and ticks (and who knows what else), and they foul whatever area they are in. Do you want rodent urine and feces in your kitchen cabinets along with your pots, pans, tupperware and spoons? Don’t invite me to dinner anytime soon.
Your home is for you (and whatever pets you have). Insects, rodents, and whatever other unwanted beings which get in and make their home there are pests. They should be gotten rid of one way or another. While glueboards do cause a slower death than snap traps, there are advantages to them, such as they will not harm children and pets. Your exterminator chose to use them for whatever reasons he had, but the bottom line is this: you use whatever works.
Releasing the animal doesn’t really make much sense to me. It’s either going to starve or freeze to death if it’s winter. Or else become a problem in someone else’s house.
Personally, while I know all life is precious, I don’t consider the life of a mouse as important as a human life. I don’t think considering a mouse’s life sacred elevates all life. Rather, I consider it cheapening the sacredness of human life. And before you jump on me with both feet, consider: would you sacrifice your pet’s life to save your child? I would, without a second thought or any regret. Would I sacrifice my child’s life to save my pet? No way. I would hold to this even if it was an animal and person unknown to me.
Sorry for the distress you felt, John. I know it can be disconcerting to see what you saw. (I speak from experience, here!) And I don’t want to imply that you’re a weenie. Far from it. Perhaps other factors had built up your stress level and this was the trigger. We’re complex beings (unlike mice, see paragraph above), so trying to isolate something like this isn’t easy.
I tried the chewable tablets for my dogs. Tey wouldnt take them. even when wrapped with a piece of food, upon finding somthing that “shouldnt be there” they would quit eating.
Some dogs (mine were Norweigan Elkhounds) can develop an uncanny sense of your intentions. My dogs seemed as if they alway knew ahead of time when it was time for their medine, and would stand at a distance from me, wagging their tails, but wouldnt let me get close to them until they decided they were no longer under threat of being medicated.
Couldnt take them to the vet either, being that they had never ridden in a car as puppies, they downright refused to as grown dogs.
And Concering N. Elkhounds…If they decided they dont want to do something, leave them alone. If cornered or put under pressure to do somthing, they will attack, even if it is their owner.
Justin, let me get this straight: You have dogs, but you don’t take them to the vet, don’t give them medicine, more than likely they are not spayed/neutered, you don’t put ID tags or collars on them, and you don’t keep them fenced in. And they die of pereventable things like heartworm. Am I correct?
Please, dont relase them. Kill them. In all likelyness that rat will just go to someone else’s place of residence.
Can we say “hanta virus” (among other diseases?) which is the reason why they wouldn’t let my coworkers and i during a summer program one year catch native rodents.
I live in a semi-rural area and every fall I have to cope with fieldmice trying to move in to my house for the winter. If you have ever had mice finding their way into everything in your pantry, or contaminating and stinking up the place with turds and urine, or chewing up your clothing, you would have no qualms what-so-ever in taking whatever steps you have to that will result in the little bastards’ demise.
No I don’t want to catch and release them, I want the filthy stinking little assholes to die-die-die. I don’t care if it’s humane just as long as it’s lethal. I use regular snap traps, and set out about half a dozen of them. When I quit finding them in the traps, I put out poison in the utility rooms and closets just in case there is a stragler.
A word of advice though, don’t use the poison first if you don’t want to play the “Try to locate the dead mouse by following the stench” game. It’s a game where even if you win, you lose.
(if my dogs happen to catch one, I will gladly trade them the corpse for a nice doggie treat.)
Mermaid, I wouldn’t recommend using poison at all, particularly because you have pets.
Mice are food hoarders. They will take the bait and stash it away someplace. I know other pest technicians who have had poison pellets show up in a customer’s slippers, the pockets of a robe, even under their pillow. If a mouse hides food near or even in the area where you keep your dog food, some of it might get found by the dog and eaten. It might even get mixed into the food and then you’d feed it to your dog without even knowing it.
I have 59 acres of land. They have free reign on this land. Come on my land and hurt my dogs, and your ass is in trouble
Dont need a fence. Ive seen people who keep their dogs in a small fenced in back yard, or on a chain, and yes, these dogs do remain healthier, but they are incredibly stupid. Its not all instinct with dogs. They can and will learn if left on their own.
Some of my dogs will take medication. Some wont. I learned the hard way that you cant force a N. Elkhound take it, even it it is wrapped in a piece of food. Unlike many dogs, an Elkhound doesnt cower down in front of its owner. If you upset one it WILL attack. Thats why they are not recomended for homes with young children.
In order for a dog to enjoy rides in the car, (A) the dog must be taken on rides when young. and (B) the dog must enjoy the rides…If neither a or b applies, you cant take your dog to the vet, simple as that. Unlike some breeds, such as labs or retrivers, who are very easy going and like to try new things, (while being quite stupid)
A norwegian elkhound is a very picky dog. They decide very early that they arent going to do somthing. its end of disscussion. they simply wont do it. Once I did try to pick up one of my dogs and sit him in the car to take him to the vet. Ive still got the battle scars on my left arm.
My dogs are not spayed or neuterd. I have 59 acres of land, they gotta go pretty damn far for some luvin if you know what i mean. And when mine have puppies, I keep a few and give the rest away. TO GOOD HOMES.
----Ive got to go, but i will be back in an hour or so, then i will continue-----
