Thanks, but I'm certainly no hero. I do think if I'd had someone to video the fool (me) running from the pack of dogs I could make a lot of money. lol. Sometimes I'd just throw the bag of food out the window, but I was trying to 'tame' them, so usually I'd try to approach them when there would only be a few around. I'd get out in the middle of 'no man's land' though and then they would come out of the woodwork. I'd run a little and then turn around and 'face them off'. I think they knew I was there to feed them and wouldn't really hurt me. I don't know. It ended very sadly though except for the two I still have. Finally the county marshall's office sent me a letter that I would be arrested if I interfered with their trapping anymore or fed them. I still did it until I realized I wasn't making headway and the females were pregnant again.
One was obviously a stray, not feral. She must have been abused or something though, because she still does not trust me except to pet her a little. The other one I have is a smaller dog that I got by 'accident' thinking I was getting one of her puppies. I checked the shelter every day to see who had been trapped and got the stray and the 'accident'. She is totally feral. She likes to 'play' by running around me in circles and barking, etc.... but will not let me touch her at all. I had to sign all kinds of waivers to get these 'vicious' dogs. Obviously I'm still alive so I don't think they're too vicious. A friend of mine and I were able to get 2 litters of puppies out in time to socialize them and get them good homes.
What's very strange about these dogs is that the times I've had to trap them to vet them they just totally freeze they are so afraid. When I had them in carriers I was able to pet them, but they were shaking and so afraid it was pitiful. I was very afraid they would try to bite or be aggressive. It's so hard to catch them I've only done it twice with Amy and once with Little Sh*t. This summer it's got to be done though, because the vet said she'd go 3 years because of how they are with the heartworm med.s.
Most people think it's ridiculous that I've spent so much money (fenced the yard, bought a smaller pen to confine for heartworm treatments, etc....) for 2 dogs I can't even touch. And I wonder what kind of 'quality' of life they really have........ they won't come in the house and I'm constantly worried about them out in the weather. Of course they won't use their doghouses or go under my house crawlspace. They just lay out in the rain! So sometimes I do wonder about the decision to 'keep them' instead of letting them be euthanized with the others... But they do seem 'happy' when I come home from work and sit outside with them etc... Who knows?
t
"MacKenzie, Kerry N." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
"MacKenzie, Kerry N." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Tonya, just wanted to add to Nina's comment re e.g. the dogs you worked
with for all that time--you're a heroine.
Tireless efforts such as yours, at no small risk to life and limb, are
the true and original definition of 'heroine' (and not the silly deeds
you so often hear the word applied to these days). More power to you.
Kerry
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Nina
Sent: Monday, March 14, 2005 4:45 PM
To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org
Subject: Re: OT:Tonya - killing ferals
I'm sorry; one more thing that occurs to me that might help change your
mind after all. It seems to me, that killing animals because of the
suffering they may endure later is akin to how most people/vets feel
about immediately euthanizing FeLV/FIV positive cats. While ferals
don't have caregivers to ensure the best quality of life, they still
deserve to live it.
I'm going to try and shut up now.
Nina
Nina wrote:
> Tonya,
> What you went through with those dogs is heart wrenching! How awful
> for you and the dogs. I should have known there was a story like that
> behind your comments.
>
> >> My opinion is sometimes trapping and euthanizing is the best we can
> do for them. And these are domestic animals, whether they be feral
> from the fault of humans or not, it's a hard life for the adults and
> horrible for the kittens. :(
>
> While there may have been no alternative for those poor feral dogs,
> it's not the same for feral cats. Dogs pose a danger to the humans in
> their territory in a way cats never could. Wild cats are fringe
> dwellers, it's rare to even see a truly feral cat, let alone be
> threatened by one. They don't hunt in packs and don't pose a threat
> to humans or domestic pets, (unless of course they are disease ridden,
