science_doc

I took off early from work today and went to the local humane society....always makes me so sad :cry: There was a 9 year old lab mix that was logged in as a stray, as well as 3 pit bulls and a GSD/chow mix that were in "protective custody". My partner and I spent a bunch of time with the lab, he was so nice. We have decided that when we are rich and famous were going to buy a ton of land and visit shelters to adopt all the older dogs who seem to have no chance. Of course I found an amazing red colored lab mix that I REALLY wanted to take home, but my boss just told us were moving in 1.5 months so it will just have to wait until I get settled again. What makes me really :evil: about all the "strays" out there is when you take them for a walk it's obvious they know what a leash is and most even know really basic commands like sit. So I have been laying awake at night thinking are all these dogs beloved family pets that have just gotten lost? Or is the unfortunate truth that these "stray" dogs are turned loose by unfeeling people who are too lazy to even drive the dogs to the pound? Probably some combination of the two, it's just when ever I visit the human society I get mad/sad. I don't mean to ramble on, but I just wish there was more I could do, but then I'm sure that I'm preaching to the choir.

Okay now that I have "outed" myself as an occasional guest I have to enter a very novice opinon about head halters. My rescue Lab/husky was a very hyper little dog(duhhhh), and sometimes on a leash she would suddenly take off at full speed. I had her tied up on a 15 foot lead while I was working in the garden....she spotted a rabbit and boom she took off. She was going so fast in 15 feet she snapped her buckle collar. Needless to say this was the one and only time I ever tried to tie her up with me while I was outside. I had begun basic obedience with her and all the trainers instructed me not to use a head halter with her because her unpredictable behavior on a leash could lead to a neck injury. I tried a specially fitted nylon choke collar (vollhard collar) and all she did was choke herself during our entire walk. So I relented and bought a pinch collar. This was the most amazing change in behavior I have ever seen in a dog. NO MORE pulling, lunging, runing, etc. The neck ache I had for 1.5 months finally went away and my dog quit choking herself on every walk. Made a believer out of me. *nough said*

Okay since you guys want to separate the "bad" from the "good" guests.... In the debate on animal research I was the "good" (or at least I hope you think I was fair and open minded) scientist guest :oops: I feel much more comfortable with the people on this site since you all seem to agree PETA should use their money to help animals instead of blow up labs. I have worked in places that received mothly bomb threats so I am scared.......... but I hope that nothing bad will come of me trying to ease your minds about at least some animal researchers.

Okay I swear this is a true story about a cat, not a dog, but still cute. When my sister and I were still living at home we had this cat who would always bring mice up out of the basment. So far no big deal, but my dad noticed that for some reason her food dish was always being dragged away from the wall into the middle of the basement. Then one day he went to the basment to find the cat sitting on something watching a mouse crawling into her food dish. It suddenly dawned on him that she was using her food as bait to catch mice, amazing! Later that same year my parents found a 2 inch gap in a window casing that was letting the mice come freely in and out of the basement. I really think animals have more intelligence than they people think.

That was the saddest thing I have ever read.....I want to take a copy and post it on the door of the human society!!!!!!! Now I'm more sure than ever that I will adopt an older dog instead of a puppy! Why can't people stop and think before they act!!!!!!!