CSNbbs

So anybody who knows my dogs, or has seen photos, knows that the gentlest of the bunch is Sadie. We rescued her from Memphis Animal Services last September, she was covered in fleas, had mange, kennel cough and when she was a stray she somehow broke her leg and it didn't heal right. Yet she is the gentlest, sweetest dog we've ever had. Some sort of Pharaoh Hound mix, I think.

Anyway, today she comes in with something in her mouth. I figured it was a stick. Well, no. A field mouse. Dead, thankfully. She seemed quite proud herself. After disposing of it and calling the vet to make sure there was no danger, I looked on the back deck, where she had another mouse. One of our other rescues, Gracie, likes to get moles, so if we can train the German Shepherd to run off bill collectors we'll have all the most common varmints taken care of.

I can relate.....my Ko brought Momma a surprise one morning after being let out to do his business. He came running back to the door all excited, which isn't that unusual, except this time I could tell he had an extra spring in his step. His eyes were gleaming and his tail was wagging just a little faster than normal. As he got closer, I noticed he had something in his mouth too (didn't have my glasses on) and my first thought was that it was a stick. I went ahead and let him in with the "stick" but immediately reached for the "stick" to unlodge from his grasp. Didn't take me but a second to realize it wasn't a stick. It was a dead giant bird of some sort. Of course I screamed bloody murder and freaked KoKo out so he dropped it in the middle of my kitchen floor. He really didn't know what to do.... he kept looking at me in horror and then looking down at the dead trophy bird (looked like some sort of GIANT blackbird) that he was so proud of seconds earlier.....I finally composed myself after I did the nudge with a fly swatter test to make sure the thing was indeed dead. He was so confused at my actions and my reluctance to even get near "it". I wrapped it up in paper towels and actually gave it a proper burial....he hasn't seen fit to bring me any more surprises since that morning....I can't imagine why.

(04-02-2011 05:12 AM)missjtiger Wrote: [ -> ] I can relate.....my Ko brought Momma a surprise one morning after being let out to do his business. He came running back to the door all excited, which isn't that unusual, except this time I could tell he had an extra spring in his step. His eyes were gleaming and his tail was wagging just a little faster than normal. As he got closer, I noticed he had something in his mouth too (didn't have my glasses on) and my first thought was that it was a stick. I went ahead and let him in with the "stick" but immediately reached for the "stick" to unlodge from his grasp. Didn't take me but a second to realize it wasn't a stick. It was a dead giant bird of some sort. Of course I screamed bloody murder and freaked KoKo out so he dropped it in the middle of my kitchen floor. He really didn't know what to do.... he kept looking at me in horror and then looking down at the dead trophy bird (looked like some sort of GIANT blackbird) that he was so proud of seconds earlier.....I finally composed myself after I did the nudge with a fly swatter test to make sure the thing was indeed dead. He was so confused at my actions and my reluctance to even get near "it". I wrapped it up in paper towels and actually gave it a proper burial....he hasn't seen fit to bring me any more surprises since that morning....I can't imagine why.

He was probably expecting it for supper. I think in these situations we should just be glad the animals are dead when we see them. Otherwise, what would we do with them?

My parents beautiful dachshunds once brought a squirrel in through the doggy door. I think it was a present for my mom. She said she almost had a heart attack, but that they looked "so proud of themselves".

Sounds like you guys need some outside cats. They bring all sorts of wildlife to the back door all the time.

(04-02-2011 08:34 AM)georgiatiger Wrote: [ -> ]My parents beautiful dachshunds once brought a squirrel in through the doggy door. I think it was a present for my mom. She said she almost had a heart attack, but that they looked "so proud of themselves".

She make a nice stew with it? My brother tried raising possums for the dinner table, even stored a flat roadkill one in the freezer. But I think that qualifies him as a scavenger, not a predator.

(04-02-2011 08:53 AM)U of M/ND fan Wrote: [ -> ]Sounds like you guys need some outside cats. They bring all sorts of wildlife to the back door all the time.

Ain't that the truth!
I had 2 inside/outside cats once, I swear they wiped out the chipmunk population in my neighborhood! It was 2-4 everyday, front and back door!
And they were always so proud.

I have two cats, but they haven't been outside in 12 years. However, I don't need them. Sadie trotted up with mouse #3 yesterday. 2 more and she's an ace.

(04-01-2011 10:29 PM)TigerBill Wrote: [ -> ]So anybody who knows my dogs, or has seen photos, knows that the gentlest of the bunch is Sadie. We rescued her from Memphis Animal Services last September, she was covered in fleas, had mange, kennel cough and when she was a stray she somehow broke her leg and it didn't heal right. Yet she is the gentlest, sweetest dog we've ever had. Some sort of Pharaoh Hound mix, I think.

Anyway, today she comes in with something in her mouth. I figured it was a stick. Well, no. A field mouse. Dead, thankfully. She seemed quite proud herself. After disposing of it and calling the vet to make sure there was no danger, I looked on the back deck, where she had another mouse. One of our other rescues, Gracie, likes to get moles, so if we can train the German Shepherd to run off bill collectors we'll have all the most common varmints taken care of.

Field mice were no match for our blue heeler and german shepherd. The heeler dug it up and grabbed one....the shepherd somehow chased the other one down....all underneath a trailer...pretty impressive for a 100 pound 12 year old shepherd.

I know our blue heeler and austrailian shepherd(deceased) significantly reduced the possum population in south tipton for a while there. Between them, they had at least 3 pregnant (or recent mother) possums...as well as dozens of others over a few years. The pregnant ones were the worst...you'd find little popcorn possums all over the yard.

They even managed to take down a huge groundhog. That was one deadly duo.

(04-04-2011 01:19 PM)ummechengr Wrote: [ -> ]Field mice were no match for our blue heeler and german shepherd. The heeler dug it up and grabbed one....the shepherd somehow chased the other one down....all underneath a trailer...pretty impressive for a 100 pound 12 year old shepherd.

I know our blue heeler and austrailian shepherd(deceased) significantly reduced the possum population in south tipton for a while there. Between them, they had at least 3 pregnant (or recent mother) possums...as well as dozens of others over a few years. The pregnant ones were the worst...you'd find little popcorn possums all over the yard.

They even managed to take down a huge groundhog. That was one deadly duo.

you country boys are something else....had to hear my plant manager tell his story of his weekend saga....he raises goats and sheep and one of his goats gave birth (well....he had to work for 6 hours to pull them out) to deceased deformed Siamese twin baby goats....ugh.