Tuesday: I'm sorry - didn't mean to offend you Life's too short

My apologies - kind of sounded like you didn't realize how dangerous that was for an animal to do

Tuesday: An average schoolbus weighs about 24,000 lbs. empty (they have numerous springs, airbrake tanks, etc. to be safe with the weight of 70ish people when full) & don't stop on a dime like your average 1500 lb. car If she gets run-over (God-forbid), she'll be crushed, no matter how big a dog she is, best to keep her indoors - I tell people from the get-go to either leash or keep their dog indoors if their dog is the "chasing" kind (sadly, bus drivers barely know when they've run over an animal, dog or otherwise) - I also have dogs that wait for their "kids" at the corner of the property, but are wise enough to keep clear and wait - I wouldn't risk having my dog killed that way

Tigger: They put his nose on his head? I don't blame him for looking sad

Tigger: .......the dog looks humiliated .......

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20071031/capt.9ba9b88807fc427a99ea3b01ab4abe66.halloween_treat_cx106.jpg?x=380&y=282&sig=cgQZYQ.c4FN5skvzM9ByQg--

A photo provided by the Chicago Zoological Society's Brookfield Zoo shows Hudson, a near 1-year-old polar bear cub, enjoying a Halloween pumpkin at the zoo in Brookfield , Ill., on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2007.

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20071024/capt.d8a6066cd88e4b6a813bdb456d5291a1.zebra_dolphin_wxs105.jpg?x=360&y=345&sig=UzPnhw2CjGK95B.F4ZvGVw--

n this photo and caption provided by Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, Beauregard, an 8-month-old male Grants zebra is greeted by Brandy, an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin while out on a daily walk around the park at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, Calif., Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007. Beauregard was hand-reared at the park and takes daily strolls around the 135-acre park.

Zoe, a domestic shorthair cat, touches the mouse of a computer during a media preview for The Cat Fanciers' Association 5th Annual CFA-Iams Cat Championship in New York October 10, 2007.

I'm probably on my fifth (?) shelter animal/pet & every one of them (including my current mentally gifted but very beautiful and loving doggie) has been co-owned by both the shelter and myself, meaning that if for some reason I can't keep them, or something happens to me, they go back to the no-kill shelter that I adopted them from. I think from the PSPCA's (Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) point-of-view it's to ensure that the pet will never be put down unnecessarily or put in an environment that the society doesn't approve of beforehand. I don't know if they do that for every animal they adopt out, as mine were "special" cases, I was interviewed, supplied references, etc.....my dog is even "chipped" with both our info just in case.....If Ellen was aware from the get-go, I don't see why she was so upset about it, there are literally thousands upon thousands of shelter animals across the country that need homes

Tuesday: What a good dog And smart too

Tuesday: I think Rose is right on the money with that one - I had an older ferret who was on a really special diet and dry cat food was his main food (easy to eat/digest), but three different Vets (he was sickly and spent alot of time at the docs office) told me never to give him dog food, even the all-natural stuff cause his system couldn't break it down. I used to put some dry cat food mixed in the dog's food and that kept the dog out of the ferrets food dish. Even tho the ferret's passed on, I still give the dog some cat food mixed in, I think she's more of a chicken/fish dog then redmeat

anastasia: Congrats to Damien & to Niki too

wetware: Ahhhhhhhhhh But God loves us no matter what our faults and failings - I'm pretty sure all cats go to Heaven too

Ewe: Now THAT'S a cat I could love & I do think they're beautiful animals, just wish they weren't such hunters, I guess

Tuesday: Poor, poor Willie Wade (may he rest in peace, messy or not) - THIS is why I'm a dog person - why DO domestic cats have to kill things anyway? I've had TWO rescued rabbits killed by neighborhood cats in my yard & they actually waited for the dog to not be there both times to attack (and they were both REALLY sweet older rabbits)

wetware: I have no clue, but I've always wondered what they'd go for too

anastasia: I think in a way I do understand what you mean by the "bond" that you share :) I had a male dog (half black lab/half setter) for over twenty years of my life (from a pup till the day he passed at a very, very ripe old age). He was my best friend, and was always there for me, no matter what, and vice-versa :) He was an INCREDIBLE frisbee player (did back-flips literally, if he had to, to get it), would follow me out past the breakers in the ocean even tho it was WAY too deep to stand (and you could tell he was thinking about WHY, but he'd come along anyway), the neighborhood playgrounds were obstacle courses for him (he took on any and all challenges as if he had no fear & people used to come around and watch him in amazement ), and even as a very old man, totally deaf, half-senile sometimes, and with his joints sometimes hurting him, he could be a 1/4 mile away and if someone approached me, he'd magically be at my side within seconds.....I will always love that dog, he had a heart that had no boundaries and wherever he may now be, I know he deserves nothing short of pure happiness, for that was what he gave me - if you only find a dog like that once in a lifetime, I'm glad I found him So, in a way, I think I really do understand

anastasia: W-o-w, absolutely awesome I think it's an amazing thing to be able to teach/train an animal to be of such service, whether for your own protection, or as a "worker dog". And I totally get the reason for the stick being used - these are by no means your "average" pet doggie & they need to defend themselves against whatever a human might throw their way. Besides, realistically, if a dog like one of these wanted to do a human REAL harm, they'd do it, whether they were in pain at the time or not - after all the work/time/effort on both the human and the dog's part that got them that far, they deserve to be respected for what they are capable of

anastasia: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDZcqBgCS74

rod03801: I've never seen anything like that one - Volant posted it originally, maybe she'd know? Incredible horse tho, whether they won or not

anastasia: Wow, they are sooo beautiful I wish Damien much luck

anastasia: Very, Very Well Said And 100% true - we could stop taking what little "wild" space there is left

anastasia: Even tho I don't eat meat, I understand that for some people hunting serves a purpose. There are people in my own community who hunt for a less expensive way to feed their families, other people that I know hunt for sport, but donate the meat from an animal to food service organizations, and I know that over-population of deer (for example) can devastate a harvest for some farmers. I think if an over-population of wolves is endangering someone's means of making a living, then sadly there may be a need to thin them out, but, as for an "aerial hunt", where is the sport (?) in that? I don't see animals as being equal to humans, but I do think that ALL animals have the right to be treated humanely

anastasia: I don't get the point in making it illegal to hunt them presently in some states to bring the populations back up and then do this in others (i.e. Alaska)?!?! Maybe if I were a cattle farmer, I'd see it differently tho, but it's hard to believe there's a huge amount of "cattle farming" in Alaska

anastasia: Is this a "state-wide" thing in Alaska or just certain areas condoned by certain government officials? And, what, it's too cold for the poor humans to go it on foot? Their prey has to

anastasia: I don't necessarily agree with hunting per se, but I don't really eat meat either, so.....but how "manly" is it to use a helicopter? I agree, it's not even hunting, who would authorize this as a sport in the first place?

anastasia: Coming from a place where people are already out there hunting (I don't hunt, but a lot of people here do) and it's only September here, but, at least it's not being done by helicopter - who could ever think that's a way to hunt game (wolves or otherwise) - shame on them

Tuesday: Maybe it's just me, but if my pet animal got bit by ANY wild animal (snake or otherwise), I'd take it to the vet, or at the very least consult with them on the phone about it.....

I think that the difference for me is that of all the dogs I've shared my life with thus far, most (if not all, they were all taken home from shelters) were and are capable of biting a human, but I've never had a dog in my life that I ever wondered whether they had it in them to actually try to kill. Pitbulls are just as sweet as any other breed, but I'd never take one home, just because of what they can (and sometimes will) do

They ARE beautiful dogs that are capable of giving much affection and love - - - but, all in all, they are also capable of killing a human if they so wished to - - - for that reason alone, I'd rather they were banned where I live for the sheer possibility that I wouldn't want my own dog to be killed by one. Yes, any dog can and will fight (mine included), but not to death. I'm sorry, but Pit Bulls kill, it happens even when they aren't "trained" to do so, I don't see the breed as a "pet", maybe they should be classified as a "guard dog" if people really, really have a need to own one?

Well, they've definately been contacted by someone with reference to keeping their dog in a crate/pen for hours and hours on end. They aren't doing it anymore, he's now free to roam their house all day (I found this out thru someone else at work). As for anything else, all I know is that they still have their dog, and they really aren't saying much to me this past week (probably because they wonder if I'm the one who called) - but at least he's not laying in a cage with no food or water all day anymore - it's a start

Jim Dandy: Awwww, how cute For anybody who might need to give their animal "meds" orally, (been there, with a ferret and a friend's bird), if you get a thin syringe (5ml), and squirt past their tongue, they don't mind as much (don't have to taste it that way) & give em a chaser of water or whatever to get the taste out of their mouth

anastasia: ................wasn't easy, but I did...............will let y'all know

Tuesday: Me too, it's sad, just really sad

Tuesday: Nooo, more like whacking him full-force with a stick kind of hitting
(or kicking him in the side, or smacking him with his leash, or smacking him in the face area...) - I feel like we should trade dogs for a day and see how many times mine drawls blood on them in return, maybe then they'd get a clue

Tuesday: I'm trying to let them know how wrong I think it is to hit on him like they do (he's young, really young), but they think it's gonna make him tougher in the long run.....I tried telling them what a "special adoption" dog (like mine) is like, but I don't think they get it. I believe my dog will probably never trust me fully (she's got real issues), but at least I know that she'll never let a human hurt her again. Other than a phone call or two? .....

Tuesday: I'm also amazed by how much abuse some animals will take at the hands of a human. The people who's dog I watched (?) also hit him all the time. This dog could literally fit my entire forearm in his mouth, yet he lets them beat on him. My present shelter-dog doesn't even take being yelled at, she comes right at me, without a second thought. I guess she had too, too many of those beatings at somebody's hands But I still love her, just like one of my kids, she's got her own quirks

Tuesday: I'm not the type to put "domesticated" animals into the wild, exact opposite actually(besides we've got black bears in the woods here), people bring me animals that were once someone's "pet" and ask me to take em in all the time But I do feed quite a few "once-owned" cats all through the winter, I've seen too many dead from being left like that to fend for themselves I don't get why some people bother to get a pet if all they do is wind up throwing it outdoors and make it homeless - not EVERY shelter is a "kill" shelter

Tuesday: They are home now (Thank Goodness) & I know exactly what you mean about the "Set them free!" - I've been tempted to myself plenty of times (including this past weekend, it took alot to just not take him WAY into the forest, and hope for the best for him, but I didn't)

Thanks for all the input & they aren't really friends of mine, just work acquaintances - if they were friends, I'd tell em off.....He made it thru the day, but I feel SO BAD leaving him like that. Not only is he stuck in a lay-down position (he's BIG, a shepherd), but it was very warm in their place when I went in after work (they have two cats, who are fine, but they are also not in cages). I gave him a good thirty minute or so walk after work, took him off-leash to run a bit in a nearby field, but then had to put him back in his crate. I did give him some treats from home when I left, but I still feel terrible leaving him like that. I wanted to stay and keep him company longer, but my own doggie was waiting at home to go pee. Hopefully tomorrow their relative will get here, I really don't want to do this all weekend, it just doesn't seem right.

Jim Dandy: LOL - how cute - anybody ever fall in? I had a friend that had a male cat who actually went potty in the toilet (but he couldn't flush it) & the same cat would play "fetch" with bottle caps. Even tho I was highly allergic to him, I'd watch him anytime, he was an awesome animal

Jim Dandy: I guess if cats do it, then it's okey. Even tho I'm not a cat person, I've always thought that cats are smarter than dogs (i.e. they don't do things like walk out into the road when there's a car moving on it, they can hunt for food if they're starving). My dog is so pampered that she gets filtered tap water, and if it's not really cold, she won't drink it...plus I put those bleach tab things in the toilets in my house, so it wouldn't be drinkable anyway