Close Call, letter I sent to dog owners -UPDATE -Ellie just attacked

[birdlover]

It's 9:30. How is she???

 

[sundance]

I think you have a great deal of patience, and caring to send a nice letter like that.How is your hand, I know when my yorkie got bit, the vet told me that a dogs mouth had more germs than most anything else. I would ask for proof of a rabies vax. be Safe

marrie

 

[agnes_day]

if i were you, i would make sure they stayed in an enclosed area of some sort until you can get your fencing situation worked out..our back yard wasnt fenced for the longest time because we didn't have the right materials, so i just made a fenced area with those metal stakes and a roll of animal fencing from the feed store..it was pretty cheap and when we had a stray wander into the yard, it kept them safe. even if there were no stray dogs, loose chickens can wander off and get lost, get eaten by a wild animal or anything it seems.

 

[Lunachick]

Judy - please tell us good news.....I'm practically in tears reading about what you are going through. Your poor animals...

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

Oh, Judy! What a horrible time you are having!

My Pooh had a similar gash on her side (unfortunately done by my own dogs after Pooh went through the fence into their backyard!). The vet stitched her up and I spent a week dosing her with antibiotics and pain meds. The good news is that today she is fine and healthy. She even laid her first egg yesterday! Have hope. Chickens can recover from some pretty stupendous injuries.
Happy thoughts to Ellie and her boy BJ!

 

[jjthink]

Friends,

Ellie is home. BJ can hardly contain himself. He is dancing so many happy circles around her that I think he will need Dramamine! God how I love him.

Ellie is limping, all crooked from lots of missing feathers, but apparently all sewn up. I will examine her closely once they both calm down. Today it is an odd 60 degrees so she and BJ are safely in their house and run area, a place she's familar with and so she'll be less stressed. It is pouring rain - the part of the run closest to their house is covered. Temps will drop to 30 by tomorrow so I may have to bring them in for awhile to the bathroom infirmary so she can recuperate without trying to keep warm at the same time. I don't want her energy being used to try to stay warm.

The vet didn't have time to see me when I got there so I don't know if he has a sense about internal injuries, the blood she had in her eye, or anything else. I was sent home with antibiotic to administer twice daily (Sulfatrim). I asked the tech to have someone call me back about my questions concerning care of the really big wound, whether to keep her from jumping, etc. I would like to give her aspirin water for pain relief (she has got to be in a world of hurt) but I'm not sure she's done bleeding yet.

A shame, isn't it, that our sweet birds can't enjoy THEIR OWN YARDS (that I pay $10,000 in annual property taxes for, I might add, fo a small cape and 3/4 acre) without fear of devastation from the careless acts of irresponsible humans. I am not so much worried about wildlife preds because the birds are locked up tight at night and there's generally no threat in the day except for possibly hawks, but BJ has an eagle eye out for them. He is an amazing scout.

Amazing how draining it is always dealing with the fallout of the irresponsible actions of others.

I've very glad that Pooh recovered.

I'm going to go check on Ellie and then make the rounds to go get meds for Teddy......

THANK YOU.
JJ

 

[FrChuckW]

JJ,

I am glad to hear the good news about Ellie. Keeping my fingers crossed for a speedy and complete recovery.

 

[lobb40118]

There are many pellet rifles (air guns) that should be legal even in the suburbs. Gamo even makes an air shot gun that could hurt the dogs and not kill them if you loaded it with rock salt. Just a thought.

 

[ChanceRider]

First, let me say how sorry I am for all that you are going through. A couple of years ago I had a pack of dogs (belonged to our neighbor) chasing down my old Appy horse, and I know the trauma that caused Sparky and me!

I live in a rural area that has signs posted warning people that dogs that harrass livestock can be shot on sight, so I've acquainted myself with the use of a handgun and shotgun.

Since you're in an area where you can't use those... what about an air pellet gun? We've used one to dispatch raccoons. Or, a paintball gun. I've heard that getting hit with a paintball can really sting and bruise. Plus, it'd let the owners know their dogs have been where they shouldn't be.

Don't give up your fight... I'll be hoping for a speedy recovery for you and Ellie.

 

[horsejody]

Quote:
Be careful. Most jurisdictions consider bruising a dog as cruelty.