Comments

Posted by mc2rwe

That is a tough lesson to learn for a little one though. We have had our ups and downs with farm "animal" life. I hope that he forgets the pain quickly though...

Kathy

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Posted by Pattisea

They really find a cozy spot in your heart, don't they? I hope your boy recovers quickly; I'll bet he will, with all the other kittens to watch over.

Patti

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Posted by Hisirishgem

I'm sorry to hear about the poor little kitten, but praise be to God that it didn't have to suffer anymore. I pray that your little one would find comfort as he grieves for his little kitten. I'm sure it can be hard for them.

Just love the pic of the dog though! Yay to protecting the chickens!!

Rebekah

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Posted by HSBFrontPorch

Midlife Woman,
You made A LOT of really false assumptions here. After looking at your blog, I'll chalk it up to insomnia, lots of stress, and bad prior experiences, but I must deal with some of the issues you raised here.

First of all, every dog and cat on our farm is spayed or neutered that is of age yet. We are not the barbarians that you make us out to be with little regard for animals. We are animal lovers and have adopted through the local animal shelter, the humane society, and taken in animals that other irresponsible people have dumped on our country property.

Hank that I mentioned was one of a litter of 9 dropped in a fox hole by our creek. We spent the better part of a cold winter day luring those puppies out, feeding them, and cleaning them up. We then called the vet and got the appropriate medicine to treat them and made sure that they were all healthy before finding them all new homes. We have at times taken caught stray dogs and taken them to our local animal shelter. We prefer to find them homes because we know they have very limited days at the animal shelter before they will be euthanized. And as far as our local humane society, they aren't an option. They stay at capacity and have to just tell people to take the animals to the shelter.

The kitten that passed away was one that we adopted. It was dropped off at a family member's house and we chose to adopt 4 of the 6. Not because they were going to be a *cash crop*, but because they needed a home and we were able to provide one. You say look for a rescue group - folks around here think that we are a rescue group!

I find it funny that you are blogging here at HomesteadBlogger, but you talk about crappy herbal cures. To me, there is a time and a place for medicine, but I believe that God provided much of what we need to take care of ourselves with nature. I don't make the choices I do because I don't care. I make the choices for my healthcare, my family's, and our animals based on research.

Furthermore, I suppose you didn't read one of the previous entries where I blogged about trying to feed a stray dog so that we could take it to the shelter the next day. That was the night that we lost all of our chickens. Before you go tossing stones at someone else, you might want to consider that you might be underestimating the issues that they are dealing with. You might be able to lure a starving dog with food, but often they are fear biters. I'm not willing to put my health or the health of my family members in jeopardy for a stray dog. Also, we don't have an open bed pickup truck. When we take an animal to the shelter (30 minutes away and only open 4 1/2 days a week - typically while my husband is at work and can't help me), we have to put it in the back of our car - sometimes they are incredibly dirty, sometimes they get sick because they're nervous, and sometimes they try to tear up the car. Yes we have a kennel and we use it sometimes, but sometimes the dog is too big. What do you suggest? Should I call you next time it's 1 AM and a dog is trying to get our chickens?

I'm sorry that my entry conveyed to you a lack of responsibility or compassion or that it stirred your anger at *most* country folks. Most country folks that I've met, do the best they can to treat their animals with the best care, but often they are forced to make difficult decisions. Living out in the country, doesn't give you the opportunity to simply pass the problem along to someone else. You have to deal with it and the reality is that you can't simply take on everyone else's problems. You have to draw the line somewhere and we feel like it's important to do our best to protect our animals. If everyone else would be as responsible, we wouldn't be faced to make the decisions that we do!

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Posted by HSBFrontPorch

We definitely will have to agree to disagree. And we have the freedom to do that because men fought for those freedoms. They knew that some things were worth fighting for and weren't afraid to use guns when needed. They also had to make hard decisions.
~Nancy

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Posted by OurLittleHomestead

Wow.....Nancy, you n your 'people'....

I guess I am in good company.

I for one, will not hesitate to use my gun. Dog, cat, cute little whatever....person....don't care.

It is my right to have it and use it, and use it how I see fit I will. If I were your son, I'd of got the gun and shot it, you bet. Not because I am a horrid dog hater....because,
A) the animal shouldn't BE on my property....
B) see A

What if my children were out playing and a dog comes up and attacks ? The dog shouldn't BE THERE, where are the owners....?! Stray ? Sorry......still shouldn't be there and me n my children come first! If the dog dies over my children getting bitten.....or worse.....so be it.

Same goes for any critter....or person...it's the way it is.
I am not waiting on the 'animal rescue' or the police to show up while MY animals and family are stalked or attacked....or we get to watch our flock get eaten. Not going to happen.

I've been in a few of these type situations before....with animals and a few with people. When you live in the country you have a LONG DANG wait to get help--you must be able to protect your own and willing to do it. I am.

If you are willing to watch your kids or animals attacked, or worse... that is YOUR choice, you bet.....just as it is mine to handle in my way.

My .02--and thankful to be a God fearin' American to have the right to do 'er :)

Lisa

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Posted by southofthegnatline

When "we" and those like "us" live in the country - we don't have animal control. Because it's in the country. Animal "control" was created for more populated areas. WE are animal control. If EVERYONE was responsible for their animals there wouldn't be a need for animal control...........

Have many guns and I know how to use and don't hesitate to use them - ESPECIALLY if whatever it is (or they are) are after ANY of our livestock, cats, dogs - anything we own - it's ours including the "livestock" (coyotes, dogs, bobcats, ....predatory anything....including human) - if it's on our property (or they) it's called TRESPASSING and every member of our family has been taught and instructed to shoot first and ask questions later - including me - the only female. If it's our livestock - it makes no difference what/why we're raising it for - it's ours.

I have to ask - why WOULDN'T someone protect their livestock, animals, pets, family, home.....? What pioneer and farmer didn't and what homesteader/farmer wouldn't today?

Our cats were kittens not wanted and we keep all of our offspring - spay/neuter - keep. We eat what we hunt, fish, raise and we protect. God designed all that we needed - any other way is to follow "man" and it seems that man-made ways (unnatural) seem to continue to undo all that was created - is it any wonder (some of) the population is beginning to recognize the need to return to natural ways of living......how in the world will people ever protect their families if they can't protect their property, livestock, etc.?

Nancy - I agree - we are free to live these lives because of those who are willing to risk their lives (with guns) to ensure these freedoms for us all.

Proud to be an American and a gun toting one, too.

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Posted by Anonymous

Altho i do not agree with midlife women and I will have to pray for her, I am a member of PETA and the N R A. Of course we all know the meaning of P E T A

P eople
E ating
T asty
A nimals

and the meaning of N R A

Nationol
Redneck
Asociation

So all I have to say is God bless George Bush and thank the Lord for Winchester Reapeating Arms.

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Posted by JoyceFamily

From someone who has raised sheep and chickens in the country, miles from any "animal control". We WERE the animal control, as well as a favorite drop off point for people wanting to abandon their animals. Anyway my suggestion is this... a pellet gun can give an intruding dog/coyote/coon/fox a nasty sting, enough to make them head for the hills, without doing lasting damage. We did use that approach on several occasions.

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Posted by HSBFrontPorch

You know Eleanor when we first moved out here, we quickly were asking our neighbors about what to use in those instances - BB gun or pellet. Some of them also suggested using Rat Shot in a 22.

As they say, "It's a good way to *pepper em* real good". That is actually what we do if we think it's just a curious, wandering or mischeivious animal, but after losing all of our chickens that one night I do think twice about just shooing an animal down the road if I think it's starving or dangerous.

Thanks for the good practical tip for others who might be wondering, but too shy to ask.

~Nancy

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