Oh Deer!

jjohnwm

Potamotrygon
MFK Member
Mar 29, 2019
3,708
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Manitoba, Canada
My only bone to pick with JW's is not a personal one and has little to do with their religion or beliefs; I simply don't like the used-car-salesman pushiness and unending intrusion upon my own beliefs and personal space. If I tell you I am not interested in hearing about it...if I say I don't want the pamphlet...if I politely ask to be left alone...and if you keep coming back...that's where I start to get testy. Salespeople are often taught that the typical buyer will say no 7 times before relenting and making a purchase. Those folks take that bit of propaganda to heart, and just don't listen to NO.

I vividly recall an exchange between me and two of these otherwise fine folk on my back deck, years ago. Back then, before we had Duke (our current dog), we owned two fairly large dogs...one was a Mastiff/Dane cross and was much closer to 150 pounds than to 100. Both of them were absolute sweethearts, and both were very perceptive of my feelings towards other people. One day a couple of JW's appeared on the back deck, having parked their car on the road, climbed through the closed gate and trudged up 100+ yards of driveway. Both dogs were fast asleep in the shade under a tree. As the JW's stepped onto the bottom stair of the deck, the sound of their footfalls on the wood woke the dogs, who both trotted over to say "Hi!"

The five of us...two big dogs, two JW's and one unrepentant heathen...stood on the deck and I tried to explain my complete lack of interest in their presentation, to no avail. The dogs sat quietly behind them, wagging their tails and looking from me to them and back again. I repeated several times, slightly less patiently each time, that I was not interested. The JW's took no notice of either my increasing impatience or the dogs. Finally, I had had enough and interrupted them once again, sharply starting out with "Now, look..."

Both dogs' tails, which had been growing slower and slower throughout, now stopped wagging. Both dogs started growling; when Lotus (the bigger dog) growled, you could practically feel in it in your feet. The JW's stopped, turned slowly, and blanched all the way to bone white. I advised them of their best method of retreat to their vehicle, which they proceeded to do, flanked and escorted by both dogs out to the limit of the electronic collars that limited them to my yard. When the car drove away, both dogs trotted merrily back to the house, tongues lolling, tails wagging..."Did we do good, dad?"

I've probably told of that instance before, but couldn't resist it here; its Esox' fault for bringing up the topic of JW's. Just another example of why I prefer most dogs to most people. :)
 

The Morning

Potamotrygon
MFK Member
Jan 10, 2018
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Hard to see in the one pic but that is a deer standing on its hind legs picking apples out of the tree in my front yard. Second picture is a fawn in my garden. Mother left it but did come back later for it.

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Backfromthedead

Potamotrygon
MFK Member
Jul 12, 2017
4,530
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Fredericksburg va
On 2 occasions had a fawn left by the mother. Unfortunately had to bury halve a fawn probably got spooked by Coyotes. Also learned 4 years ago about the mother coming back to get the fawn.
Instinctive behavior it seems. I learned in school that when exhibiting this predator-dodging behavior, fawns are essentially odorless--their pheromone glands only start functioning when more mature; and the mother doe will emit a powerful pheromone to stimulate a predators chase, as well as make a huge scene and noise when fleeing to attract as much attention as possible.
 

Magnus_Bane

Redtail Catfish
MFK Member
Jan 26, 2020
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Canton SD
1000% agree. This should never be an option. Not only is it physically harmful to the cat but can also cause major psychological harm.

This is why allot of cats end up really mean with ppl/other animals, the cat knows it's defenseless and will act overly aggressive to compensate for it. They can also suffer from what's called "Phantom limb syndrome" where they feel pain in an area/body part that is no longer there. Now I'm not saying that all cats suffer from it but it is a thing that can happen.
 

jjohnwm

Potamotrygon
MFK Member
Mar 29, 2019
3,708
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164
Manitoba, Canada
Declawing a cat ranks right up there with docking ears and tails on dogs; disgusting and inhumane.

If the cat is then thrown outside to fend for itself, add "unbelievably stupid" to the list.
 

pacu mom

Goliath Tigerfish
MFK Member
Jun 8, 2006
3,311
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northern CA
On 2 occasions had a fawn left by the mother. Unfortunately had to bury halve a fawn probably got spooked by Coyotes. Also learned 4 years ago about the mother coming back to get the fawn.
Speaking of babies --
Last April while hunting of agates on the beach, we came across this sweet baby sleeping next to a large root wad.

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Sweet pup still had it's umbilical cord attached. I called the marine rescue center and was told that the harbor seal mothers leave their babies in a "safe" spot to rest while they go hunting. The mother seals come back for their babies. We hiked back there the next day just to make sure the baby was gone. It was.
 
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