A Dog's Life in Paradise...

Forgot to finish with a positive note (poison is never a way to end a conversation)...

You can and will have many wonderful enounters with other dog-owners on the island. Indeed, most of our friends are fellow dog-owners we met on a dog-friendly beach. Sydney didn't know how to swim until she spent a few months watching her doggy-friends swimmimg after toys in the Atlantic Ocean. St Thomas may not be what we were used to, but it is its own special brand of doggy heaven.

Onika... your description of dog stuff in CA made me think of a commerical I saw on TV for beauty pagent for dogs - like a Miss USA for dogs... they had an evening wear segment too. I did not watch it. 🙂 saw the commercial a couple days ago.

Amy and others asked about pet conditions in the USVI. Onika described "good owners" doggy life. Onika mentioned a couple things about locals and dogs... fear of them, poison ect. I'll go into it a bit more.

I don't have any dogs or cats, haven't for a while; used to have both; dogs were kept outside often on the porch, or in the fenced yard which was partially covered. Cats outside too - they roamed around and then had a little bed on the porch where they would hang out - or they would hang out on the outdoor furniture. One dog got sick, the other was poisoned. The cats.... had them for a long time, one was accidentally hit by a car by a guest, another caught a poisoness frog and died, one fell into an open water tank and wasn't found until several days later.... all the cats adopted us... at one point 15 cats adopted us - eeekk!! In any case... the dogs - we'd take them to the beach to play fetch (a few beaches you can take dogs to, you have to be aware of other beach visitor....) or the pets would play in the yard.

Most locals don't usually keep there pets inside the house, they leave them outside. Dogs sometimes have dog houses often not - some sort of wooden board shed type thing for hiding from the elements. They are often tied up to a tree or a post. Many are the popular "Coconut Retriever" type. Many are not neutered so when dogs have puppies often the lot is dropped off on the beach or at the dumpster, sometimes at the humane society and sometimes given away. There are some kind folks who go down to the dumpsters with large bags of cat and dog food and sometimes even food for the chickens and feed the stray abandoned animals. Some of these abandoned animals wander to peoples homes where they get given straps of food and so they stick around - therefore adopting a family rather then the family adopting them. These animals get fed but they stay outside usually.

Overall the pets are not very well taken care of. This creates a problem for the animals and it creates a dislike of the animals because of the behaviors the animals take up as outside dogs and because of their treatment. Some owners will tie up their pets all day and then release them at night... the dogs then proceed to run around often into neighbors yards - tearing up garbage bags, knocking over garbage cans, digging up gardens, knocking over plants and pots, and making a whole bunch of racket. The dogs and cats often range from two extremes - really mean and unfriendly or really scared and wild.... if left out during the day these un- tame animals have been known to attack people and so a general fear of animals. Also some dogs in the past have gotten into peoples vegetable gardens and livestock and destroyed crops and attacked chickens and goats... so in defense some livestock owners have shot dogs that come onto their property, or put poison out, or catch them in cages and turn them over to the humane society as strays.

There are quite a few pet owners that are exceptions - they walk their pets daily, don't provoke them to attack and be mean, give them regular vet checkups, treats, teach them tricks and stuff, play with them....

Its up to you to make your pets life in the islands enjoyable. But be aware of the general populations pet feelings so that you don't make people upset and to protect your pet from the dangers neighbors might pose. Also be aware of cars, ticks, insects that could affect your pet. Learn which beaches are OK for your dog to be on because some of them its not OK. Usually the local less populated beaches are good.

--Islander

I have a big yard. Plenty of room for a dog to roam. Yes, when growing up, all dogs are to be kept outside. It's unheard of to have a dog in the house! My dog, Shotzie, however , is an exception. She enjoys most of the time outside. She has a concrete doghouse complete with pillows! On the nights she chooses to come inside, she makes no qualms aboiut it! When I open the door to come in, she just walks in ahead of me, I then know she wants the air conditioned comfort of the bedroom. Some nights I ask her if she wants too, she looks at me, and then comes, sometimes she ignores me! I guess she has me trained well.
In the morning, when she is outside, she pulls open the kitchen screen door, knowing I will give her a treat, she then retreats back to her domain, which she protects dearly. She thinks you should not walk past the house without her barking at you! I believe she thinks or knows that's her job. She has this system with the dog next door, Mikey, where they notify each other of someone coming!
Not bad for a coconut retiever that someone was trying to kill, when my friend stopped him and rescued the mother and whole litter!
She likes to take quick walks by herself(she pretends to escape and go next door and tease Mikey that she is on the outside!). When I walk, I leave her at home, too many kids with pit bulls like to walk their dogs in the same area I walk. Would not like to see the outcome if something happened!
One day I would like to take her to one of those doggie things. We'll see!
Ronnie

Ronnie - Shotzie certainly sounds like she has you wrapped around her paw. LOL.

Glad you mentioned the kids with pit bulls - forgot about them... an example of how the dogs are trained to be mean.... those dogs are very frightening and in my experiences the kids/owners seem to enjoy the fear the dogs cause in people - encouraging the dog.

--Islander

Thank You Islander, Onika & Ronnie!!! I can't tell you how crazy I have been for your info. Some things I expected- like FLEAS! Maggie (lab/chow mix=1/2 brat, 1/2 sweetheart) was born in Florida, and loves to roll in the sand! Islander, I am so sorry to hear of your experiences, and I take heed to all your warnings.
My dog is spoiled beyond belief, here in Colorado she is stretched across my bed, snoring. I just want her to sleep this soundly there.... Looks like a yard is necessary, not just a plot and some walking shoes.... I was really hoping to find a condo to buy that would suit us, but it looks like a long-term rental w/ yard is going to have to be it until I find a perfect situation!!!! Thank you again for your candidness..... Amy

Amy,

The folks that I know that have dogs, well taken care of and there are several. Let me give you the stories so that you can see the environment they are in... One owner had lets see 2 dogs - large ones - I don't recall what they were - but they were big - LOL... I remember that, those folks lived in Peterbord, they did not have a large yard, but had a large wooden covered porch and a large open house, they often left the great big porch doors open the dogs would go in and out of the house and porch... they were very well trained and protective of the owners children but did not bark and growl just stood their ground.... they were trained not to go in bedrooms and living room and they didn't. Another pet owner - he has 3 maybe 4 Rotweilers full breed... large dogs - LOL, he has a large yard up in Hull Bay area, his area is also fenced in, the dogs are very active and large so the fence is necessary. They are agreessive dogs but not many houses around them so not a problem. Another couple have three dogs (one of which got some sort of injury to the leg - so had to get apputated or put to sleep - the owner choose to have a 3 leged dog) in any case, she has a large fenced in yard, the dogs stay outside and cats inside, one dog got out of the yeard and bit a neighbors child - if the neighbor had wanted to I believe that he could have pushed to have the animal put to sleep giving the attack as an indication of the dogs aggression-- I don't really know the law about this well - but remember hearing the owner say something along those lines.... Another owner had a little dog - it was inside all the time, the owner would walk it around the area - they lived in a condo - maybe they snuck the dog in - the condo was overlooking Limetree area - that was years ago... perhaps the rules have changed. Lets see - the other owner had a pit bull mix and a german shepard - they were on a porch that was not high enough for them - german shepard often got out and terrarized the neighborhood kids, attacked several neighbors, a few to the hospital for stiches to the leg - owners are quite lucky someone didn't do something to the dog or to them as a matter of fact.... Last family I can think of --- ahhh they lived out in Estate Harmony, large yard, away from other houses sort of, 4 dogs I think, the little dog stayed inside and others ran around the yard. They used to take the dogs to the beach to run around.

So yes you need to find an apartment with a big porch where the dog can go in and out of the house or a fenced in yard. Walking shoes are good also. And if you pup likes to play maybe one of those chew stick toys or frisbee for beach playing time.

--Islander