dogs

Is this a repost? I read the exact same thread recently, didn't I?

there was one about dogs on beaches just last week or so. plenty of dogs on the beaches. also plenty of dogs without owners. st croix is very dog friendly

Here it is:

https://www.vimovingcenter.com/talk/read.php?4,241796,241966#msg-241966

thank you! sounds like dog heaven if they are out of the way of car traffic

thank you! sounds like dog heaven if they are out of the way of car traffic

With the caveat that you have your dog under your control at all times and under no circumstances running free in your neighborhood. Fence in your yard and keep the furballs contained.

I must admit I am not a huge pet fan. One of my concerns is the number of abandoned dogs that I hear exist on St. Croix. How safe is it for people who decided to go hiking, walking in the more quiet areas of the island? Is there a problem with stray dogs attacking people? I, frankly, didn't see, but a handful of strays, but I was really looking. I hear that there are quite a few in the rainforest.

Also, as wonderful as it sounds for people to allow their pets to roam free, I truly hope they have the decency enough to pick up after their dogs after they've taken a dump. Especially on the public beaches.

Also, as wonderful as it sounds for people to allow their pets to roam free ...

It's not wonderful and is illegal. There IS a leash law here. Got to love one of my young neighbors who walks her lovely pooch every day on our private road and carries a scoop and a baggie with her to clean up deposits. Unlike another neighbor who walks her bloody great dumb Rottie, lets him squat and poop all over the place and then just walks away leaving the piles behind. She's one I'm sorely tempted to invite in for a spot of Angel's Trumpet tea ...

i have never heard of the dogs attacking but there are a number of stray dogs and cats. some of the strays happen when people move back to the states.

if you go walking-keep some cat and dog treats with you. that should help

@OT, speee1dy. Good to hear. Thanks.

i have never heard of the dogs attacking but there are a number of stray dogs and cats. some of the strays happen when people move back to the states.

if you go walking-keep some cat and dog treats with you. that should help

With all due respect I wouldn't stand there facing a snarling dog holding out a treat and hoping that my sweet smile and offering will deter him from grabbing me. Friends here who've had problems with strays attacking them and their (leashed) pets opt for a heavy stick.

you are welcome. the strays are probably just hungry you know.

I often see people walking along the roads carrying a stout stick.
I had an encounter with a pack of dogs many years ago. My car had broken down and as I was walking, 4 dogs rushed at me, growling.
I hit the leader with my purse, upside his head and, luckily, they all scattered. I am an animal lover but that was one heart pounding, scary situation and pure reflex.

um, ot i would hope you would toss it away from you and hope they are hungry enough to go for it and not you . i know many people who carry treats for the strays

A neighbor had a Rottweiler who started getting out of his yard when I had the restaurant. The damned thing would come into the yard to take a dump but would quickly move off when I yelled at it. One afternoon I saw it out there again and went out of the front door to shoo it away, turned the corner of the building and there was not one Rottie but two, built like tanks.

I guess one's a coward but two make a pack as they both lunged at me and I don't think I've ever moved so fast to get back inside and lock the door behind me. I called the VIPD and they sent over an officer who, it turned out, knew whose dogs they were and went off to talk to the owner. He came back later to advise that the owner was very sorry but the dogs had figured out how to get out and he was immediately fixing the fence.

THAT was a good ending but I was terrified at the time.

I keep treats on hand for the dogs at the Humane Society shelter but not for attacking strays or escapees I don't know. The body may be aging but I prefer it to stay intact ...

I looked up some dog-pack defense tactics a few years ago when strays were roaming my old neighborhood. From what I remember:
- Carry a stick.
- Whack the leader, and the rest will scram.
- Don't smile. They'll see it as a teeth-baring threat.
- Keep your back against a wall, tree, or other object, so no dog can attack from behind. A rear attack is a common pack tactic.
- If you're bitten, don't pull away. You'll just turn a puncture wound into a worse wound.

thanks for the info,

of course i would fence my yard.....but my pointer needs areas to run (keeping me within eyesight) and my lab follows along. finding areas i can take them off leash is what i struggle with here on the mainland. they follow me.....i dream of my dogs being off leash more often.

thanks for the info,

of course i would fence my yard.....but my pointer needs areas to run (keeping me within eyesight) and my lab follows along. finding areas i can take them off leash is what i struggle with here on the mainland. they follow me.....i dream of my dogs being off leash more often.

Unfortunately that's really a luxury here! My neighbors have two lovely border collies who of course are a breed who flourish in open spaces where they can run and herd - but they seem to have adapted to life here very well where they're basically confined to the house with a small yard. They "herd" the two house felines for practice! They'll likely end up back in very rural US one of these days where they'll have acres to run!

We have a pack of 6 dogs that used to chase my car EVERY morning on the way to work. Have seen them roaming at work as well. They kill iguanas, cats and chickens every week. I'm sure they "belong" to someone but I carry a stick in case of emergency.

Now that is a valid reason for concealed carry!

Now that is a valid reason for concealed carry!

I'm thinking about it. First I need to amass an arsenal larger than STX PD.

Even if you have a good dog who comes when called and "can' go out without a leash I wouldn't recommend it when out and about. I have seen too many good dogs try to socialize with other dogs, leashed or not get into brutal dog fights. Plus even a good dog can have a bad day. Never let your dog in public without a leash. Oh yeah and please carry poop bags.

poop clean up is mandatory. i guess im really asking are there places i can let my dog run
with relative peace of mind? areas known by local dog owners.

I take my dogs to Chenay Bay Beach but again never off of a leash. There are many people here who are afraid of dogs no matter what the size. I always find it funny to watch a "thug tough guy" cringe and give a wide berth when my 10 pound dog walks by. Even if your dog is friendly someone who is afraid could hurt him or her, not to mention critters who could distract the dog, iguanas, chickens, and peacocks (yes peacocks). So unless you can find a place with a yard here (STX) and they do exist keep the pooches leashed. Trust me on this one.

I wouldn't let my dogs off leash to run wild. Too many unknowns.
They have a quarter acre, fenced, for their use that's just land and
are always on a leash outside the home.