At the moment, they have run out into the wide world yesterday mid day and will not come back. They have nothing to eat since then (that I know of!) We are in rural area and there are live stock nearby, another worry. They will sit either on the drive or the neighbours garden looking in and crying but nobody can catch them to bring them back. They are almost wild, they think it is a game. Does anyone find this concerning...if I am reading this correctly the dogs are currently loose. Catch the dogs

I do not know what the laws are where you are but where I live in New York State, cats are considered feral animals. There are no laws for keeping a cat inside or on your property,lol. I am sure it was frustrating, but it could have been a feral cat.

Maybe it was a feral cat with no owners. IDK unless you have seen the cat before and know its someone's cat, I would be more apt to assume that it is a cat without a home or owner. Maybe there should be leash laws on cats,lol. I guess all the farmers around me would be in big trouble with their barn cats then. I have two friends that are animal control officers and they do not do anything for feral cats or cats in general...unless they are injured.

Um..."wild pitbulls" how do you know they were pitbulls? Donkeys are really good with protecting herds...usually a jenny and a jack. The jenny stays with the herd and the jack protects the herd.

Sorry you don't have health insurance. Doctors offices always act like they are soo busy yet drive by their office and the parking lot is empty, lol. If you don't act like you are practically dying they won't bother to squeeze you in. Luckily, our family has good health insurance and good doctors. The receptionists could be better though.

I think there is more going on then just the husband being upset with the shedding. I think you really need to have a discussion and have all the positives of having the dog as part of it. He needs to give a "valid" reason as to why the dog must go and shedding is not sufficient. I think that it is a selfish move on his part (wanting to take the dog to the shelter), he has been dealing with the shedding for a year and now he wants the dog gone? I think that there is more going on then what

Have you spoken to him about him being so unreasonable? Maybe counseling. Have you changed any cleaning products or food that the dog has eaten or come in contact with? Could be something like that, I don't hop on the drug band wagon....I found that my dog has allergies to dyes, chemical preservatives and grains. From your first post it did sound as though you had resigned yourself to the fact that your husband was going to take Sam to the shelter. You need to get some serious conversations going

Simply, would you eat after a critter got into your bag of food? I would find a critter proof container to storethe food in. Just curious where were you storing your food?

The point is buying from a puppy mill only encourages the breeders to keep breeding them. Besides they could be inbred or may have more health issues then ones breed by a reputable breeder. A reputable breeder will have the dogs genetically tested and temperment tested as well. It would be terribly heartbreaking to get a puppy only for it to become very ill or have health issues. I suggest buying the best dog food you can afford. Harley(Shih Tzu) has grain allergies and he is on a grain free diet

Have you researched the breed at all? Are you sure that this is a breed that will fit your lifestyle? I have a Shih Tzu and if you want a dog that likes to hang out with people more then dogs, that would prefer to lay around the house and is very laid back, then this breed may suit you. If you are looking for a breed that you can be more active with then this probably is not the breed for you. If you are going to buy a puppy then do so from a reputable breeder, or rescue, or shelter. Puppies are