Maggie got hit by a car... :(

[Toby's my baby]

Have you thought of getting a large kennel, or fencing off a part of your yard for them to run around in while they can't be supervised?

Yes, I have, but my grandpa (whom LOVES animals, and gets mad at us if we even put the dogs on leashes to work with them) and my dad, wont even hear of it. They think that if we are going to have dogs, that they should be able to run free, and if they have to be locked up, then you shouldn't even have them Of course, I COMPLETLY disagree with this. I would LOVE to get a fence/ kennel. At first I thought, maybe a four foot fence around the yard, but a few days ago, we locked Maggie and Autumn up in the horse barn, and the door is about 5 1/2 feet tall, and Maggie jumped it . So now I know that we need a taller fence, so that would probably require a kennel. At the moment, I don't have the money to buy a big kennel for them each, but I was wondering... I've heard that if you have two dogs, that are always together, and you lock one up, the other doesn't usually go anywhere..?? is this mostly true, or is it just with some dogs. A friend of mine, has labs, and if they are both untied, they will run away, but if one is tied/ kenneled, the other doesn't ever leave the yard. She switches which one is tied/ kenneled everyday. I was just curious, and thought of this as maybe being an option. My grandpa is always home, (he lives in a trailor house in our yard) and the dogs are usually in his shop in the winter, but now that it is warm out, he is usually working in the garden. I'll have to think about it a bit, buy maybe my grandpa could build a kennel for the dogs to be in. I hope we can figure this out soon..

[Jessika]

If you're going to tie one up, you might as well tie the other up too. Because what if they spot a rabbit or squirrel or something and run after it into the street, etc?

[Toby's my baby]

If you're going to tie one up, you might as well tie the other up too. Because what if they spot a rabbit or squirrel or something and run after it into the street, etc?

Yeah, I guess you're right. I just went down stairs, and talked to my dad about it, and I got really upset. I can't STAND the way he thinks about my babies. He said that its a waste of time, and I told him that Autumn and Maggie were my whole life, and I loved them so much. I'm so upset right now (not at any of you guys) but at my parents, for not treating this the way that they should. I wish they saw our pets the way we see them. Maggie and Autumn are like my children, and my parents just see them as "pets".

[BC_MoM]

I'm so glad Maggie's alright. But I totally saw this coming. If it were my dogs, I would have acted before it came to this.. but at least she's alright!

I say rebel against your grandpa and whoever doesn't want you to contain your dogs while you can't watch them. I'd rather have a destroyed house than a dead dog!

[carole]

oh Dear sounds like a close call , i am so pleased to hear Maggie will be ok, but yes do get her checked, internal injuries are often common and they can end up bleeding to death.

I am sorry to hear your grandpa and parents don't share your views on caring for the dogs, you can only keep telling them how much it means to you and hopefully they will eventually listen, and see how happy it makes you,if you show them how responsible you are with the dogs , surely that will coax them a little to your way of thinking, here's hoping, and i really do feel for you, parents don't always do the right thing in their childrens eyes, and it must be so hard to have different points of view on their care and really have little say in it.

Hugs to you and Maggie.

[Toby's my baby]

I am sorry to hear your grandpa and parents don't share your views on caring for the dogs, you can only keep telling them how much it means to you and hopefully they will eventually listen, and see how happy it makes you,if you show them how responsible you are with the dogs , surely that will coax them a little to your way of thinking, here's hoping, and i really do feel for you, parents don't always do the right thing in their childrens eyes, and it must be so hard to have different points of view on their care and really have little say in it.

Hugs to you and Maggie.

Thank you so much Carole

[cyber-sibes]

I wish they saw our pets the way we see them. Maggie and Autumn are like my children, and my parents just see them as "pets".

That must be very frustrating for you. i know alot of farmers have the opinion that dogs "should" know enough to stick around, and I go by alot of farms nearby and sure enough, there are alot of dogs lying in yards and out in fields. But your two chase cars, quite a different situation. I have nothing against dogs living outside, my two do. They are completly surrounded by 6" kennel fencing that runs between out buildings. Unfortunately when we first moved in, an old barn door where the kennel meets the garage popped open during a storm, and my dogs got out. Rosie was hit by a car and died right in front of my house. So believe me, I do know how real the possibility is. (before this, she would always stay right by the house if she got loose). I hope you can convince your family to make a safe, secure area for Maggie & Autumn. It is heartbreaking to loose them.
Will keep paws crossed Maggie will get a clean bill of health at the vets!

[trayi52]

Glad to hear Maggie is okay. I understand about living on a farm, when I was a little girl, I lived on a farm, but of course my parents let me keep my dogs in the house. Wish you were that lucky, but I do understand that it is not up to you, that it is up to your parents. You will just have to do like Carol said, and who knows, they might just give in!

Willie

[Toby's my baby]

i know alot of farmers have the opinion that dogs "should" know enough to stick around, and I go by alot of farms nearby and sure enough, there are alot of dogs lying in yards and out in fields. But your two chase cars, quite a different situation. !

Just wanted to clear this up, they don't go from the house out to the end of the drive when a car comes by, the only time they "chase" them is when we are waiting for our bus in the morning, and a car drives by. (the run out the driveway when we go to meet the bus in the morning) Otherwise they both stay at home all day, and lounge in the yard.

I hope my parents allow us to get a kennel or fence in a part of the yard...soon.

[buttercup132]

Awwww poor girl!!!
I'm glad shes not hurt.
What a scare

[Pembroke_Corgi]

Yeah, I guess you're right. I just went down stairs, and talked to my dad about it, and I got really upset. I can't STAND the way he thinks about my babies. He said that its a waste of time, and I told him that Autumn and Maggie were my whole life, and I loved them so much. I'm so upset right now (not at any of you guys) but at my parents, for not treating this the way that they should. I wish they saw our pets the way we see them. Maggie and Autumn are like my children, and my parents just see them as "pets".

I know just how you feel! Growing up I lived in the country, and my dad feels the same way as your parents. My parents are now divorced, but when I was 12, I convinced my parents to let me get a dog. I did everything with him, and took him to classes, he was a very good dog. But he had to live outside, and my dad is very sensitive to noise and couldn't stand when he made the slightest bark, he made me get rid of him. That was one of the saddest days in my life, when I had give up my dog that I spent so much time with. Luckily he went to a great family (where he got to be an indoor dog) and I got to visit him every once and a while until they moved away. I guess I'm just trying to say that I understand that most of this is out of your control, and I know how you feel. I'm glad that you are doing what you can, that's great. Good luck convincing your parents.

[Lori Jordan]

I lost my baby boy RB Bandit to a tragic car accident,and i feel so bad for what has happend to him,he had to be tied he was not good off lead,The night he was killed i was taking him out for his last washroom break i had him out on the leash walking him around he started to pull i tripped and up and over the ditch he went,and within seconds....i rushed him to the vet he was bleeding internally and had broken legs i will never for get that day i had to make the worst decision in my life "To Let him Go" I'm so glad Maggie is ok and good luck on trying to get a fence!!!!!they really do save lives!

[dab_20]

I'd also have to agree that if a fence is an option for you, then I would build one instead of tying them up. But if it isn't, then tying them up seems the best way to go.

[bckrazy]

I'm very sorry about Maggie. That must have been so, so scary! For your family and for her.

I feel very bad for you... I also know people who used to have a farmers mentality - dogs will stay on their property, or they'll be killed. Well, honestly, it isn't 1945 anymore! There are lots of cars, lots of hazards, people are less respectful of other people's animals, and for the most part nowhere in our country is loose-dog friendly. My sister's aunt and uncle have Australian Cattle Dogs working on their huge cattle ranch, they're extremely obedient and loyal dogs, and very friendly to people they know. However, after 3 of them chased and bit (not severely at all, but enough for lawsuits and fines!) passerby's they started to reconsider fencing in the front of their property. Before they got that up, their favorite girl, who mothered 2 amazing litters, was killed very painfully by a truck. She didn't chase it, she was just on the roadside hanging out. Now, they're adament about keeping their beloved pets/working dogs either in a secure pen or indoors when no one is with them, AND they fenced in their property. These are farming people who are very "oldschool", but they totally changed their ways after realizing the world is not a nice place for roaming animals. It really sucks that some people think it's cruel to keep dogs inside or in a secure kennel, but they think it isn't cruel to subject them to cars, cruel people, cold/hot weather, etc etc!

Since you have a fence-jumper, I recommend a pen like this because it can fit both dogs happily inside, and it's secure. They need to be in a secure area while they're alone outside, period. I kind of get miffed when people say "...well, that's just what everyone does in my town." But how many dogs have died from being hit by cars, or have run away, in your town? I know you know better, but definitely stay strong and keep nagging your parents! If you save up money to pay for the kennel, will they really deny you of that? You say that your pups just lay around when no one's home... meaning, they really aren't utlizing that 150 acres. So, what's the difference if you're keeping them in a large safe area where they can hang out safely while you're gone?

[cyber-sibes]

Since you have a fence-jumper, I recommend a pen like this because it can fit both dogs happily inside, and it's secure.

...and economical! The kennel you posted is really modestly priced. You could point this out to your parents, too. The kennel we use is quite a bit more $. To compare, you could show them these: http://www.petproproducts.com Maybe a summer job (if you are old enough) would allow you to help pay for them?