Maggie got hit by a car... :(

[Jessika]

I understand, thank you Jessika. No our yard is not fenced. Our dogs have always been allowed to go where ever they want, which is usually no where. We live on a HUGE farm, with over 150 acres surrounding us. The highway is about 1/4 of a mile away.

OK, thanks for clearing that up, that helps. For some reason I had the image of a suburban area like where I used to live and I was horrified at the thought of dogs just running amuck, but if you're on a semi isolated farm with acerage it isn't AS bad, but they do still need to be confined for their own safety. 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?

[sammy101]

i'm glad she's ok!

. 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?

I was thinking the same thing. A large fenced off area for them.

[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

[dab_20]

That must've been very scary!! I'm so glad she's alright, and I'm glad your taking action so they don't have a chance to get hit again.

[slleipnir]

I had a feeling it would happen sooner or later. I remember a post about this a while ago. I think it's a little sad that it took maggie getting hit for you to want to do something to keep them safe (don't get me wrong, I think it's very good you're doing something. A lot of people wouldn't) but all I mean is, we all saw this coming, and what if she had been really injured? She's very lucky if she's not hurt. I'm very happy to hear she's not. And I'm happy to know you'll keep her out of the roads

It's maybe not an option for you, but is there anyway to build a fence for them? I had plans to move to the country, and if I do I will have a really big fenced in place for my dogs. I couldn't take chances with them, and this way, they're not tied up and have lots of room to romp. And if I'm around, then can be out and about.

Also, please don't think of this as an "attack". I'm not trying to point fingers or say mean things (even if it looks/sounds like that.) I'm not. I don't think badly of you at all, I'm just putting my opinion.

[anna_66]

Gosh how terrible I do hope that she is still doing alright, I'd hate to think of anything happening to that beautiful girl of yours.
Here's a big {{{HUG}}} for you both.