By Joe Rodweller
So far, it’s been a better season this year when it comes to hunting dogs being lost in the woods. As of about a week ago, after talking to some other neighboring towns, there have only been two bear dogs and one bird dog lost during hunting. These dogs have all been found shortly after losing them. I did not get a chance to contact all our surrounding towns, but I do think the number will stand at what it is up to this date. Nothing as far as any accidents has been heard also. This is outstanding on the part of our large hunting dog community.
There have, however, been other household pets, dogs and cats that have been coming up missing in just about every community. Some of these have gone missing right at the home and just outside the door when they are left out to do their business. When it comes to having a pet disappear in an area such as the town of Houlton it is hard to imagine that something like a predator animal has taken it. Some believe that predators would not come around an area because there are just too many houses and too much noise. This is far from the truth.
Fox and coyotes can easily make their home in any community. They could be living under your deck or porch or even in a pile of rubbish in the backyard. These predators make it their purpose and priority not to be seen. Another really sneaky predator is the raccoon. A lot of people look at them as cute little fur balls that couldn’t do any of the bad, nasty, bloody things that those other fox and coyotes do to pets. That is so wrong. Those cute little fur balls are number one on the suspect list when it comes to small pets or chickens and ducks coming up missing, with the fox a close second. These are just three predators that I have listed but there are more, and some fly, so keep a sharp eye.
Most of the times we will get someone complaining of chickens missing or a small dog like a Pekinese that has disappeared. We check the area, set up cameras and traps and about 95 percent of the time we catch the culprits either on camera or in a trap, and it’s usually a raccoon. I should say that most of the small dog and cat disappearances that are never recovered are due to the fox and coyote in that area competing for any type of food they can get. It’s usually when the regular “rodent” type food has been all but wiped out that the two bigger predators will get more daring around houses looking for easy pickings. This can also happen now because winter is coming and they are all looking for a nice cozy spot at your home to keep warm and fat for the long winter. You do not want a family of raccoons between 20 and 30 pounds living in your attic, basement, garage or shed. They are one of the most destructive critters around. Squirrels are just as bad and could burn your house down when they chew on your wiring.
All I have put in my articles are from my observations either from past experiences of my own or from my colleagues and from the many hours and days of training we receive just to be able to do this, the right way, and with common sense. I have, myself, been doing this for over 30 years either through the S.P.C.A., the Humane Society, or another form of enforcement, and even at an animal shelter. So when I try to give advice, for whatever the reason, it is not meant to be anything but advice through experience. I am only trying to help you. I have had someone tell me I sound like I know everything and they didn’t like it, and another snap at me because I gave them advice.
Well, I can say I don’t know everything and I don’t think anyone knows everything. I can say that I do know a lot about animals and I have the time and experience to back it. But when you make statements like, “I don’t need your advice,” “I know what I’m doing” about animals and say this just because you may have helped at a shelter or a rescue or own a dog or cat for a couple of years, this does not make you or anyone else an expert. Just remember stuff happens and it happens to all of us.
So I think I’ll just continue to give advice and you can either choose to take it or not, that’s your right. But remember if you do not care and treat your pets/animals right and I see you doing that I will do right by your pets/animals through the law. This is something every A.C.O. stands by. Something else to remember, you are just as guilty if you know about animal abuse and do nothing about it.
Joe Rodweller of Linneus, a certified animal control officer and member of the Maine Animal Control Association, operates Maine Animal Control with his wife Debbie. He can be reached at 538-1347 or via e-mail at debjoe347@yahoo.com.
