Bugging Out with Pets - My Plan

[Flea]

If my dog can't go then I ain't going....period. You ain't gonna tell me that a 20lb dog is some kind of burden. I have seen people trying to carry suit cases while being rescued. I am 240lbs...just pretend I am 260

If some asshat tired to hurt my dog like I read they did during Katrina...well let's not go there.

I believe when I adopted my dog I took on a responsibilty to make sure that animal was well cared for and protected. If your not ready for that kind of commitment you really should reconsider adopting a pet of anykind in the first place.

Anyone read about this mental midget?

[Dark Cloud]

If that ever happens just PM me and I will come get you and the cats.[/quote]


Ha! Will do. But if I'm ever trapped on my roof because of a flood, all my peeps (I have peeps) in the New Orleans will be in much worse shape! BUt wait, don't you have a boat? Or didn't you used to ahve one? Couldn't we just dispatch the ZS Navy Rescue Team? I have a decaying Blue Jay in my basement, but it's not sea/floodworthy.

Either way.

I always considered Nick my main cat and the rest (we are down to seven now) my emergency back-up cats. I've been making-do with these, although Esau aka Tiger-Moose aka E-sausage aka Meatball, my less neurotic orange tabby does have the makings of a good BOC, Bug Out Cat.

The rest, not so much.

As far as feeding my neighbors to them, we still have three of the four rescued from the nasties in the old neighborhood, and have now inherited three of four born to the nasties across the street. The momma cat died in kitten-birth in her second litter and is buried behind my shed. The neighbors always seem to get evicted. Imagine that.

[raptor]

If that ever happens just PM me and I will come get you and the cats.

Ha! Will do. But if I'm ever trapped on my roof because of a flood, all my peeps (I have peeps) in the New Orleans will be in much worse shape! BUt wait, don't you have a boat? Or didn't you used to ahve one? Couldn't we just dispatch the ZS Navy Rescue Team? I have a decaying Blue Jay in my basement, but it's not sea/floodworthy.

Yes if you are flooded the GNO area will likely be flooded also. I was being facetious.

I recently (3 weeks ago) got rid of my large boat but I still have a 16 foot Boston Whaler. You can never have too many boats or cats.

+1 on cats and BUCs sorry to hear your neighbors are so irresponsible. Personally I like to think there is a special place in hell for people like that.

As for eating my pets I stated in another thread that I would never eat a pet and I would make kitty stew out of any person trying to eat my pets.

http://zombiehunters.org/forum/viewtopi ... 79&start=0

I think I am on the same page as you guys on that one shillard,dark cloud & rflemen.

[Snapcat]

Anyone know the shelf life of a bag of dry pet food?

THis is something I never gave much thought to. I just figured I'd toss them in the car with all our stuff. However, it's much more complicated I see from all your posts and experiences. We adopted all of our cats from a shelter at verious times. Unfortunatly, one of them is declawed, he was when we got him, and up there in age so we wouldn't be able to leave him behind to fend for himself. The other two are in good shape and could fend for themselves if it came to that. But I would make every effort to take them with me.

[Flea]

Anyone know the shelf life of a bag of dry pet food?

THis is something I never gave much thought to. I just figured I'd toss them in the car with all our stuff. However, it's much more complicated I see from all your posts and experiences. We adopted all of our cats from a shelter at verious times. Unfortunatly, one of them is declawed, he was when we got him, and up there in age so we wouldn't be able to leave him behind to fend for himself. The other two are in good shape and could fend for themselves if it came to that. But I would make every effort to take them with me.

If it is sealed from the factory should have a fairly long life, although I personally would change it out after a year.

Disclaimer: I am not an expert....but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

[raptor]

Anyone know the shelf life of a bag of dry pet food?

All the cat food I buy has a "best by" date on it, generally this is near the batch number. I go by that date for replacement/rotation purposes.

The Purina 1 that I buy generally has a date between 18 month to 24 month life when I buy it.

[raptor]

If some asshat tired to hurt my dog like I read they did during Katrina...well let's not go there.


Anyone read about this mental midget?

This is rather graphic video and shows actual video footage of St Bernard parish deputies shooting dogs for fun and sport. Charges against these asshats were dropped this week due to "lack of evidence", you be the judge (I wish you could literally be the judge!).

http://www.dallasnews.com/s/dws/photogr ... ydogs.html

[Flea]

If some asshat tired to hurt my dog like I read they did during Katrina...well let's not go there.


Anyone read about this mental midget?

This is rather graphic video and shows actual video footage of St Bernard parish deputies shooting dogs for fun and sport. Charges against these asshats were recently dropped due to "lack of evidence", you be the judge (I wish you could literally be the judge!).

http://www.dallasnews.com/s/dws/photogr ... ydogs.html

For some reason I have a soft spot in my heart for animals (pets). Don't get me wrong, I have no objection to eating animals (hunting for food, cows, pigs, etc.). My wife laughs at me because she says I have more sympathy for pets than I do for people...

I look at it this way people have choice, higher intelligence (well most anyway) and most importantly thumbs . Pets are at the mercy of people for the most part. A dog that is a pet has no fear of people so it won't know to run when some dicksmack hiding behind a badge (no offense meant to honest, hard working LE folks - they earn their money everyday) points a gun at it. I have heard of these incidents down in New Orleans and to be honest those guys are pathetic.

[raptor]

The people (and I use the word "people" very loosely here) responsible for these truly despicable and repugnant acts have thus far escaped prosecution despite the efforts and funds of many people (my time and money included) and will likely walk away without prosecution.

I wish I could say they will get their comeuppance at some point , but the reality is that this will not likely happen. St Bernard Parish where this happened is another world.

Nevertheless this is why I prepare and why I state that I will never permit any governmental agency to have any control over my pets at any time as long as I am alive.

[CommonHighrise]

...I state that I will never permit any governmental agency to have any control over my pets ...

Funny you should say that, as my local city is reviewing their ordinances concerning dogs. They want to make people pay a $500 annual tax if they have a non-spayed/neutered dog on their 'dangerous' list, including such breeds as pit bulls, bull terriers, dobermans, rottweillers, and german sheps. They also want to add a $100 annual tax to anyone having any non-spayed/neutered canine. Also, for the 'dangerous' list, they must be kept inside fencing at least 8' tall, have visible warning signs, can only be walked on a chain leash, and must wear a muzzle at all times in public. My dogs are fixed, and not 'dangerous', but Im just saying. Also, this legislation will also be shot down like a zepplin, just throwing it out there.

If its go into the gov'ts refugee camp without my dog, or go elsewhere, I already know Im better off on my own with my dog, so thats not even a question.

For dog/cat food dry storage, just keep two bags at a time stashed, while you feed them out of a third. When that bags empty, just cycle them through and pick up a fresh bag. If you do canned food, same thing, but with cases instead of bags.

And finally, while Im pretty good with my pets health care (one serious vet visit in 9 years to confirm a bladder infection in our female), I wouldnt mind checking out what you guys are packing for a canine FAK/support kit? I know its something Im gonna be needing to throw together.

[colinz]

I'm not leaving him behind. Ever.

[Snapcat]

For dog/cat food dry storage, just keep two bags at a time stashed, while you feed them out of a third. When that bags empty, just cycle them through and pick up a fresh bag. If you do canned food, same thing, but with cases instead of bags.

Very good idea. Thanks

[Flea]

I ain't leaving her either...

[Fenris]

Colinz, I luff your Border-mixxxxx!!!!11!1

-fenris-

[Fenris]

Hey CZTech, I think Pinchy would rather go back to the wild, lol... From the looks of him, he's missing the Ladies, heh...

-fenris-

[CommonHighrise]

Neat little trick I picked up on for a hiking collar for dogs.


Its your average chrome twisted-link slip-collar, with O-rings at each end. I took some of the omnipotent 550 paracord and laced it through each link, running once down its length, then doubling back and lacing in the opposite direction.



This makes it a little more comfortable for my dog to wear all day, makes less noise, plus holds about 36" of paracord, should I need it.



Here it is on my boy. I usually hook his leash through both the slip collar, and the regular nylon collar. The nylon collar gets tight when I snap the leash before the slip for gentle corrections, but should I need him to really focus, its easy to just unclip the D ring from the nylon collar, than try and find the ring for the slip collar. Also, if the buckle on the nylon collar should break, the chain collar is there for a backup.

One quick word of caution on using these collars. Get proper training first. When used correctly, these are an excellent way to delivering corrections to your dog. But I often see people using them incorrectly, ie letting the dog constantly pull on the leash, letting the collar cut into their throat. Half the time, the collar is also installed backwards in this situation, and remains cinched tight on the dogs throat, even after they stop pulling.

And just because I had an issue today on the trail, Id like to mention that if you let your dog off-leash while hiking, thats perfectly fine by me. However, put the leash back on them and have your dog under control if another dog enters the area. My golden almost had a midday snack of pug, because the dipshit owner let it run off leash, and he ran right up to my boy yapping.

[pyratemime]

No question the dog and the cats go with us in a bug out. We will sleep in the truck or the tent before giving them up so we can stay in a shelter if it were to come to that.

[doctor_ocks]

Obviously my wife and son come first, but our GSD Rio is part of the family. He's my best bud.

Here's a picture of him shortly after we rescued him, looking like he wants to eat my friends GSD Akida mix - he was a hobo, so I know he's a fighter and survivor.



If, for some terrible reason I had to leave him, I would leave the house open for him as well as the gate. He knows the neighborhood and how to get back home. I got a call from a neighbor once telling me my gate was open and that she had seen Rio running around a couple of blocks away. By time I got outside, he was already back on the deck just chilling. He had run over to see another dog he knows and then came right back home. When we're out on walks, if I closed my eyes, he could lead me back home. Sometimes he's a real baby, but he's pretty darn smart.

[pyratemime]

Raptor you had mentioned as a last resort people taking care of the euthenasia themself. Being that most of the methods that come to mind from what I have available in the house would not meet the quick and painless criteria I was wondering if you had any suggestions should the worse case of the worst cases become an only option.

[maetsack]

I ain't leaving her either...

Hey rflemen - is that sweetheart of yours a beagle?

I have an airedale/GS mix (12 yrs) and a male beagle (6 yrs). Love them both and feel as you - if they stay, I stay, no exceptions. Their health and well-being is fully integrated into my planning and anyone that looks at them like they are expendable, better not be allergic to 7.62.

[RebelKangaroo]

Luckily for me, my wife isn't a cat person so that's not something I'll ever have to worry about. Both of us love dogs though. And like several of you I'm of the opinion that if the dog can't go, neither will I.

That said, I like the idea of a dog that could be a nice help with hunting or whatever in the PAW. This way your little friend is also a welcome addition to the bug out as well as being a great companion. Even more reason not to ever leave them behind (as if there weren't enough already, but some people seem to need a concrete reason).

[Flea]

I ain't leaving her either...

Hey rflemen - is that sweetheart of yours a beagle?

I have an airedale/GS mix (12 yrs) and a male beagle (6 yrs). Love them both and feel as you - if they stay, I stay, no exceptions. Their health and well-being is fully integrated into my planning and anyone that looks at them like they are expendable, better not be allergic to 7.62.

She is actually part beagle and part hound (the vet is not 100% of the type of hound but has guessed Fox Hound or a mix of that type).

She is an absolute sweetheart. We picked her up from the ASPCA here in SC and got very lucky, she was a breeze to house train and is VERY good with kids. She is actually coming up on 2 years old in a couples of months.

[CommonHighrise]

Raptor you had mentioned as a last resort people taking care of the euthenasia themself. Being that most of the methods that come to mind from what I have available in the house would not meet the quick and painless criteria I was wondering if you had any suggestions should the worse case of the worst cases become an only option.

Bullet to the back of the head, starting just behind one ear, and exiting out the opposide side eye socket is about as quick and painless as you can ask for (for the dog anyway).

Personally, I cant think of one single situation that I would put my dog down from, other than pain and sufferering from a mortal wound/bad snakebite. If the zombie hoardes were closing in, and the last departing rescue chopper would take me, but not my dog, Id ask them to hover around a bit longer, so someone can witness the badassness of me taking as many with me as I can. And then he'll be another zombie dog to wet your beds over.

[raptor]

Raptor you had mentioned as a last resort people taking care of the euthenasia themself. Being that most of the methods that come to mind from what I have available in the house would not meet the quick and painless criteria I was wondering if you had any suggestions should the worse case of the worst cases become an only option.

Bullet to the back of the head, starting just behind one ear, and exiting out the opposide side eye socket is about as quick and painless as you can ask for (for the dog anyway).

I am actually very uncomfortable talking about alternate and detailed methods of destruction for healthy animals and pets lest someone (a non-ZS'er of course) think it may be a good and "fun" thing to do. Therefore my advice to plan ahead so that such destruction is not required and if it is let your heart be your guide.