Concerning My Avatar

[BulldogBalls]

Hi all!

It has come to my attention that their might be an issue with the interpretation of my avatar.

I just wanted to say I appreciate your concern for animals, most definitely! I want to say that my avatar is not what some may think it is - I had not looked at my avatar and thought it was anything aside from what it was so partially it is my fault in not thinking of other people's interpretation of that picture.

The dogs pictured are American Bulldogs. They are not killing or attacking an animal though it may appear to be that way. Those are hog dogs - specially trained dogs that are used for a legitimate sport called Hog Catching and also in real use on farms, ranches, and various operations in the south and spreading across the US with the increase in problems caused by feral hogs. The dogs do not kill the dog. The dogs do not fight the hog.

The dogs catch the hog. They are trained to catch at the ear/side of the head and neck as this is the area of the hog with the least amount of nerves and thus it is the most comfortable area for the hog and does the least amount of damage/causes the least amount of pain. The dog or dogs grab the hog and hold it until the hunter/handler can tie it's feet for transport to a holding pen where any actual wounds are tended to, or the animal is slaughtered sometimes for use as food much like other game animals.

If this is still horribly offensive to the members here I apologize though I must say it would shock me. Again, sorry for anyone who may have been offended with thinking my avatar was a picture of dogs killing or attacking some poor animal. I see that it could be misinterpreted as such but assure you I in no way shape or form condone the fighting of dogs or other animals.

I stated this thread with the intent that anybody who is offended can feel free to tell me so without the more or overly personal method of a PM having to take place. And also so that I may openly apologize to anyone who may have been offended thinking my avatar was a fighting scene of some sort.

Thank you,

Jenn M

[stangs13]

Didn't even notice the hog! I have no problem with it.

[Wolves-N-Dogs]

Hi all!

It has come to my attention that their might be an issue with the interpretation of my avatar.

I just wanted to say I appreciate your concern for animals, most definitely! I want to say that my avatar is not what some may think it is - I had not looked at my avatar and thought it was anything aside from what it was so partially it is my fault in not thinking of other people's interpretation of that picture.

The dogs pictured are American Bulldogs. They are not killing or attacking an animal though it may appear to be that way. Those are hog dogs - specially trained dogs that are used for a legitimate sport called Hog Catching and also in real use on farms, ranches, and various operations in the south and spreading across the US with the increase in problems caused by feral hogs. The dogs do not kill the dog. The dogs do not fight the hog.

The dogs catch the hog. They are trained to catch at the ear/side of the head and neck as this is the area of the hog with the least amount of nerves and thus it is the most comfortable area for the hog and does the least amount of damage/causes the least amount of pain. The dog or dogs grab the hog and hold it until the hunter/handler can tie it's feet for transport to a holding pen where any actual wounds are tended to, or the animal is slaughtered sometimes for use as food much like other game animals.

If this is still horribly offensive to the members here I apologize though I must say it would shock me. Again, sorry for anyone who may have been offended with thinking my avatar was a picture of dogs killing or attacking some poor animal. I see that it could be misinterpreted as such but assure you I in no way shape or form condone the fighting of dogs or other animals.

I stated this thread with the intent that anybody who is offended can feel free to tell me so without the more or overly personal method of a PM having to take place. And also so that I may openly apologize to anyone who may have been offended thinking my avatar was a fighting scene of some sort.

Thank you,

Jenn M

"legitimate sport called Hog Catching "

Legitimate Sport? You are kidding right? It ranks up there with dog fighting and is illegal in 32 states.

[JASBALLS]

"legitimate sport called Hog Catching "

Legitimate Sport? You are kidding right? It ranks up there with dog fighting and is illegal in 32 states.

How many states are in the union??

[slartibartfast]

I have to say, it does bother me a bit. I don't think hog-dogging is a necessary or humane sport, and while I acknowledge the legitimacy of using dogs in hunting feral hogs, I do believe that it causes the hogs pain. I'm a fan of Dogos and Catahoulas, and I've seen the galleries of hunt pictures, and the videos. I have immense respect for the work they do, but I cannot ever believe that the hogs do not suffer.

I had thought of sending you a PM about it, but I'm glad now that I don't have to as it's available for open discussion.

[Wolves-N-Dogs]

How many states are in the union??

Whats the union have to do with anything?

[BulldogBalls]

No I am not kidding and it does not rate up there with dog fighting. Illegal in most states because hunting with dogs, period, is banned in most states for game animals and for good reasons. Those good reasons being that the average joe does not understand the undertaking of training a hunting or bay dog and in most cases it would lead to a cruel end for the animals involved and that for most game animals dogs are not needed or warranted. FERAL HOGS are a different matter. Feral hogs can and do kill and attack people, pets, etc. they tear up land, are destructive, and considered an invasive species. Now with that said if the dogs were being used to attack and or kill the hogs I would be against it but that is not so.

Feral hogs are not killed or fought by the dogs. In the sport of Hog Catching, which is regulated I might add and has it's own associations for titling of the dogs. I imagine some abuse the concept of hog catching and hog hunting - but these are not the norm any more than it is the norm or acceptable to the general owners of these dogs than it is for people to abuse and neglect or illegally release their herps/HOTs/Inverts etc etc

Hog catching is not intended as a blood sport in any way shape or form though I will say I do not think any and everybody involved with this sport or these dogs abides by rules or a sense of morals. But that can be said in any field with any animal.

[Wolves-N-Dogs]

"No I am not kidding and it does not rate up there with dog fighting."

Sure it does your turning another animal lose on another the only dif. is your not getting paid to kill or harm a hog!

[BulldogBalls]

[QUOTE=slartibartfast;712808] I have immense respect for the work they do, but I cannot ever believe that the hogs do not suffer. QUOTE]

I never said the hogs did not suffer and nobody in that sport would try to claim otherwise. I said it is the most humane way and the most appropraite placement for the dogs mouth, the most comfortable in comparrison to say the stomache, nose, or breaking its legs.

I am shocked. I really am. I never thought that people who feed other animals to their pets would in any way be oppossed to the catching (not the killing or torturing or imhumane treatment of) a hog by a dog. You may not feed live but that animal died for the sole purpose of feeding your pet. I am pro live and don't mind the use of feeders in any way. If you think that a mouse or other animal doesn't suffer.. at all, in becoming a feeder I would like to hear the arguments for that thought. Even ones that are frozen or euthanized in any other way do suffer in some way - either the cold or the deprivation of oxygen or other means. And while it is fast and humane compared to other methods there is no zero suffering method unless you lethally inject them.

If done to regulation and properly with trained animals that are in control by the handlers this is not any less humane than the actual hunting of the animals with guns or knives.

If you condone the use of force to take the feral hogs out of the territories they destroy at all then you must know the animals are often just killed or that the means of capture can cause pain and injury as hogs are escape artists and evade snares(which I do not condone), traps, nets and all other manners of confinement to their own demise. They will injure themselves more in attempting to escape a strong net or cage or enclosure or injure the humans trying to be nice about it more than they are injured or suffer by the use of dogs to properly catch them.

Not to mention that being shot, if not correctly placed on the head (most shots are behind the front shoulder blades as with other game animals) is far more painful than being caught by a dog and living in a pen or then being properly and painlessly dispatched.

This is about the proper use of the dogs, I am not trying to condone or argue for those who abuse the right to use dogs or who are in it for a bloodsport purpose as some sort of entertainment.

I also hunt and realize some are against the killing of any animal at any time.

[Wolves-N-Dogs]

"I am shocked. I really am. I never thought that people who feed other animals to their pets would in any way be oppossed to the catching (not the killing or torturing or imhumane treatment of) a hog by a dog. You may not feed live but that animal died for the sole purpose of feeding your pet. I am pro live and don't mind the use of feeders in any way. If you think that a mouse or other animal doesn't suffer.. At all, in becoming a feeder I would like to hear the arguments for that thought. Even ones that are frozen or euthanized in any other way do suffer in some way - either the cold or the deprivation of oxygen or other means. And while it is fast and humane compared to other methods there is no zero suffering method unless you lethally inject them."

You can't compare the two. Truning an animal lose on another in the name of a sport as you put it. Is not the same as feeding of a reptile.