Topic: NOT FOR THE SQUEAMISH?

[Glyn]

Never let your dog chase Porcupine
                           
                           
The dog is OK, just a bit sore for awhile. :o :o :o :o

[undercarriage plan]

Aww Glyn.  That poor little thing! Is it your dog? Lottie  :'(

[Glyn]

Noooo! it's not my dog Lottie.....
Some poor mutt from the states.

[undercarriage plan]

What does the porcupine look like without any spikes!!! Someones going to be busy with tweezers.....! Ouch! Lottie

[Derekthefox]

Looks a bit like a loo brush (sorry!)

[Roy Bham UK]

::) Don't let me hear anyone say dogs are intelligent :P ;D

[giantseye]

OUCH :o

YOU'D HAVE THOUGHT THE DOG WOULD HAVE HAD THE BRAINS TO BACK OFF ???

IT' A STRANGE WORLD WE LIVE IN ;D

[kelso]

Oh my God!! :o

[Glyn]

YOU'D HAVE THOUGHT THE DOG WOULD HAVE HAD THE BRAINS TO BACK OFF

Porcupines throw their quills so fast, you have no time to back off. :o

 "Correction"
               When threatened, the North American Porcupine places his snout between his forelegs and spins around presenting its rear to the enemy. If attacked, contrary to popular belief, the Porcupine does not throw its quills; instead, it drives its tail against the assailant and dozens of quills detach easily from the skin to remain embedded in the attacker. If hit in the face, a predator such as the Wolf, Bobcat or Mountain Lion may die of starvation when they find it impossible to remove the quills and are thus unable to eat.
 

[eileen]

I hope none of those quills penetrated its eyes!!!  :o Poor animal must have been in pain for quite a few days after that.  :'(

[wardy]

My dog had a scuffle with a hedgehog one dark night and it left his mouth full of spines and the top of his head which in a few days because puss-filled buboes and he looked more like a bull dog than at Jack Russell.  I got him in the house and he shook his head and sprayed blood all over the kitchen.  His!!! It looked like an abattoir  :o   I had to get everyone out of bed to help me as he was in such a state.  My son went out with a torch to find the poor hedgehog and it seemed ok and just shuffled off.  Yes, Roy they are stupid  ;D

[Marianne]

"Oh my God" was also my first reaction !

That poor doggy must have suffered hell !  Let's hope he is OK now and has learnt NOT to pursue spiny foes ....

[anneski]

My first reaction is why would anyone photograph this poor dog when it must have been in horrendous pain rather than getting it straight to a vet?  ???

[Marianne]

I agree with you 100% there anneski, I suppose they wanted a "memento" or something like that.  Some people should not be allowed to have animals.  >:( :'(

[Glyn]

The vet could or would have taken a photo?

[anneski]

I guess that's a good point Glyn. 

Have to say, they wouldn't be my vet any longer if they did though, I'd want those quills out NOW, not in a few minutes.

I know in rare cases they like pictures for documentation, but I'd want my dogs treated immediately I'm afraid, not used as exhibits.  :-\

[organicartist]

I grew up in South Africa, where dogs chasing porcupines was quite common. Generally both animals were none the worse for it, although the dogs used to wander around looking very sorry for themselves for a few days. Unfortunately, they never learnt from the experience, but as the porkies are nocturnal, keeping the dogs in at night solved the problem.

Porcupines LOVE potatoes, and one can decimate your whole potato patch in a night, so be glad we don't havew them on our allotments. Deer used to be a problem too, and as for the giant snails (which can live for 20+years!!!) and slugs, I don't even want to think about those. Gardening in the UK does have its perks, at least the pests are more manageable.