10:23pm
Plea to electric fence owners
1 comment
This heartbreaking letter came from a woman who trains at my obedience club. She gave me permission to post it:
If you have an electric fence please, please don't put all your faith in it.
While coming home tonight down a busy road in a very expensive suburb I found 2 German Shepherds, one sitting next to the dead body of his friend. It had just happened because she was still very warm. Both had electric collars on.
Probably 80-90% of the dogs I chase as a Community Service Officer have one of these on.
After catching the Shepherd (he almost got hit too) and getting him into my van, I called the police. The police and I took both the dogs home, about 3 miles from where I picked them up, to a very distraught owner. She checked the collars while we were there and said they were working fine. I spent about a half hour with her, trying to comfort and advise her.
Who knows why they both decided to take the zap and run through the fence; a deer, squirrel, or coyote?!?
I understand there are towns where you can't fence in your property and need this type of fence, but please don't consider this a way to protect your dog from harm. You may think you've trained them correctly and done all the right things, but you never know what may get their attention. I've also seen these fences make a friendly dog act aggressive toward people.
Even if the electric fence does keep your dogs from leaving your property, it doesn't stop anyone or anything from coming onto your property and doing harm to your pet. I've had to watch extremely graphic videos that I will never describe to any of you about dogs & cats that had been taken.
Granted, a regular fence may not stop something from happening if someone is determined, but it's more of a barrier.
Please keep an eye on your dogs for their safety!
1 week ago
I have to agree though. At the shelter, about 1 out of 15 dogs will have an electric fence collar on. And yet, the owner does not understand. I always ask them if they would be willing to take a shock if they could get to spend time with a celeb of their picking. Most say yes.
Then I ask them "what makes you think the dog did not do the same thing, you just said you would." The difference is, the dog can't get back in the yard once out unless it gets shocked again. You the owner don't have to take the shock to get back in because you can remove the collar first.
I have never liked the electric fence and would never use one.