Omg omg

[Mom to Hot Rod]

LOL, the only problem with all the armor would that that it's heavier than our babies! LOL!

[yorkietalkjilly]

Aw, wish that armor was real and made out of plastic! That should keep claws from digging in and grabbing hold! Little plastic helmets to go with.

[Teegy]

Yorkietalkjilly, do you know what is happening, city councils are bringing in hawks to get rid of their pigeon problems and this is increasing the population of hawks.

I've never seen a hawk in my neighbourhood in the 20 plus years I've lived here and this year I see them all the time and at my building no less.

I've taken to playing fetch in the apartment building hallway in order for the boys to get a run about now, because they will be no ones lunch.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by Teegy

Yorkietalkjilly, do you know what is happening, city councils are bringing in hawks to get rid of their pigeon problems and this is increasing the population of hawks.

I've never seen a hawk in my neighbourhood in the 20 plus years I've lived here and this year I see them all the time and at my building no less.

I've taken to playing fetch in the apartment building hallway in order for the boys to get a run about now, because they will be no ones lunch.

Really? I had no idea pigeons were so terrible! Do they just gather & poop everywhere & nothing else will drive them off but birds dangerous to small animals & all the other birds plus small children? I've heard in the past of hawks going after adults, too. The pigeon damage or whatever they are doing must be really terrible to cause leaders to go to this extreme to put other animals/birds & kids at such risk with predator birds! I hadn't heard that that was going on with pigeons! Wow! Did the pigeon population boom because of a shortage of natural predators or are they just over-reproducing? Are people having to keep small kids inside, too, like you are your babies & just play indoors? I'm sure sorry you all are having such a mess with your fowl but it sure seems to be widespread. Do you know if the hawks will go south down here or something when really cold weather arrives or do they stay around all the time? Keep those babies safe!

[bijoux1]

I'm so glad you and your babies are safe!! I had a few instances a few months ago, and it thoroughly scared me. It scared me to the point that at night, mine are now trained to go on their pee pads in the garage at night. I do also agree that the one that came at us a few times did not at all seem scared of me. He swooped down on one night until I ran the three feet that Bijou was in front of me screaming and flapping my arms like a nut case. But the next time he came at us..she was in my arms and was going crazy.... I couldn't figure out what in the world she was carrying on about bc I had never sen her do this, and then out of nowhere came this very large hawk flying almost eye level straight at me. He literally swooped up into the air maybe 3-4 feet before getting to us. I literally had chills.

I also agree that until this year, I have never heard so much about hawks with dogs!! I have had dogs all of my life, and this is the first time ever that I have ever had to consciously worry and watch for them literally every time mine are outside. I laughed at the armor pics yall posted, and I am just about to the point to have mine in that LOL!!

[BellarousasMom]

We have a couple of hawks around our area also. I seen one dive onto a crow yesterday. Bella never goes out by herself, and always on a leash.

Keep those babies safe.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Look at the beak and talons - don't know if plastic armor could prevent those from digging in but maybe if he didn't hang around in the air & just hit & flew off. Any of those could get an eye even if the bird didn't get good purchase. So now the plastic armor would have to include goggles with the set.

[gracielove]

I live in an area of the state where there is no hunting allowed except in the state owned game lands or places not posted by land owners. Many land owners do not allow hunting because hunters can be more dangerous than the wildlife at times. Anyway, this allows a lot of wildlife to reproduce unchecked. Most of the natural predators are gone now so the animals that are a problem have a huge population growth. Right now the hawks and owls that have reproduced have sent their offspring off to do their own hunting. Until they settle in an area away from people they will attack anything that looks like a meal. They travel around to find a hunting area that will provide them with a consistent food source.

So these young adults travel until they find a hunting area of their own. Unfortunately, many find their way into human areas. They feed on garbage if they can find nothing else. Cats and dogs are easy targets. If your town or city limits has a feral cat population coyotes and birds of prey will feed on them for a while. These birds also eat rodents and about anything else they see or smell that seems like a meal. Farmers used to like having a barn owl around because they would keep the rodent population down inside the barn.

I know NYC brought in some kind of prey bird. I don't remember what kind it was but they live way up on the tall buildings and they are really good at killing birds. The city wanted them to kill pigeons but they will kill any bird sadly.

I have never had a problem with a bird attacking and I live right in the middle of a forest. When Gracie and I walk I keep her right at my side. When we are in the backyard I am always very close to her and watching the trees. If the smaller birds start to fuss I take her in. The other birds have a fit when a bird of prey comes into the area. But I am surrounded by trees and wildlife unlike people in a neighborhood setting where you may not get a warning. I never take her out at dusk or until 2 hours after sunrise because of owls.

It is a time to be extra vigilant about guarding our pets that go outside.

[Hopesmom]

WOW! This is so scary! I'm so glad you were able to get them all in safely. I can't take Hope to my daughter's cause they've seen hawks. I always have her on leash but it's still scary. Now I take an enclosed playpen when I'm at their house and we're hanging out in the back yard.

[Donnainohio63]

I've heard in the past of hawks going after adults, too.
I will tell you this, those Hawks were not impressed or afraid of me one bit and they dove down on us. DH says the dogs have been acting funny when he lets them out now and I told him I noticed it to. Like they know they are being watched.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Well, girl, you certainly had a close call and if what they said about is true, that hawk is still around in stalking mode. So glad you escaped and are being extra cautious.

[bijoux1]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

Look at the beak and talons - don't know if plastic armor could prevent those from digging in but maybe if he didn't hang around in the air & just hit & flew off. Any of those could get an eye even if the bird didn't get good purchase. So now the plastic armor would have to include goggles with the set.

LOL our poor dogs wont be able to move with how weighed down they will be, but at least they would have an extra measure of safety And I'm telling you that after seeing a huge hawk flying towards us and now seeing the picture of those talons up close, I would just about suit mine up armor, goggles, and all these days and nights! So with everyone that is having these scares, whoever designed these would make a killing

To the OP, I am so glad that your dogs escaped with only a big scare, but I really would be extra cautious as everyone else has also said. I'm not a hawk expert by any means, but after we had our incident a few months ago, for many following nights, that hawk would be sitting across the street on my neighbor's roof when my garage door would open at night to walk my dogs. (I know hawks normally are primarily out hunting during the day and we've had them circling above our backyard during the day, but this one we always see at night. I called our Wildlife and Fishery Department, and they said that in neighborhoods, hawks will often use street lights to hunt.) Anyway, It really creeped me out, and others on here told me that hawks do return once they scope out a potential food source. So I would just definitely be on high alert, and I'm sure that you already are and probably then some after the scare you had!! Every time I go outside at night, I've been terrified of another hawk swooping down again, and now several days ago, I heard my very first owl call out, and it sounded very very close. I never saw it. My dogs were on leash, and my tiniest was in my arms, but them being on leash didn't seem to stop that hawk from thinking about trying a few months ago....so hearing that owl literally sent chills down my back. I scooped everyone up, and we headed right back inside!

My two are now trained to go on their pee pads in the garage at night, but a maltese/poodle rescue that I have had here as an unofficial foster can't seem to understand the concept of pee pads AT ALL. So my two smaller ones go out on their pee pads after dark, and then I carry the tiniest one while we all go with Cooper to potty. A while back I read on here the idea of using an umbrella for potentially warding off a dog attack.. well since our scare, I started thinking what would I have done if the hawk had actually attacked them, and I now carry a big umbrella to have as some type of weapon. So if my neighbors didn't already think I was obsessed with my dogs, I feel sure that I am now known as the crazy dog lady bc here I come every night on hot evenings when we had been without rain, in the pitch dark with my oversized umbrella that is open and over them the minute I hear any kind of bird call, chirp or sound, and my three dogs.LOL

I don't have the thread pulled up that gives the idea of carrying an umbrella on walks, but I am thinking the idea came from YorkieJilly, and if so THANKYOU THANKYOU!!!

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by bijoux1

LOL our poor dogs wont be able to move with how weighed down they will be, but at least they would have an extra measure of safety And I'm telling you that after seeing a huge hawk flying towards us and now seeing the picture of those talons up close, I would just about suit mine up armor, goggles, and all these days and nights! So with everyone that is having these scares, whoever designed these would make a killing

To the OP, I am so glad that your dogs escaped with only a big scare, but I really would be extra cautious as everyone else has also said. I'm not a hawk expert by any means, but after we had our incident a few months ago, for many following nights, that hawk would be sitting across the street on my neighbor's roof when my garage door would open at night to walk my dogs. (I know hawks normally are primarily out hunting during the day and we've had them circling above our backyard during the day, but this one we always see at night. I called our Wildlife and Fishery Department, and they said that in neighborhoods, hawks will often use street lights to hunt.) Anyway, It really creeped me out, and others on here told me that hawks do return once they scope out a potential food source. So I would just definitely be on high alert, and I'm sure that you already are and probably then some after the scare you had!! Every time I go outside at night, I've been terrified of another hawk swooping down again, and now several days ago, I heard my very first owl call out, and it sounded very very close. I never saw it. My dogs were on leash, and my tiniest was in my arms, but them being on leash didn't seem to stop that hawk from thinking about trying a few months ago....so hearing that owl literally sent chills down my back. I scooped everyone up, and we headed right back inside!

My two are now trained to go on their pee pads in the garage at night, but a maltese/poodle rescue that I have had here as an unofficial foster can't seem to understand the concept of pee pads AT ALL. So my two smaller ones go out on their pee pads after dark, and then I carry the tiniest one while we all go with Cooper to potty. A while back I read on here the idea of using an umbrella for potentially warding off a dog attack.. well since our scare, I started thinking what would I have done if the hawk had actually attacked them, and I now carry a big umbrella to have as some type of weapon. So if my neighbors didn't already think I was obsessed with my dogs, I feel sure that I am now known as the crazy dog lady bc here I come every night on hot evenings when we had been without rain, in the pitch dark with my oversized umbrella that is open and over them the minute I hear any kind of bird call, chirp or sound, and my three dogs.LOL

I don't have the thread pulled up that gives the idea of carrying an umbrella on walks, but I am thinking the idea came from YorkieJilly, and if so THANKYOU THANKYOU!!!

That umbrella sure does work well in a lot of instances. I have mine handy when Tibbe goes out though we live in the suburbs but I keep that thing near, just in case. It recently might have saved Tibbe from an attack when 2 Spitz dogs off leash ran out him on a walk, barking/growling and he gnashed/growled back. That old open umbrella down in front of us kept those dogs away until the lady could come & get them and take them away & in the house! Keep yours handy!

[bijoux1]

[QUOTE=yorkietalkjilly;4027785]That umbrella sure does work well in a lot of instances. I have mine handy when Tibbe goes out though we live in the suburbs but I keep that thing near, just in case. It recently might have saved Tibbe from an attack when 2 Spitz dogs off leash ran out him on a walk, barking/growling and he gnashed/growled back. That old open umbrella down in front of us kept those dogs away until the lady could come & get them and take them away & in the house! Keep yours handy! [/QUOT

I remember reading that story, and it sounded so so scary to me!! I was almost positive it was you that originally posted about the umbrella! I'm so glad that you did share your idea because it's a great tool to have, and it makes me feel I at least have a little control over unpredictable mishaps! So THANK YOU for sharing!!!

[yorkietalkjilly]

[quote=bijoux1;4027942]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

That umbrella sure does work well in a lot of instances. I have mine handy when Tibbe goes out though we live in the suburbs but I keep that thing near, just in case. It recently might have saved Tibbe from an attack when 2 Spitz dogs off leash ran out him on a walk, barking/growling and he gnashed/growled back. That old open umbrella down in front of us kept those dogs away until the lady could come & get them and take them away & in the house! Keep yours handy! [/QUOT

I remember reading that story, and it sounded so so scary to me!! I was almost positive it was you that originally posted about the umbrella! I'm so glad that you did share your idea because it's a great tool to have, and it makes me feel I at least have a little control over unpredictable mishaps! So THANK YOU for sharing!!!

Oh, you're welcome. Glad to share & hope it keep you/yours safe. I've used a button-open umbrella on walks and even in my backyard when I thought we might have coyotes last year ever since my 3 lb. Jilly was attacked by a 65 lb. dog on a walk. Since that time with the umbrella, if ever a dog does start to approach, I just whoosh the umbrella open in front of the dog and put it in front of us, between us and any curious or belligerent dog. I guess I would work on hawks too if you kept it over the dog when it was outside! A big old open umbrella is a small-dog owner's best friend IMO.