Sick of living in FEAR!
 

Last Feb, I took the boys out and heard an animal in the bushes on the side of the house, so I quickly got the dogs back inside the house and heard a coyote howl from where I heard the noise, right up next to the house. I was HORRIFIED and Im soooo scared for my babies!!!! Hubby installed a 3rd spotlight overlooking the now fenced in yard and every night he goes with me to let the boys out. Well last night I went out and checked the yard and heard a weird noise, almost sounded like the pool filter went on, except there is no way it was off for the winter. Anyways against my gut instinct we let the boys out. About 2 mins later the bunny we have thumped in her cage, I heard a noise down on the tennis court, turn around in time to see something light in color, bigger than an average cat, running across the court. So I FREAKED OUT!!!!! Tried to run after my boys to pick them up and get them in, but bc I was so mental I was freaking them out so they were running away from me. So hubby says Run for the door and they will chase you. So I did and they did and I got them inside. We stood outside for like 5 mins listening. But we heard nothing else.

Im soooooo tired of living in FEAR. Fear of something hurting, taking or eating my babies!!!! UGH!

I completely, totally and thoroughly understand how you feel :(

How scary! Would it help to take them out on a leash? So you could get them back in really fast if need be? Just a thought..

I always carry one of those cans of "air horn"as I think it might scare off any predators by the surprise of it. That's my theory anway. Recently at a school science fair there were some ladies from a local nature conservancy there with some different varities of owls. Some are quite small but some are huge. The "owl lady" said that a 4 lb owl can lift a 16 lb dog and that recently 4 dogs were killed by owls, one of which was on a leash:eek:!! She said that some of the bigger owls are out during the day and not just at night. :( Also a cayote got a dog in the subdivision behind ours and that quite a few cats have "gone missing".

how scary!!!:eek: have t u hought about training your dogs to pee on a pee pad?

I think that I would either take them out on a leash or train them to use a pee pee pad

I would highly recommend taking them out on leash after dark if you have all of those concerns. It will give you peace of mind.

Leashes after dark, or a Remington 22 cal rifle!

No OR, you mean AND!!

I am wondering, for myself if it might be feasible to put up in enclosed kennel run. I'm in in the process of looking for some land, about 5-10 acres, and out of the city, so I know wildlife is going to be a factor.
One thing that I had in mind was an enclosed kennel area for the little guys for night time outings. I even have the idea that I would put a dogy door in a wall, that leads to this enclosed area. I haven't finalized the thought, but aside from football field floodlights, I don't think that I would feel as though the hairy rats would be safe outside at night otherwise.

I seriously am contemplating this. A caged kennel area with a top and sides that is accessed by a doggie door. Then they could go out any time. Day or night. They love it outside, I would love to have a place for them to go outside during the nice days that they can enjoy but I can still get stuff done inside the house. I think it would be a few thousand $$ to do this though. :(

I live this very nightmare myself! Coyotes and hawks are around here. And many other critters. If you figure out a solution let me know!

That is just too scary and I would take them out on a leash at night.
I just came back from walking my babies and there was a dog coming after us. I just shouted "leave" and hoped the owners would call him back in.

I would get a fence and put that up. I have a fence that I can attach the pieces and it is round in shape. I would put those dogs in there and watch them carefully. Then bring them back in. Protect your dogs from harm before it happens. Do not let them out loose if you know there is danger.

I live in the "burbs" so I guess it as safe as anywhere but I too still worry! I have such a fear of big dogs off leash or getting out of their yards and attacking my guys. I have picked up sticks when I see a large dog..and have been thinking of getting a taser.

We live in a suburb south of Chicago and there are coyotes and hawks all over. My neighbor across the street called me just the other day to warn me there was a coyote in their back yard at noon. So much for being nocturnal. We have a small fenced in area off of our laundry room that eventually our pups will use but I would never trust it to keep a coyote out. I think the only way to keep them out is to buy a heavy duty dog run that is enclosed on the top.