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Heartbroken about the Hounds

Hunting
#41

[QUOTE=HuntNewbie;4571122]
How could you consider my question “complaining”? I am sad and trying to figure out what I can do to make the situation for our hounds different than I suspect it is. I could not get a direct answer so was trying to figure out what normally happened to them when the were “retired.”

I can not adopt them all, but will try to change their lot in a very civilized way.

How mean spirited of you to attack.[/QUOTE]

HuntNewbie, I am sorry for what some here do for recreational activities, it’s obvious that they have nothing better to do.:frowning:

Your heart is in the right place, and some here will give you good sound advice, ignore the others.

If you do not like being a part of this, the answer is to quit. There are other things to do on a horse, and you will most likely meet people that are more like yourself.:slight_smile:

We cannot save all animals,:cry: but I would never put one down just because he could no longer keep up. Not to mention how the hunters get the fox. Some hunters buy the fox from trappers and yet some complain about people making a living trapping.:confused:

Can you imagine what the poor fox has to endure while waiting to be picked up by the trapper. Then he is driven to to a hunt and released so that some can chase him on a horse.

I am not against hunting, but because of my feelings I will not be apart of this either. I love to trail ride with friends, that is where I get my kicks.:slight_smile:

Please do not let some here hurt your feelings, they know not what they do.:frowning:

You are a wonderful person,:wink: wishing you a Merry Christmas!:slight_smile:

#42

[QUOTE=cssutton;4572011]
Well, looking at it from a hound breeders view, here goes:

When we breed hounds we look at their hunting ability.

Are they easy to break from running trash.

Do they have good nose.

Good voices.

Run as a pack, no cutting, swinging, cheating to be in the front.

Are they quick enough to always be where they are supposed to be.

We NEVER EVER ask ourselves whether the hound will live to be 10 years old because most hounds are burned out at 7 to 8 years old.

They get arthritis and all of the other aches and pains of old men.

So normally that hound that retires will not live more than two years after retirement simply because it is not in the genes.

So it is not like putting down a hound that has 10 more years of comfortable life.

That said, if a hound has been a good hound I let them live out their time on my farm.

Now if you are breeding poodles for some little girl to grow up with, you don’t want to give her a poodle that will die when only 8 years old. You look at age as well as the other characteristics you want.

So back to hounds.

If you want to do something for the hounds, do your hunt a favor and DO NOT ask to work in the kennels. They do not care for and will not tolerate your pushy smart mouth.

Simply ask the MFH or the Huntsman if you can have the next old boy that they retire, that you would like a pet.

After you have tried that for a while, consider whether you want to ask your friends to do the same.

You might do OK or you might tire of trying find the old boy after he has wandered off on a fox track, three miles from home, across two highways and the river. On a rainy cold night.

The best way to work on a problem is to work on the problem. Butting into kennel management is not going to get you any friends and it will do nothing to help the hounds.

Now you may think that is too blunt for your liking, so I will try to put it in a kinder way.

If you asked me for an old hound, I would give you one.

If you asked me whether you could work in my kennel, I would have the sheriff put your but in jail for trespassing on my kennel property.

I run my kennel. You do not.

I can assure you that your huntsman will feel exactly the same.

CSSJR[/QUOTE]

Charming. Thanks for sharing.

#43

[QUOTE=HuntNewbie;4572693]
Charming. Thanks for sharing.[/QUOTE]

HuntNewbie, are you getting the clear message of some here?:cry:

#44

Okay, at the risk of sounding like a broken record. Do either of you (and at this point I’m not convinced there are two), understand that barging into people’s passions and telling them that they are wrong and cruel without actually having lived that life understand that maybe, just maybe you are either:

a. completely wrong

or

b. completely rude?

(Or I guess there’s a c…which is all of the above)

Do you understand that there may be things that you DO NOT understand about these things that you rail against? Do you not realize that you draw more flies with honey than with vinegar?

Do you not understand that maybe, just maybe, the people that you are talking to are passionate horse and hound lovers? That they do everything in their power to ensure their animals are well cared for - particularly with the sensibilities that come from understanding that a horse or hound who has no job anymore isn’t necessarily discarded, but that there may be no simple solution???

For instance, riding, you have horses - why keep them in captivity? Don’t you know that is cruel? It’s against a horse’s nature to have anything less than hundreds of miles to roam on. And riding? Completely cruel - we use these animals as slaves - who says they want to be ridden??

Do you see how silly that sounds? No?

Oh, and a merry christmas to you both! :slight_smile:

#45

[QUOTE=OneGrayPony;4572721]
Okay, at the risk of sounding like a broken record. Do either of you (and at this point I’m not convinced there are two), understand that barging into people’s passions and telling them that they are wrong and cruel without actually having lived that life understand that maybe, just maybe you are either:

a. completely wrong

or

b. completely rude?

(Or I guess there’s a c…which is all of the above)

Do you understand that there may be things that you DO NOT understand about these things that you rail against? Do you not realize that you draw more flies with honey than with vinegar?

Do you not understand that maybe, just maybe, the people that you are talking to are passionate horse and hound lovers? That they do everything in their power to ensure their animals are well cared for - particularly with the sensibilities that come from understanding that a horse or hound who has no job anymore isn’t necessarily discarded, but that there may be no simple solution???

For instance, riding, you have horses - why keep them in captivity? Don’t you know that is cruel? It’s against a horse’s nature to have anything less than hundreds of miles to roam on. And riding? Completely cruel - we use these animals as slaves - who says they want to be ridden??

Do you see how silly that sounds? No?

Oh, and a merry christmas to you both! :)[/QUOTE]

I have not put anyone down on this sport, I stated that if she did not like it…she should quit.

I stated that I did not like some aspects of it and I don’t hunt.

How is that putting anyone down?:confused:

You are now saying that she and I are the same person, don’t you have anything better to do than come up with crazy stuff like this.

She came here for help and some started into her about being a troll, being someone else, writing like someone else.

Why Oh Why can’t others start a thread without you and others putting the person down?

If you don’t have something positive to say, don’t say anything at all.:mad:

Give the OP advice and move on.

#46

I have been on hunts with horses that kick and I get as far away from them as I can. Safety is my number one concern.

I am not against hunting, but because of my feelings I will not be apart of this either

I stated that I did not like some aspects of it and I don’t hunt.

So which is it Riding4fun88?? You claim on the other hunting thread that you hunt, now on this one you say you do not hunt and can’t imagine supporting a sport that’s so cruel to both foxes and hounds?

Just curious.

#47

Okay - maybe I’m not being clear here…

I have not put anyone down. Putting someone down would be saying “you’re an idiot that shouldn’t ride”. And that, I have not said.

What I have said is:

Do you not understand how what you have said is perceived as rude?

And hence, the response that you got was entirely what should have been expected?

You can’t come poking holes in someone’s way of life and spouting uninformed opinions and expect someone not to say “stop being ridiculous”.

And you’re right - I have nothing better to do than to defend a way of life against people that don’t get it.

You know why? Because every single day I see people like you, and HuntNewbie, and PETA members, and jerks that move out into the country and don’t understand the rural way of life - I see EVERY DAY that the rest of us lose land, lose the rights to keep our animals, lose the right to ride out…

ALL BECAUSE of uninformed opinions that get spread.

It was vitriol like yours that caused the US slaughterhouses to close down - now causing our horses to have to go to Canada and Mexico - hundreds of miles - to be slaughtered.

It’s vitriol like that of the OP and of farmgirls that have shut down hunting in England - emotionally charged, completely uninformed vitriol.

And quite frankly - I think more of us ought to take a stand and be angry about it. Because what happens is that we keep taking the high road, and losing all along the way.

So yes - I’m fired up. I hate that those who think they know best, who’ve proven that they know absolutely nothing, continue to come here and spout off. It yanks my chain in a very serious way.

Cheers! :smiley:

#48

To reassure everyone who may have had their suspicions raised–while the OP does appear to be an alter, as she told us she was in her first post, there are no connections between her and anyone else posting in the thread, so please put those concerns aside.

You’re all welcome to debate the topic, but please don’t bring in issues that don’t exist to complicate matters.

Thanks,
Mod 1

#49

Honestly, I didn’t find the OP vitriolic, just confused. However, when the 88 twins show up, after what they’ve posted elsewhere, I’m not expecting rationality, just people who are WAY more emotional than sensible about things and in at least one case haven’t demonstrated a willingness to learn why lots of people disagree with them.

#50

Oh, lawdy, no. I once had a bunch of PETA wackos at Canal Place in New Orleans try to spray my beautiful vintage mink coat with paint – while I was wearing it ! I don’t think they expected me to fight back :slight_smile:

Another PETA gal last year tryed to keep me and my young nephew from attending a rodeo by blocking my entrance – I politely pointed out her leather sneakers and belt and she stepped aside :slight_smile:

Euthanasia is killing. I’ll use the PTS term in any future posts here so as to not appear PETA-like. I know first hand, as I mentioned earlier, I recently had the love of my life euthanized when cancer began impacting her quality of life. Extraordinary painful emotionally for me to cause her death – and yes for those who mustknow the details, she was in my lap in our home when our vet gave her the injections – but my highest responsibility was to provide her with the best life and, when I no longer could, prevent her suffering.

I know there are fine lines all around this discussion; really quite subjective; and evolving in our society over the decades. All of the info here has, as I had really hoped, help me gain a better understanding. Even those attacking and, oh my, threatening me with the Sheriff (:lol: !) have helped give me better insight. I am relieved to learn that all is unlikely as sinister as I feared. I also appreciate the input of everyone as it can hopefully help me be more supportive of my hunt without appearing to have (what was it that CSSSutton said? something like) a pushy mouth ? Yes, that I don’t want to be considered to have.

The hounds are a multi-hour drive from my house and I work more than full-time, but I will volunteer as I can however will work for my MFH and huntsman. Thankfully, I believe our huntsman is highly unlikely to have me arrested without providing any warning given that i) I’d never arrive anywhere uninvited ii) I’m an amazingly hard worker unafraid of dirt and iii) I always contribute to his holiday bonus fund :slight_smile:

Best wishes to everyone for a joyful holiday. Again my sincere thanks to all.

#51

Thank you HuntNewbie - glad to hear it :slight_smile:

I do want to hear how you scared off the PETA people though - sounds like an interesting story!

#52

This is completely false information. You owe a whole lot of people an apology for spreading lies.

#53

[QUOTE=OneGrayPony;4572759]

And you’re right - I have nothing better to do than to defend a way of life against people that don’t get it.

You know why? Because every single day I see people like you, and HuntNewbie, and PETA members, and jerks that move out into the country and don’t understand the rural way of life - I see EVERY DAY that the rest of us lose land, lose the rights to keep our animals, lose the right to ride out…

ALL BECAUSE of uninformed opinions that get spread.

I:D[/QUOTE]

So I should not ask ? Not get input from as many people as I possibly can from as many different hunts, so I can keep from sharing an uninformed opinion ?

Forum, that’s what this is, isn’t it ?

No “jerk” here, nor do I think you are.

I also “get” the rural life, way more than you could possibly imagine.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays.

I’ll be the one driving the real tractor with the wreath on the ROPS.

#54

[QUOTE=OneGrayPony;4572821]
Thank you HuntNewbie - glad to hear it :slight_smile:

I do want to hear how you scared off the PETA people though - sounds like an interesting story![/QUOTE]

A spray can provides no defense against a “windmill” of shopping bags :smiley:

#55

Sorry HuntNewbie - I was fired up about riding’s response - considerably less so your original question - and definitely wasn’t referring to you as a jerk!

I’m just tired of people coming in with guns a’blazing - who don’t understand and don’t seem to be interested in learning - you’re clearly not such people, and I apologize for lumping you into that group - I misunderstood your other response.

Enjoy your tractor - and your wreath! I am hoping santa brings me a tractor at some point - I’m getting tired of doing all of my work by hand :slight_smile:

#56

Well, what I’m hoping you learned is that the situation is not as dire as it might have first appeared. Also that since you’re using an alter, it’s quite natural that people would be a little suspicious.

If you enjoy riding to hounds, then by all means continue to learn about the sport. The facts about the sport. Not the nonsensical verbal diarrhea continually evacuated from the trolls. You’d think they’d be dehydrated by now. :rolleyes:

If you work and don’t have the time to help out with hounds, that’s ok too. Maybe one day you can. It’s a great way to get to know the hounds.

But just don’t assume that hounds are meeting some horrible fate. Or that the huntsman doesn’t have the hounds welfare uppermost in his/her mind. Or that the club doesn’t already have what they believe to be good program - you’re just not integrated into the club yet and aren’t fully aware of what’s going on behind the scenes.

That may be part of what you’re concerned about. Everything is new to you. New sport, new people, new new new. You’re new to them, too. It takes time for you to become integrated. I remember the first time I went in the kennel and found a dead calf. Died of natural causes, poor thing. Farmer brought it to the kennel to feed to the hounds.

Anyway - I turn the corner and I’m like - WHOA! Surprise! Then I’m like - oh yeah. Duh. Of course. Stupid me. And I left the hounds to their dinner.

Moral of the story? None, really. Just maybe that sometimes our initial assumption or reaction is just a reflex - after thinking on it for a while we realize everything is kosher.

Does that make sense?

Geez… now I’m depressed. I miss the hounds. Out for the season. Been hunting with the footpack though - I continue to get my “hound fix”. Just not since the blizzard hit. Heavy sigh…

#57

Jswan- come south, no snow! Took a friend of a friend down last week and we went straight to the kennels to help feed. I warned her before the trip was planned that a) there were a lot of hounds (60+), b) it might rain and we wouldn’t hunt (it did, we didn’t) and c) she would be put to work (she was). Hope she had an okay time. Her comment as the hounds were out on exercise- “that’s a lot of dogs”!

#58

Oh my… that must be heaven on earth.

My idea of a great day - hounds hounds hounds hounds hounds…:yes:

Heck yeah - if I get down south I’ll happily scoop poop all day long - if only to get a chance to work with the hounds.

Arrrrrrooooooooo!!!

#59

I’ll make it sound even better… we have puppies! 11 of the most adorable cross bred hound puppies on the planet and they love to play with people.

#60

Discretion is the better part of valor

Huntnewbie, the pack is the lifeblood of a good huntsman and staff. Their welfare is paramount and we are very protective. I would be beyond furious if I found out that my hunt’s “family business” was posted on any public forum, even COTH. If you have any more sensitive questions, please PM a member whose opinion you trust.

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