Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Protect Your Pooch!

I took Wags in for his monthly steroid shot at the PI Animal Clinic today, and while we were waiting two ladies rushed in with a cute little white puppy (maybe a Westy?) that had just gotten struck by a rattlesnake near the SPI Golf Course.

Fortunately, the pup was hit in a relatively good place - the bony area just under the nose. The owner identified (and killed) the snake and took the dog immediately to the clinic so the prognosis is very good. What I learned while observing this is that 1. The golf course development was built on top of a rattlesnake habitat and 2. A rattlesnake vaccination is available and probably a really good idea for anyone - but especially residents of Laguna Vista - who has a beloved pet.
'Nuff said.

Labels:


7 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ackkkk! Yes, watch out pet owners, but watch out golfers as well!

I didn't know rattle snakes were on the island. But then, we were also surprised the morning we saw a coyote running on the beach.

We were planning to check out the golf course on our next SPI vacation. Here in North Texas it's currently 80 freaking degrees with a high of 35 and a low of 25 forecasted for Thursday!

6:15 PM  
Blogger Sam said...

I don't think we have an rattlesnakes on the Island itself - but apparently some over ln Laguna Vista on the mainland.

The kind seen here is the eastern indigo snake, not poisonous, and cool because it likes to eat rattlesnakes. They are quite gentle and make good pets - not that I'd want one, thank you.

Sandy - the Snake Man did take all his snakes along with him, right?

8:47 PM  
Blogger Sam said...

Clee-fert says the only snakes he's seen on the Island are horny old wrinkly men who chase the young babes around.

As the Bongo Dogs song also says, they are Tequache all day, and snakes at night.

Must be nice (knowing the song helps).

1:09 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Other dog news, I see that SPI has hired a full time animal control officer. ( was suppose to be part-time but I hear they have already moved to change to a full time position.) A neighbors dog who tends to sleep in her front yard has already been busted and sent to doggy jail. So....guess we join the big towns for animal control. Both good and bad...oh yeah,keep cats on a leash too...law works both ways.

5:35 AM  
Blogger Sam said...

Aw, those old Island dogs should be allowed to sleep out front. Thanks for the heads-up. Our oldest is about 13 and probably can't even run anymore. Few teeth left to even bite anything. Sheesh, let sleeping dogs lay, I say.

By the way, code enforcement nearly caught us "pinching a loaf" today on our dog walk. I mean not ME, understand ...

6:11 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

speaking of cats: over in the birding lots on Sheepshead there are lots and lots of feral cats, reproducing furiously under the house next door and throughout the bushes -- we have tried to trap them and send them to animal control but it seems to be an endless job. Anybody for kitty birth control? Any ideas for how to control that? Serious ideas, I mean!!
other nancy m

9:12 PM  
Blogger Sam said...

I'm not aware of anything that would be legal, Nancy. The possums go to the end of Rt. 100 and the kitties go to Laguna Humane ... in an Everhart trap. You have to trap the kitties when they are young, as they get smart real quick, and become un-trappable. My neighbor on Oleander got three possum and two kitties in one small trap all at the same time, a major haul I would say. Our Island is literally exploding with these critters. /Sam

9:35 AM  

Post a Comment

<< Home