[lange]

Ok I'm freaking out a bit. Anyone around?

As u all probably know I'm cluesless when it comes to wild animals...Kuma just attacked an opossum in the yard. Came in to call animal control but they are closed. It's almost 2am here.Went back out to check, Opposum moved but I don't know if it managed to leave the yard what now?

[Lunareclipse]

Possums are pretty harmless if you leave them alone. Most people try to kill them because they are ugly but I think that's mean. Possums are marsupials, same family as kangaroos. Possums can get mean if you don't leave them alone, but so will just about any animal. Rabies is soooo rare in a possum that I wouldn't worry about that. If it broke your dog's skin, some light antibiotics might be ok for infection preventative, but possums are very clean animals. I will post a Q & A about everything you want to know about a possum.

Frequently Asked Questions - Opossum Problems and Solutions

I just found this site and wanted to share it. It contains more info than I would ever want to know about possums.

[lange]

Poor possom. I feel bad for it. I hope we find it in the morning. Meanwhile Kuma seems fine. Didn't find any scratches on her but she is so wooly. I did put a dose of flea/tick prevention on her. no idea if she would need itbut it makes me feel a little better. I really hope she didn't hurt it too bad. Will find out later hopefully.

Originally Posted by Lunareclipse

Possums are pretty harmless if you leave them alone. Most people try to kill them because they are ugly but I think that's mean. Possums are marsupials, same family as kangaroos. Possums can get mean if you don't leave them alone, but so will just about any animal. Rabies is soooo rare in a possum that I wouldn't worry about that. If it broke your dog's skin, some light antibiotics might be ok for infection preventative, but possums are very clean animals. I will post a Q & A about everything you want to know about a possum.

Frequently Asked Questions - Opossum Problems and Solutions

I just found this site and wanted to share it. It contains more info than I would ever want to know about possums.

Thanks Luna!! I've been reading up on them. I've never liked opossum's but my dad's always had a soft spot for them. He chewed me up once when I said they were ugly rats. I feel bad for it.

[Lunareclipse]

Nope, possums aren't rats. They aren't the prettiest of creatures and can be kinda creepy, but I think it's mean to kill an animal because it's ugly. I leave the possums around here alone and they leave me alone. I did find a dead possum a few months ago. I buried him out back so he didn't stink up my property and attract other wild animals.

[lange]

No, no killing them! I just prefer they keep their distance. It's like wild birds, I love watching them but I will freak out if it comes by me. Ditto dragon flies, which I ironically love, just not by me. I also freak out when butterflies try to land on me. I am a wuss without a doubt. Unless it's a dog, cat, rabbit or reptile, I really rather pass.

Hey, I really appreciate you being around and helping me with the link & info. Seeing the possom hurt and scared & not knowing if Kuma was ok too just scared me & reading your reply really helped settle my nerves.

The amazing thiing in this whole thing is that Kuma actually listened to me when I went out & told her to "leave it", and did in fact leave it even in as much as I could see she really wanted to keep investigating the new creature she found. I was proud of her. I've noticed in the last coiuple months, she has been really proving her self and tonight she blew my mind that I didn't have to grab her or force her off.

[Lunareclipse]

Buster blew me away at the car dealership on Monday when he didn't jump all over everyone and heeled next to me the whole time. Someone there actually tried to grab his leash and drag him over to where the water was at to give him a drink and he drug them to me. I gave him the release command and then he followed the guy to get water. The guy there called Buster a mommy's boy. Damn skippy!

[lange]

LOL! As it should be!

Good on mama's boy, Buster! It's true what they say, hard work pays off. Whoever "they" are, are pretty smart

You know, that "release" is a good point. i had never thought about it like that. I use the word too but never thought to use it in that sense as well. Makes perfect sense!

[Lunareclipse]

Originally Posted by lange

LOL! As it should be!

Good on mama's boy, Buster! It's true what they say, hard work pays off. Whoever "they" are, are pretty smart

You know, that "release" is a good point. i had never thought about it like that. I use the word too but never thought to use it in that sense as well. Makes perfect sense!

Make sure when you teach your dog that command, you couple it with a signal. You do not want just anybody giving that command to your dog and you don't want your dog to release if you use that word in normal conversation. I can say release a dozen times, but without the signal, me dog will not obey that command.

[lange]

Kuma is 30% verbal cued, 50% sight/signal, and 20% deaf & blind.

[Lunareclipse]

Originally Posted by lange

Kuma is 30% verbal cued, 50% sight/signal, and 20% deaf & blind.

Is the deaf blind from selective hearing or is he really deaf blind?

[lange]

Selective!

[reeskujo]

It must be an Akita thing Lange lol.Seigi does the same thing..90% of the time he listens, the other 10% he pretends he has absolutely no clue what I'm talking about lol...Similar to a human man!

As for Kuma killing the ugly critter just keep an eye on her for any bad side effects..Nina used to kill birds and rabbits all the time and never got sick..On the other hand Seigi chewed on a dead bird and got pretty sick so I think them getting sick may have a little to do with the dog itself and what their stomachs can tolerate..Seigi has a super sensitive stomach so it doesn't take much to get him sick.

[Lunareclipse]

It's not strictly Akita. Porter only listens when he feels like it.

[piratekitty]

Originally Posted by lange

Ok I'm freaking out a bit. Anyone around?

As u all probably know I'm cluesless when it comes to wild animals...Kuma just attacked an opossum in the yard. Came in to call animal control but they are closed. It's almost 2am here.Went back out to check, Opposum moved but I don't know if it managed to leave the yard what now?

Oh I dont blame you, I think they are ugly too. We had one last year that would come at dusk and run under our deck, and chewed a hole in the side of the house to get under our false floor in the family room. We were afraid she was going to have babys, it was huge. Nina would freak out every time it came, it would hiss at her and I would have to lock her in the house for fear she would try and fight it. For a couple of weeks it came nightly. We final made sure it wasnt under the house and blocked it from getting in. Never saw it again.

[lange]

Originally Posted by piratekitty

Oh I dont blame you, I think they are ugly too. We had one last year that would come at dusk and run under our deck, and chewed a hole in the side of the house to get under our false floor in the family room. We were afraid she was going to have babys, it was huge. Nina would freak out every time it came, it would hiss at her and I would have to lock her in the house for fear she would try and fight it. For a couple of weeks it came nightly. We final made sure it wasnt under the house and blocked it from getting in. Never saw it again.

They may be sweet animals but they sure don't look it. But who can blame an injured animal..poor thing.
I was surprised it would come into the yard with Kuma outside. I guess they're not very observant. Kuma was quite intrigued with it.. At first her bark was different, like an unsure warning bark. When I went out though she was happy & excited, hoping around at me then she walked over and showed me what she found. That;s when I seen the hissing nasty teeth display.

Originally Posted by reeskujo

It must be an Akita thing Lange lol.Seigi does the same thing..90% of the time he listens, the other 10% he pretends he has absolutely no clue what I'm talking about lol...Similar to a human man!

As for Kuma killing the ugly critter just keep an eye on her for any bad side effects..Nina used to kill birds and rabbits all the time and never got sick..On the other hand Seigi chewed on a dead bird and got pretty sick so I think them getting sick may have a little to do with the dog itself and what their stomachs can tolerate..Seigi has a super sensitive stomach so it doesn't take much to get him sick.

Thank ya Ree! Her eye looked a little pink yesterday but I think that was just a fluke & my mind being paranoid.