Cute, fluffy and horribly greedy

[Andestine]

Originally Posted by vectisbirder

i think it's garbage. How much more b.s. Are people going to come out with in the name of 'climate change'?
What would they apply to a child? A boeing 747-400?

Brilliant!

[The Woodman]

Apparently Mr Johnson feeds his eight crododiles on ex battery hens.

""What we were amazed by was how environmentally friendly it is. We can feed them using farming by products - we use laying hens which would otherwise be sent for incineration."

[Andestine]

Originally Posted by david156

I think she's safe this christmas!!

I see what you mean Might be worth the effort if you had about twenty of them

Love the guard cat. Must come in useful when there are kestrels about

Must go and clear up daughter who melted when she saw your dog. I, of course, am made of stronger stuff

Cheers,

Andestine

[harasseddad]

Lets not forget the seabird chicks starving because the sand eels they feed on have been hoovered up by trawlers for cat food. The ecological consequences of pet keeping are considerable: it's estimated that in the US cats kill over a billion small mammals a year
http://www.abcbirds.org/abcprograms/.../predation.pdf

and of course there's the St Stephen's Island Wren - the only species to be made extinct by a single individual
BBC - h2g2 - The Story of the Stephens Island Wren

[richnfamous]

Originally Posted by Andestine

I often wonder how many people went through similar emotional conflicts during the war, and what we’d go through now if faced with having to slaughter our pets or starve? The past shows that when faced with extreme circumstances we can all behave quite differently.

I suppose we'd revert to what we used to keep dogs and cats for: dogs to help us hunt, kill vermin and to deter intruders, and cats to keep the rats and mice at bay. Our relationship with animals was probably a lot more practical than now.

In Finland they say that if the farmer's wife dies, he shrugs it off, but if his horse dies, he mourns Maybe the only animal people really bonded with was the horse, as he worked alongside us?

[Vincent86]

My parents still has pigs and chickens in their place but I can't raise either of the two here in my place so I'll stick with my dog.

[Andestine]

Originally Posted by richnfamous

I suppose we'd revert to what we used to keep dogs and cats for: dogs to help us hunt, kill vermin and to deter intruders, and cats to keep the rats and mice at bay. Our relationship with animals was probably a lot more practical than now.

Quite probably correct. Pets are very much a luxury item. But can you imagine the changeover period? Just thinking about it has me rolling in the aisles

Imagine trying to teach David's cutie how to hunt......and to hunt what, exactly

And Persian cats trained to be ratters, and race horses shackled to a plough....and what on earth could we get the hamsters to do to earn their crust! My god, I think there must be a book in that

What would make you laugh the most, richnfamous?

In Finland they say that if the farmer's wife dies, he shrugs it off, but if his horse dies, he mourns Maybe the only animal people really bonded with was the horse, as he worked alongside us?

And the moral of this story is never marry a Finnish Farmer.........or be reincarnated as his horse

Andestine

[richnfamous]

Originally Posted by Andestine

What would make you laugh the most, richnfamous?

Hamsters - the Hamster engine. The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers (anyone remember them?) already solved it: Phineas coupled a load of hamster wheels together under the bonnet and put amphetamine in their water. Not sure how practical that would be, tho...

No hamsters were harmed during the production of this post

[Andestine]

Perfect! Now all the wheel-crazy pets have earned their keep, and yes, I remember the FFF brothers. I was going to post a pic, but decided against it as it might distress those of a more sensitive nature (me included!).

But do you think we've stumbled onto an idea which could save our furry friends? Do you think that anyone else might have career ideas for our more idle pets?

A.

[Norfolk Girl]

Not exactly a pet, but the illustration on my business cards is of a hedgehog making a wheel go round. This is connected to another wheel which has my requirements - brush, pencil, scissors, roller and of course - cup of tea!