http://www.wsvn.com/news/articles/local/MI132040/

http://cnnwire.blogs.cnn.com/2009/09/22/second-man-arrested-in-florida-horse-killings/

http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=8223214&page=1&page=1

I lived in a slum a few years ago – two old tenement buildings, with 3 apartments each. I was on the ground floor. I had a lovely, but very shy shepherd-coyote cross. He didn’t bark, but would slink around the walls (inside) warily.

In the few months I lived there, the other apartments were broken into several times. Mine? Never. I thank my dear dog for that. And he was the gentlest of souls! He taught me so much about dog body language, and how to treat frightened dogs.

I agree with the earlier poster; I’d probably settle for something like “Keep door/gate closed – loose dogs inside.” Maybe one of those diamond-shaped yellow signs, with a picture of a Dobe or Shepherd on it. Like here . (no affiliation; just a Google result.)

Ruthie

Besides, most of our riding horses are given medications that render the meat unfit for human (in some cases animal) consumption. There are horses that are bred and raised for meat…if they want to eat horse, let them eat those horses.

The Florida matter has nothing directly to do with cultural consumption of horse meat…it’s rustling, plain and simple.

1) a culture so poor that animal welfare is wayyy down on the list — people aren’t eating or have basic needs met, let alone an animal. So who cares if it suffers (in this case, I don’t think people are actively cruel, but they will beat an equine to make it carry heavy loads or not take care of medical stuff for animals, for example.)

2) a culture/society that seems to have lost their ability to have empathy for animal suffering (thus apparently the skinning the puppies thing, what is up with that?!) in pursuit of their own pleasures. In the 19th century, people believed — incredibly– that animals couldn’t feel pain (I know, but look it up). We certainly know better now. So what’s the justification? It’s just plain selfish and self-centered behavior.

So is stealing, for that matter. I have had things stolen out of my car, in my driveway, a few times now (it always seems when I forget to lock up, I come out and someone has rifled thru my car looking for cash). I live in a very nice neighborhood, so it’s doubly weird when it happens. I always feel so violated and upset it happened when I was in the house and had no idea — and I have three dogs that bark at the drop of a hat, but only when there’s a noise or something outside that triggers them, the dorks. The person is clever — they leave the car door open, so there’s no noise of a slamming car door. And when we are sleeping, so are the dogs, on their comfy dog beds.

I am not afraid to stay alone, however, because anyone who might be looking to see if I was a target will hear a lot of barking most of the time. Most petty thieves won’t bother a house where they might get caught or there are dogs around (or so I believe!!)

A person I knew also had a horse left in their driveway without a word, but it was a horse they had given away and it came back more starved than when it left. Apparently the people didn’t want the horse anymore. No gate or warning signal at this farm, either.