In the event of Societal Upheaval (i.e., "Stuff" HTF) - the Feral Pet Problem

[preachtheWORD]

Perhaps this is not "thread worthy" but it did get me thinking.

In the event of some kind of societal upheaval - economic collapse, extreme natural disaster, pandemic disease, pervading world war, and as a Pastor I think of the Rapture of the Church (not trying to start a relgious discussion, this is just an example) - it seems to me that there will be a massive number of feral house pets that are either orphaned or abandoned. Feral cats are already having a very serious environmental impact right now, but in one of the situations I listed above, there may be billions of feral animals roaming the world.

Can you imagine the packs of feral dogs terrorizing the popultation or colonies of feral cats wiping out the small game? Alos, if the "stuff" really hits the fan, I imagine it won't take long until Fido and Whiskers start looking like good sources of protein for the survivors.

SO, I realize that this is a fairly goofy topic, but for those who are preparing for the worst case scenario, it would be unwise to leave the impact of feral house pets out of the equation.

Anybody else ever considered this?

[Rick]

Not me. My wife's dog, Pot Roast, will be taken care of.

[Sourdough]

Meats MEAT.......cat meat is goooder than no-meat. We don't have any feral cats around here, the Eagles eat them. They eat the small dogs also.

[Rick]

I do think your theory is valid. It seems to be a rather predominant theme in the "Life After People" shows. As dogs begin to pack together I think they'll offer a threat to people as well. We'll sort of be on each other's menu.

[LowKey]

The feral cat population is only a problem in areas where people feed them and provide them with some kind of shelter. Around here, the coyotes eat them. They also eat house pets if you leave them out at night and they don't have the sense to run from a 'dog'.

Human sustained feral cat populations have become a hot topic. The spay/neuter/release programs for feral cats don't hardly make a dent in that population and where eradication efforts or legislation against feeding them has been tried there's always been a huge groundswell of support, for the cats.

I love cats. Have 2 adopted strays now. But I hate seeing the conditions some of the overpopulated ferals live in.

Like all things, given time, they will balance. Especially without human interference.

Dogs on the other hand, will come down to the survivor types, those already similar to the wild canines out there. They will indeed be a threat. While I was visiting in Egypt you could see the packs of feral dogs outside the small city limits where my parents were staying and you did not want to be seen by them if you were broke down out on the road at night where they were active. The military would come through once in a while and use them for target practice. Is that a bad thing?

[trax]

PTW, I think your point is very valid. I've lived on reservations up north where it's not safe to go out alone at night because of wild dog packs and they're pretty da## smart when it comes to people trying to eradicate them. One gunshot and an entire pack can disappear faster than any coyote or wolf pack I've ever seen. There's, unfortunately, quite a few documented cases of small children being killed and eaten by them. There's some places where the community will put bounties on them but then you have to get them away from the community to shoot them for firearms safety sake. It's one of the rare instances where I approve of shooting an animal for other than food. And the sad part is it's because the dogs have been abandoned and starvation has made them the way they are. They sure can't compete with the wolves in terms of hunting game.

[RichJ]

A good 12 gauge will come in handy to control that raucous pack of beasts!

Let 'em know you mean business and they will get the message. Dogs aren't stupid. They are smart enough to know that a raised hand means they will get smacked and a raised gun means they will get dead, and it won't take long for them to figure that out.

I can't imagine what a vicious pack of felines would look like though. Charging dogs is one thing, but cats? I would almost look forward to that encounter. I think deep down everyone at one time has wanted to take out a cat with a baseball bat. You could have your chance without any of the guilt!

[hunter63]

Wisconsin had a bill in state congress a couple of years ago, to allow the shooting of feral cats.
Was voted down of course, so mostly every body practices SSS.

I really hesitated to even comment on this, after the beat down involving helicopter hunting of feral pigs.

Fact remains that there is a problem even now, (though it might not be where you live)which in the event of a SHTF scenario, would increase and expand.

[RichJ]

After thinking about it, I think dogs would be pretty easy to irradicate from a area. You'd have to do it in the first couple of years though, while they still have some of the instinct to not fear certain things. You could easily bait them with garbage and have a whole pack show up. You could set up all kind of traps or funnel them into a building or some other area where you could shoot them one by one. Dogs are smart, but nothing is smarter than a human and we could get it over on them pretty easy just by us knowing their instincts. A coyote on the other hand would never let himself go into a building not knowing he has a sure escape route.

[hunter63]

The WI DNR has had organized "dog hunts" in the past, for running deer.

A lot that were "terminated" had collars, and apparently uncaring owners.

[LowKey]

I don't know if a dog is smart enough to equate gun=dead. My folks were in Egypt for 5 years (government contract). The military had to come through about every 3 to 6 months for the dog problem. Never underestimate what a hungry canine will do. Or how stupid it will get.

[trax]

.. . They are smart enough to know that a raised hand means they will get smacked and a raised gun means they will get dead, and it won't take long for them to figure that out.

Charging dogs is one thing, but cats? I would almost look forward to that encounter.

The dogs I was referring to, a raised hand would mean a lost arm, if you think they're going to charge you straight on, that kind of naivete will get you killed. They will circle you. Be happy that the first shot or two will scare most of them away because if you're facing a big pack you're not going to be able to circle and shoot as fast as they're going to keep moving in. As far as looking forward to an encounter, I would never look forward to an encounter with anything that wants to attack me. I don't care what it is

[mcgyver]

Hummm,
Has anyone seen the "Book of Eli"?
The opening scene is kind of what I picture happening.

Sorry, for the vague reference. We just saw it this week, and it fits here.
I can't explain anymore for those of you yet to see it.

[preachtheWORD]

Maybe this is thread-worthy after all.

A pack of feral dogs can really be a danger. When I was on mission in Iquitos, Peru, the city was full of feral dogs. They were accustomed enough to people that they would not attack anyone by day, but they definitely did not want to be messed with either. After years of cross-breeding, the feral dogs there did not look like any breed I have ever seen before. They were shaped like a greyhound, lean and lanky. They had long muzzles and far more developed canine teeth. Most of them were hairless. Very creepy looking. I had one get irate with me for no apparent reason. Thankfully this was during the day and lots of people were around.

I don't think feral cats pose any direct threat to humans, but they do carry disease, and can really decimate the small game population, which would be a food source for humans.

Dogs I like, cats ... I tolerate. I would not be enthusiastic about killing either, but if they are a threat to my family, they would have to be dealt with.

[SARKY]

Hey that is why I'm putting together a whole chapter in my book devoted to recipes for dog, cat, oppossum, raccoon, etc. Most people have never eaten nor prepared these kinds of critters, so I think it is good information to know.
Remember: dog young, cat old.

[Winnie]

I'm in the shoot them camp on this one. Anyone who has seen what a pet pooch can do to a flock of sheep on it's own, let alone in a pack, if I was able, I'd eradicate. Cats too for that matter. I regard feral pets as a nuisance and dangerous.

[BENESSE]

I'm much more concerned about the Feral People Problem. Harder to deal with.

[mcgyver]

But just as tasty!

[owl_girl]

cats wont wipe out small game. everything they eat breeds like crazy and many predators that eat small game will be praying on the cats as well which means they will be praying a little less on small game since cats will make up a percentage of there diet that once was filled only by native small game. also the native predators are just as good at hunting as cats so the pray are already adapted to deal with cats hunting abilities and predators wont have competition beyond their own abilities. also cats dont deal well with the cold and snow up north and their population wouldn't grow that big. they would be weak and prayed on during the winter.

[Ole WV Coot]

Hey that is why I'm putting together a whole chapter in my book devoted to recipes for dog, cat, oppossum, raccoon, etc. Most people have never eaten nor prepared these kinds of critters, so I think it is good information to know.
Remember: dog young, cat old.

Skip the possum, they are good for grease to fry the other stuff. I'm like most people around here, shot a few dogs running in packs, shot all cats I found in the woods, rather have the young rabbits & birds than cats.