Poll Do you feed other peoples animals?

[Bob]

I’ve been meaning to put a post like this on for a while.


We moved recently to the middle of nowhere, we bought the dream house with the space for the kids to grow, with beautiful views and room for ponies!


It’s a fabulous spot in the Staffordshire countryside and that fact is shared by the many people who come out walking down the lane outside my house.


Now I don’t for a second believe this is malicious, I believe it is ignorance which is why I’m posting.


Several times we have had grass cuttings dumped in our field, I’m assuming from somebody’s back garden, I’m sure the ethos was – lets not waste it – so they decided to feed it to my ponies.


Now horses are cleaver creatures, they tend to know what’s good for them, we have an odd shoot of ragwort and they avoid it at all costs, but when the grass is finely chopped they cannot tell weed/flower/leaves/fruit from the other which could lead them to poison themselves, not to mention the problems associated with skipping a digestion process because a machine has already mashed up the grass. Then I don’t know if there is any weed killer/ kids bubble mixture/something that has leaked from the shed and all I can do is put up a sign politely asking people to not feed my animals.


Yesterday I saw somebody clamouring through a thick hedge to feed apples to the ponies, to most horses apples are fine dining but I’ve currently got my 3 on restricted grazing, one of them is 22 and prone to colic, two of them are susceptible to laminitis, a nice treat from a kindly passer-by could be a ticking time bomb of painful illness/expensive surgery/extensive recovery period/death.


My 3 have limited grazing access, a low sugar chaff and speedy beat tea and an apple each twice a week, the other days they have two carrots, one is on additional gastric supplements – this is the nutrition they need and is what’s good for them.


I’m fed up of hearing from friends about the problems caused by strangers with no clue feeding animals that don’t belong to them; there was a small child who lost a thumb from feeding and unknown horse, countless animals being destroyed due to ingesting things they shouldn’t.


If you have something you think would be a nice treat for an animal you don’t own, please approach the owners first – the people who can tell you about the medical issues, temperament and dietary needs of the animal, otherwise PLEASE chuck your treats in the bin before you kill somebody’s much loved four legged family member.

 

[Trumpet]

Fourth option: Occasionaly.

I usually have a couple of dog biscuits in my pocket. There's often an appreciative dog in the pub, but I do ask first.

 

[Trumpet]

Surprising what a Bonio used to get you in The Grapes.

 

[John Marwood]

Who owns the birds in the sky ?

I heard it was the EU and after BREXIT we get them so there will be a new bird border

British Birds for British Gardens !

Take Back Control!!!!

 

[Bob]

Who owns the birds in the sky ?

I heard it was the EU and after BREXIT we get them so there will be a new bird border

British Birds for British Gardens !

Take Back Control!!!!

Why do you have to derail every thread with stupid comments?

It is often a similar situation where somebody is thinking they are doing a good thing for themselves, for the animals and for the environment, when it comes to wild animals all it takes is 2 minutes on Google to make sure.

Obviously my post above is not talking about the birds in the sky, though clueless people feeding crap to animals should be made to research what is and isn't appropriate, too much bread, cooked porridge, anything fried, milk etc. for ducks and wild birds causes a great many number of problems and when it comes to these creatures take advice from the RSPB or other knowledgeable organisation before you choose to do whatever the hell you choose. The same applies to bread and milk for hedgehogs, just don't do it, it's bad for them.

My post was directly related to my animals but it can apply to all, livestock that will enter the human food chain are heavily regulated, pigs for example can be fed a great number of household foodstuffs, though one those items have entered your kitchen they are considered by DEFRA to be unsuitable and people have been heavily fined for such actions, sheep and lambs have been fed picnic items, I mean for F's sake what moron gives a lamb a scotch egg?????

There are some completely clueless individuals out there and sarky comments to make light of that are unhelpful, if only one person reads my post that will think before they do it again then it has at least served a purpose.

@Trumpet there is absoloutely nothing wrong with feeding other peoples animal with species appropriate treats and with permission of the owner, it's a good thing!

 

[John Marwood]

Why do you have to derail every thread with stupid comments?

It is often a similar situation where somebody is thinking they are doing a good thing for themselves, for the animals and for the environment, when it comes to wild animals all it takes is 2 minutes on Google to make sure.

Obviously my post above is not talking about the birds in the sky, though clueless people feeding crap to animals should be made to research what is and isn't appropriate, too much bread, cooked porridge, anything fried, milk etc. for ducks and wild birds causes a great many number of problems and when it comes to these creatures take advice from the RSPB or other knowledgeable organisation before you choose to do whatever the hell you choose. The same applies to bread and milk for hedgehogs, just don't do it, it's bad for them.

My post was directly related to my animals but it can apply to all, livestock that will enter the human food chain are heavily regulated, pigs for example can be fed a great number of household foodstuffs, though one those items have entered your kitchen they are considered by DEFRA to be unsuitable and people have been heavily fined for such actions, sheep and lambs have been fed picnic items, I mean for F's sake what moron gives a lamb a scotch egg?????

There are some completely clueless individuals out there and sarky comments to make light of that are unhelpful, if only one person reads my post that will think before they do it again then it has at least served a purpose.

@Trumpet there is absoloutely nothing wrong with feeding other peoples animal with species appropriate treats and with permission of the owner, it's a good thing!

OK officially told off

But you must know we are surrounded by idiots .

Education is always key but you have to factor in the following because this is your real answer




Law 1: Always and inevitably everyone underestimates the number of stupid individuals in circulation

Law 2: The probability that a certain person be stupid is independent of any other characteristic of that person

Law 3. A stupid person is a person who causes losses to another person or to a group of persons while himself deriving no gain and even possibly incurring losses

Law 4: Non-stupid people always underestimate the damaging power of stupid individuals. In particular non-stupid people constantly forget that at all times and places and under any circumstances to deal and/or associate with stupid people always turns out to be a costly mistake

Law 5: A stupid person is the most dangerous type of person

 

[Alee]

I sometimes give other peoples dogs treats , if they are allowed them and I do feed horses BUT I only pull up a bit of grass.
I see a lot of people feeding horses polos

 

[PeterD]

Similar to @Trumpet have been known to pass a dog a treat, also next doors cat gets indirectly fed by us when my cats food is left unattended. Outside of that had stray cats at our door and fed them.
I used to have a cat, he was called 2 dinners George as he also seemed to make himself at home at a house a street away.
None of these are like your situation and there would be no way I would consider doing that.

 

[Bob]

I do feed horses BUT I only pull up a bit of grass.
I see a lot of people feeding horses polos

That is exactly the problem!

Do you have permission from the owners?

If not why would you do that? You aren't doing a good thing here. Are the horses starving? If so you should alert the RSPCA.

Do you know the horses needs and requirements?

Where do you pull the grass from? Are you 100% sure it hasn't been sprayed with anything?

Are the horses on restricted grazing for any reason? This is particularly common in spring and early summer due to the threat of laminitis - caused by the glucose in the spring grass.

Please stop unless you have permission from the owners, everybody I know who has horses HATES people feeding them without asking because it causes problems that are often not detected until it's too late.

 

[That-Crazy-Rat-Lady]

I clicked yes - as I give next doors cat kitty treats
BUT
I asked permission first!

 

[Gadget]

I clicked yes as i'd not read the rest, I often take care of critters whilst their owners are away. I always take a treat for my friends dog as its expected, other than that no.

 

[proactive]

Canine proactive has carefully cultivated a collection of biscuit-toting elderly regulars during her walks on the Chase over the years. She thinks nothing of going up to them and demanding her 'dues' if they haven't noticed her.

 

[Trumpet]

@Trumpet there is absoloutely nothing wrong with feeding other peoples animal with species appropriate treats and with permission of the owner, it's a good thing!

I wasn't seeking your approval, just saying like.
But I will sleep easier knowing it's OK.

 

[Bob]

I wasn't seeking your approval, just saying like.
But I will sleep easier knowing it's OK.

I didn't suggest you were, just saying like.
I'm glad I have contributed to you getting a restful night.

 

[Alee]

I did say if they were allowed , I know the owners . I don't see the problem in giving a horse a bit of grass from where the horse has access to

 

[PeterD]

I get the feeling Bob was fishing to see who has done it in the past so they could rage. Full disclosure in my 46 years I have given, without the owners permission, grass, sugar lumps, polo's. In 1986 I was repaid for these crimes by a horse taking a bite at my back due to me wearing a rather fetching green jumper. It hurt like hell.

 

[Alee]

Your post just reminded me of when a friend and I were crossing one of the fields by common and a horse chased him the whole way across, appeared to be trying to mount him. I even got in on video

 

[ATJ]

Its not exactly what your post was getting at but it drives me absolutely bonkers when well-meaning idiots feed 'stray' cats.
Not every cat you see is a stray.
Cats are notorious for being greedy. If you feed them, they'll probably eat it. It doesn't mean they're starving.
When an obviously well fed and looked after cat comes to your garden, just leave it alone. Feeding it, locking it in your house and posting on spotted stafford that you've found a stray cat doesn't mean you can then claim it as yours.

 

[Bob]

I did say if they were allowed , I know the owners . I don't see the problem in giving a horse a bit of grass from where the horse has access to

You said you gave dogs treats if they were allowed.

You didn't say you had permission of the horse owners.

You say grass from where they have access but I'm calling Bull**** if a horse has spent any length of time in a field, obviously depending on acreage but by that I mean any longer than a couple of days, all your lovely long pickable grass has gone which means you're not getting it from where the horse has access, at best you're getting lovely 6-8 inch fresh grass from the other side of the fence - for fear of repeating myself - grass with high glucose content at this time of year - grass that is not accounted for if the horse is on a restricted grazing plan or just a restricted diet - grass that I'm assuming you haven't scrutinised for anything harmful having researched the dangers of what your doing

If you do know the owners and your going to feed these horses regardless of the dangers associated with doing this - just ask them it. It isn't difficult, if they say it's fine everybody is onto a winner, if they say it's not helpful/ in anyway productive for the horses/causing them problems - perhaps you'll take their word for it rather than just mine.

There is not a single person I know that has horses that isn't driven insane by people who take it into their head that they have a right to do it, no horse owner I know likes you feeding their horses, no horse owner I know wants you to feed their horses, every horse owner I know would much prefer it if you stopped feeding their horses before you end up killing one of them.

 

[Bob]

Its not exactly what your post was getting at but it drives me absolutely bonkers when well-meaning idiots feed 'stray' cats.
Not every cat you see is a stray.
Cats are notorious for being greedy. If you feed them, they'll probably eat it. It doesn't mean they're starving.
When an obviously well fed and looked after cat comes to your garden, just leave it alone. Feeding it, locking it in your house and posting on spotted stafford that you've found a stray cat doesn't mean you can then claim it as yours.

We had two from cats protection late last year, somebody else has now taken them as their own, we see them less and less as the weeks go by and one of them is looking decidedly fat.

Completely separate issue as a cat is an animal that will go seeking out people for food rather than people seeking out animals to feed but it is a massive bug bear, now they seem happy enough when they do reappear but those cat were my daughters pets and were much loved family members until someone decided they wanted a couple of cats and started feeing them cooked chicken breast everyday (I don't know if this is the case or not but I'd like to believe our abandonment is based on mealtimes being prepared by a lovely old lady that looks like Marry Berry and are fit for a king) We gave our donation for these cats, we have had their vaccinations done yet somebody has essentially stolen them. I don't know who it is and we do still see them every few days or so but they wont come back in the house anymore and it's not for lack of trying - they definitely belong to another family now (a family incapable of taking them to the vet to see if they are micro chipped and return them to where they belong) - that was a difficult conversation to have with a 4 year old and I'm feeling quite angry as I type this but some people are just selfish individuals who do as they please and unfortunately there is nothing the rest of us can do about it.