Sunday, November 16, 2008
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Monday, October 6, 2008
A natural predator of the rat terrier
Cats.
They appear so sweet... so civil.
They play with their toys. They play with their tails! They look so cute!
But they are really very dangerous for rat terriers, for they love to stalk, hunt, and destroy small animals without the slightest remorse!!!
Nico and Yoko will certainly be careful when visiting with their cousin Mookie.
They appear so sweet... so civil.
They play with their toys. They play with their tails! They look so cute!
But they are really very dangerous for rat terriers, for they love to stalk, hunt, and destroy small animals without the slightest remorse!!!
Nico and Yoko will certainly be careful when visiting with their cousin Mookie.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Shirley McClain loves her rat terrier!
So, apparently Shirley McClain has a rat terrier named (of all things) TERRY. And they've written a book... together. As in, Shirley considers Terry to be a co-author. Will have to put the book, Out on a Leash, on my to-read list, which is steadily growing now that I only reach b-school books now.
Book description from Shirley's website:
"Out On A Leash is a view of the world through my eyes and the eyes of Terry the Rat Terrier, my faithful, unconditionally loving companion who has taught me to view life with a different attitude. While we coexist in this reality we also experience and express all around us in very different ways. Humans say they love; animals just do it. Humans examine and dissect the things affecting them; animals accept them and go on with life. Can you imagine what your fur person must think of war, or of clothes, or, for that matter, human beings?"
PS - Her brother is Warren Beatty! Who knew?
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Rat Terrier night squadrons!
Good news: rat terriers have a purpose in life!
Guest commentary: One creative solution to get rid of rats - use dogs
By Alexandra Rousseau
Mon Sep 15, 2008, 08:09 PM EDT
CAMBRIDGE -
Recently, I discovered that fumigated, dead rats, rotting and unreachable under my floorboards created a foul smell permeating my condo. I don’t wish this on you.
Rats are common in the city of Cambridge. I routinely see rats happily crossing River Street — where I live — as I set out on my early morning commute.
No one likes rats. But we need to become more creative and environmentally responsible about how we go about exterminating them. Our city must adopt a natural predator-prey methodology to solve the rat problem. The Rat Terrier dogs are a natural predator of rats, so why not use them? The city will not only eliminate rats, but also protect the local environment, increase safety, and even create green jobs!
Rats are not welcome neighbors. According to the city of Cambridge Department of Public Health, the creature that inhabits our neighborhoods is the Norway rat. Too many of them live in Cambridge. They outnumber residents two to one (that means there about 200,000 rats in Cambridge). The Cambridge city Web site proclaims, “No city has documented those kinds of numbers.” That’s not reassuring.
Norway rats could be the greatest pest of all times. A U.S. Government report estimates that each individual rat annually damages $1 to $10 worth of food and other materials. In other words, the total damage could reach up to $2 million dollars per year in Cambridge. Rats cause structural damage to buildings by burrowing underneath them. More alarmingly, these rats threaten public health as vectors of many diseases. They transmit diseases directly by biting people and contaminating food, and indirectly, by carrying lice and fleas.
When faced with rat colonization, the most logical action is to call Mr. Exterminator. The problem (as I realized chatting with Mr. Exterminator in my backyard) is that rats are more attracted to my neighbors' (a Cambridge Housing Authority complex) trash area, which is not enclosed and poorly maintained, than to the baited traps placed by Mr. Exterminator (hired by my condo association). As a result, the poisoned baits do little to kill rats. Rather, they kill squirrels, insects and, consequently, any other animals that come in contact with or feed on those dead squirrels or insects, including birds, cats, and dogs, and on into the food chain.
This includes the beautiful birds—Northern Cardinals and Black-capped Chickadees—that have been visiting less this summer. I realized in horror that in wanting to get rid of rats in my neighborhood, I had perhaps indirectly been decimating the desirable inhabitants whose company I so dearly enjoy. Also, Norway rats can learn to avoid poison and/or develop resistance to it. If by any chance one dies, beyond the foul odor, the dead rat could attract massive amounts of beetles that will feed on the dead rat.
Currently, the burden lies on private citizens like me. It affects our quality of life, our pocketbook, and potentially the health of our families. All the city of Cambridge has done is to publish a rodent control guide, and develop refuse and litter ordinances. In addition, there is virtually no enforcement of the ordinance. Residents just don’t seem aware that exposed garbage can result in massive rodent colonization.
Clearly, this is not enough. The city must do more, and do it in a safe, environmentally responsible way. The Rat Terrier is the answer.
The Rat Terrier dog is born with the genetic instinct to kill rats. It is an American breed that originated from a mixture of crosses of European Fox Terriers.
The city of Cambridge should establish night squadrons of trained Rat Terriers and their human handlers, who would hunt, kill and retrieve dead rats to their handlers, who would dispose of the rats. In addition to being an effective natural rat extermination method, the patrols would double as a security resource, noting and alerting residents to unusual activity. This also represents an economic opportunity to develop green jobs in the city.
Am I obsessed with rats? No. But rats and their dead foul smell do repulse me and I sincerely worry about the public health issues they pose to all residents: us, our pets, and friendly animal visitors. So, the next time a rat problem arises in your neighborhood, think twice about calling Mr. Exterminator. Rather, write a letter to the Mayor and ask for the deployment of a Rat Terrier night squadron. It will help protect your neighborhood's health and safety!
Alexandra Rousseau is a River Street resident and a graduate student at Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment.
Guest commentary: One creative solution to get rid of rats - use dogs
By Alexandra Rousseau
Mon Sep 15, 2008, 08:09 PM EDT
CAMBRIDGE -
Recently, I discovered that fumigated, dead rats, rotting and unreachable under my floorboards created a foul smell permeating my condo. I don’t wish this on you.
Rats are common in the city of Cambridge. I routinely see rats happily crossing River Street — where I live — as I set out on my early morning commute.
No one likes rats. But we need to become more creative and environmentally responsible about how we go about exterminating them. Our city must adopt a natural predator-prey methodology to solve the rat problem. The Rat Terrier dogs are a natural predator of rats, so why not use them? The city will not only eliminate rats, but also protect the local environment, increase safety, and even create green jobs!
Rats are not welcome neighbors. According to the city of Cambridge Department of Public Health, the creature that inhabits our neighborhoods is the Norway rat. Too many of them live in Cambridge. They outnumber residents two to one (that means there about 200,000 rats in Cambridge). The Cambridge city Web site proclaims, “No city has documented those kinds of numbers.” That’s not reassuring.
Norway rats could be the greatest pest of all times. A U.S. Government report estimates that each individual rat annually damages $1 to $10 worth of food and other materials. In other words, the total damage could reach up to $2 million dollars per year in Cambridge. Rats cause structural damage to buildings by burrowing underneath them. More alarmingly, these rats threaten public health as vectors of many diseases. They transmit diseases directly by biting people and contaminating food, and indirectly, by carrying lice and fleas.
When faced with rat colonization, the most logical action is to call Mr. Exterminator. The problem (as I realized chatting with Mr. Exterminator in my backyard) is that rats are more attracted to my neighbors' (a Cambridge Housing Authority complex) trash area, which is not enclosed and poorly maintained, than to the baited traps placed by Mr. Exterminator (hired by my condo association). As a result, the poisoned baits do little to kill rats. Rather, they kill squirrels, insects and, consequently, any other animals that come in contact with or feed on those dead squirrels or insects, including birds, cats, and dogs, and on into the food chain.
This includes the beautiful birds—Northern Cardinals and Black-capped Chickadees—that have been visiting less this summer. I realized in horror that in wanting to get rid of rats in my neighborhood, I had perhaps indirectly been decimating the desirable inhabitants whose company I so dearly enjoy. Also, Norway rats can learn to avoid poison and/or develop resistance to it. If by any chance one dies, beyond the foul odor, the dead rat could attract massive amounts of beetles that will feed on the dead rat.
Currently, the burden lies on private citizens like me. It affects our quality of life, our pocketbook, and potentially the health of our families. All the city of Cambridge has done is to publish a rodent control guide, and develop refuse and litter ordinances. In addition, there is virtually no enforcement of the ordinance. Residents just don’t seem aware that exposed garbage can result in massive rodent colonization.
Clearly, this is not enough. The city must do more, and do it in a safe, environmentally responsible way. The Rat Terrier is the answer.
The Rat Terrier dog is born with the genetic instinct to kill rats. It is an American breed that originated from a mixture of crosses of European Fox Terriers.
The city of Cambridge should establish night squadrons of trained Rat Terriers and their human handlers, who would hunt, kill and retrieve dead rats to their handlers, who would dispose of the rats. In addition to being an effective natural rat extermination method, the patrols would double as a security resource, noting and alerting residents to unusual activity. This also represents an economic opportunity to develop green jobs in the city.
Am I obsessed with rats? No. But rats and their dead foul smell do repulse me and I sincerely worry about the public health issues they pose to all residents: us, our pets, and friendly animal visitors. So, the next time a rat problem arises in your neighborhood, think twice about calling Mr. Exterminator. Rather, write a letter to the Mayor and ask for the deployment of a Rat Terrier night squadron. It will help protect your neighborhood's health and safety!
Alexandra Rousseau is a River Street resident and a graduate student at Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Rat terrier saved from the jaws of a shark!!!
Now to start things off right:
Here is the inspiring story of a man who literally saved his rat terrier from the jaws of a shark. Amazing!!! Shout out to Brett for passing this along.
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2008/09/30/dnt.fl.man.punches.shark.wsvn
Here is the inspiring story of a man who literally saved his rat terrier from the jaws of a shark. Amazing!!! Shout out to Brett for passing this along.
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2008/09/30/dnt.fl.man.punches.shark.wsvn
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