Rick,
Yes, absolutely it was not the Lab's fault. The dog was playful, tail up and bouncy and had no idea it was chasing a rarity. For that matter, it probably hadn't the slightest idea of what to do should he have caught the thing. Labs don't have a huge prey drive; they like to RETRIEVE - and don't normally maul what they play with. He showed no body language of harm - just play. He was a gorgeous lab - just too bad the choice was made to put him on a bird rather than a ball.
Believe me, I was seriously tempted to have a word (or more) with the owner. However, the owner was far across the field from where I was standing. I was sort of hoping that he'd circle round, but they left pretty quickly. All the better, I suppose.
Please note - while I believe this was likely deliberate on the part of the owner, there really can be no way of knowing what happened. Maybe the dog just wanted to go play and got away, and the owner embarrassedly retrieved him and took him home. Um - maybe.
Joanne
Joanne Howl, DVM
West River, MD
-----Original Message-----
From: Rick Sussman <>
To:
Sent: Mon, Jul 19, 2010 4:11 pm
Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] Sandhill Crane 7/18
Sorry you had to witness that bad behavior. As a vet though, you should know it
asn't the labs fault, but the owners. There are irresponsible pet owners
verywhere, and they seem to love doing things like this. I'd have been sorely
empted ( as both a birder and a lab owner) to have siad something to him...
Rick Sussman
oodbine,MD
he bird has apparently become a big deal in town - I heard he had a story in
e local paper. It was disturbing, however, to see he'd become a recreational
source for a certain black lab.
oanne
-----Original Message-----
rom: Joanne Howl <>
o:
ent: Mon, Jul 19, 2010 12:07 pm
ubject: [MDOSPREY] Sandhill Crane 7/18
on Ranson and I visited Elkton on Sunday, July 18, in search of the Sandhill
ane. We saw it immediately upon driving into Meadow Park, where it was
eding in the middle of the field at 6:10.
stopped to buy some bird-watching patience (a treat from the ice-cream man)
r my daughter, who was along for the ride. The ice-cream man was telling me
out the "good bird" that was "always here, you will see him" as, over the
ont of the truck, I watched what seemed to be a man deliberately setting his
ack lab on the bird. The dog was walking with the man, he seemed to signal,
d the dog ran straight at the bird, flushing it. The man then called the dog
ck to him, and they continued to walk together. It didn't look like a dog
cape or an accident ... but I don't know. It happened so fast!
he bird disappeared for quite awhile. We searched the area, and a park across
e road, without luck. We hung out at the park while I let my daughter play,
ping it would return. As we were leaving, about 7:30, we decided to scan the
rshy area a bit more closely. A couple from PA came scanning too, and soon
ey put us on the Crane. It had decided to hang out in a less accessible part
the park, along with a nice Great Egret.
he bird has apparently become a big deal in town - I heard he had a story in
e local paper. It was disturbing, however, to see he'd become a recreational
source for a certain black lab.
oanne
oanne Howl, DVM
st River, MD
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