Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Attack Of The Porcupines

Image result for picture of porcupine attacks
From the Houston Chronicle: Porcupines in the Austin area increasingly have attacked dogs and cats, local doctors say.
Pictures recently have surfaced of dogs with quills stuck in their mouths, according to KEYE-TV.
Porcupines belong to the rodent family, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife. They're described as fat, pidgeon-toed, bow-legged and slow, and researchers say they can have 30,000 needle-sharp quills on their little bodies, "with as many as 100 to 140 growing from each square-inch of skin."
Ian Voezel, a doctor at Westlake Animal Hospital, told KEYE-TV that emergency clinics see more of these cases because attacks often happen at night.
"If they are sticking out, a lot of times we can pull them out without having to surgically cut them out," Voezel said. "It's quicker, less expensive and easier on the dog."
Austin Zoo & Animal Sanctuary zookeeper Matt Miklaw said porcupines are "pretty much everywhere."
"They are going to be attracted to our garbage just like rats and raccoons," Miklaw said. "That's why they come closer to people."
Voezel advised that pet owners bring let veterinarians remove the quills after attacks.   http://www.chron.com/news/local/article/Porcupine-attacks-infesting-Central-Texas-5623637.php
I was awaiting the paper or someone else to blame global warming, but it was just garbage.
Gee, maybe if the people would take care of their garbage, they wouldn't have this problem?

No comments:

Post a Comment