Our Mission
To promote respect for pet owners and those that do not own a pet..and to protect the quality of life for our furry friends. To speak for those without a voice.
Have a Heart ProgramThe Red Hearts will become a symbol of the "Have a Heart" program. They will arrive in a week or so and will need some preparation before distribution. I ask all of you to become part of this program and help distribute these hearts to the community of folks that like dogs, to display them on the house number sign to the left of the numbers and let other dog owners know that if your dog has to go...it can go here without confrontation from folks who do not understand what pets give to each one of us.
These hearts will become a symbol of the unity of pet owners and a commitment to clean up if needed. To ignore what has happened here, to look the other way, especially if you own or like a dog will embolden the folks and Sun to create stricter controls eventually perhaps stopping you from even walking your dogs. The recent new rules effectively does that. Once the Red Hearts are ready I will notify all of you, and hope some of you volunteer to help get them up so we can all find small islands of affection amid a divisive community and it's management. This will be our starting point....quiet organization. But should the policies continue, social media will become our platform. Should that not work as a group we can discuss next options and there are a few of them. |
Recognize this place!
At a recent meeting several residents were very vocal about dogs on their lawns or "using the facilities" Dogs do what they do...Poop Happens and if it is picked up should not be an issue. In addition, feral cats, fox, armadillos, and raccoons add to the problem but are never mentioned in conversation. Dogs walk around with built in pooper scoopers the wildlife does not. Several years ago ALL put in a small dog park so dog owners could take their dogs there before a walk in hopes of getting their business done there. It was quickly realized the park was not large enough and it was enlarged to accommodate all the dogs using it. Sun last year had a nice open house showing us the improvements they were making to the community, adding new homes, working on the golf course, these improvements necessitated moving the park. The park move was begun but quickly halted for reasons unknown. It was put back in it's original position but the size was reduced by half and we are back at square one. As the pictures clearly show the park is nothing more than a huge litter box with no grass, is too small for the number of dogs that use it, smells like pee due to heavy usage, and is unsanitary and could be a health issue to some dogs. The situation is not sustainable and the Community Manager should address this immediately. Relocate and enlarge the dog park or enlarge the current park in the current location. If Sun wishes to call themselves a dog friendly community they should at least make a half effort at being just that...Dog Friendly.
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I was asked to write an article regarding the poisonous Bufo Toad that is in our area...thought it was a good idea. Article below and click the link to hear what the Bufo sounds like!
Giant Toad
Bufo marinus
Description: The Giant Toad (a.k.a. Marine Toad or Cane Toad) is the largest of the frogs and toads found in Florida. The giant toad is not native to the United States. It was originally released in the U.S. in sugar cane fields to help control “white grubs,” larvae of pest Scarabaeidae. B. marinus became established in southern Florida as result of accidental release of about 100 specimens from the stock of a pet dealer at Miami airport in 1955, and by subsequent releases by pet dealers in the 1960s (Krakauer, 1968). Giant Toads are a highly predacious exotic species that will eat all types of native frogs and toads. This species is skilled at locating all types of food, they have even been known to eat pet food.
Reproduction: The giant toad breeds year-round in standing water, streams, canals and ditches.
CAUTION: When this non-native species is threatened or handled, it secretes a highly toxic milky substance from its large parotoid glands at the back of its head, behind the ears. This secretion can burn your eyes, may irritate your skin, and can kill cats and dogs if they ingest the secretion.
Symptoms of Giant Toad poisoning in pets include drooling, head-shaking, crying, loss of coordination, and, in more serious cases, convulsions. The dog's (or cat's) gums often turn red, an indicator used by veterinarians to distinguish toad poisoning from epilepsy. For this reason, pet owners should be familiar with their pet's normal gum color.
Treatment: If you suspect toad poisoning, get a hose and run water in the side of the dog's/cat's mouth, pointing the animal's head downward so water isn't swallowed. Rub the gums and mouth to remove the toxin. This treatment is usually successful, but call your veterinarian immediately.
For more information about the giant toad, please see the publication entitled "Florida Invader: Cane Toad"
Call: Its call is a low-pitched trill and a chorus that sounds like an idling diesel engine.
Click http://www.wec.ufl.edu/…/wild…/frogstoads/wav/giant_taod.wav to listen to the call of the Giant Toad.
(A new browser window will open with the sound file)
The native Southern Toad (Bufo terrestris) is sometimes mistaken for the Giant Toad. Here are a few ways to tell these toads apart:
The Giant Toad has very large paratoid glands. The Southern Toad has smaller kidney-shaped paratoid glands, which secrete a substance that may be irritating to mucous membranes but is not toxic.
The Southern Toad has two ridges on its head that end in knobs. The Giant Toad does not have these.
The adult Southern Toad ranges in length from 1.75 to 4.5 inches. The adult Giant Toad ranges in length from 4 - 6 inches.
Bufo terrestris
Two of the three pictured are poisonous...can you pick them out? These are big toads and would cover the entire palm of you hand but still not easy to spot especially at night.
Giant Toad
Bufo marinus
Description: The Giant Toad (a.k.a. Marine Toad or Cane Toad) is the largest of the frogs and toads found in Florida. The giant toad is not native to the United States. It was originally released in the U.S. in sugar cane fields to help control “white grubs,” larvae of pest Scarabaeidae. B. marinus became established in southern Florida as result of accidental release of about 100 specimens from the stock of a pet dealer at Miami airport in 1955, and by subsequent releases by pet dealers in the 1960s (Krakauer, 1968). Giant Toads are a highly predacious exotic species that will eat all types of native frogs and toads. This species is skilled at locating all types of food, they have even been known to eat pet food.
Reproduction: The giant toad breeds year-round in standing water, streams, canals and ditches.
CAUTION: When this non-native species is threatened or handled, it secretes a highly toxic milky substance from its large parotoid glands at the back of its head, behind the ears. This secretion can burn your eyes, may irritate your skin, and can kill cats and dogs if they ingest the secretion.
Symptoms of Giant Toad poisoning in pets include drooling, head-shaking, crying, loss of coordination, and, in more serious cases, convulsions. The dog's (or cat's) gums often turn red, an indicator used by veterinarians to distinguish toad poisoning from epilepsy. For this reason, pet owners should be familiar with their pet's normal gum color.
Treatment: If you suspect toad poisoning, get a hose and run water in the side of the dog's/cat's mouth, pointing the animal's head downward so water isn't swallowed. Rub the gums and mouth to remove the toxin. This treatment is usually successful, but call your veterinarian immediately.
For more information about the giant toad, please see the publication entitled "Florida Invader: Cane Toad"
Call: Its call is a low-pitched trill and a chorus that sounds like an idling diesel engine.
Click http://www.wec.ufl.edu/…/wild…/frogstoads/wav/giant_taod.wav to listen to the call of the Giant Toad.
(A new browser window will open with the sound file)
The native Southern Toad (Bufo terrestris) is sometimes mistaken for the Giant Toad. Here are a few ways to tell these toads apart:
The Giant Toad has very large paratoid glands. The Southern Toad has smaller kidney-shaped paratoid glands, which secrete a substance that may be irritating to mucous membranes but is not toxic.
The Southern Toad has two ridges on its head that end in knobs. The Giant Toad does not have these.
The adult Southern Toad ranges in length from 1.75 to 4.5 inches. The adult Giant Toad ranges in length from 4 - 6 inches.
Bufo terrestris
Two of the three pictured are poisonous...can you pick them out? These are big toads and would cover the entire palm of you hand but still not easy to spot especially at night.
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If you have been invited to join "A Dogs Life at BHP" I ask that you invite all your friends that own and love a pet. Help this page become a moving force here at Blue Heron Pines to nurture an understanding between owners and non owners at BHP. To create a mutual respect for both, and to nurture and protect the rights of dog owners in a pet friendly community.
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