My dog is small but still attacks bigger dogs. Will it
be safe?
Yes. Dog Island is actually a small complexes of islands.
There is one island reserved for the miniatures like Chihuahas
and tiny poodles. If your dog falls into the tiny dog category
it will find itself wonderfully happy on the tiny dog island
My dog is being picked on by neighborhood
raccoons. Can you give me any advice?
Yes. Send your dog to Dog Island. But in the meantime, teach
your dog to be tough. Buy a BB Gun and get your dog a stuffed
raccoon, like the owners of our favorite dalmation, Charlie,
did (see
article)
What do the dogs eat on the island?
There were 10,000 rabbits released on to the island 2 years
ago. We are not sure how many rabbits there are in total now,
but they far out number the dogs, and continue to reproduce
rapidly. Dogs are given some supplemental eating supplies
and are monitored electronically to ensure they are finding
their way to natural food sources
But what do the rabbits eat?
A crew of 15 vegetation restoration engineers are constantly
planting large patches of wild carrot. The dog
food your dog has gotten used to is such crap you have
no idea.
My dog is very very fat. Will it make it on the island?
After you complete your application to send your dog there
is a very important training time for a period of three months
that you and your family will need to participate actively
in.
If I visit the Island, how can I be sure to see my dog?
You can't be sure. Your dog is now free, a part of the natural
system of life and the world. Many people do see their dogs,
and others just instinctively know that their dog is there,
happy and free.
My dog seems happiest lazy and warm, curled up by a
fire. Will he really be happier at Dog Island?
Yes. Studies have shown that dogs with this lazy tendency
also lack a luster for life which is revived by connecting
to the great outdoors.
Dog Island stands by it's beliefs in giving dogs a real chance
to connect with nature and find their true life mate, no more
human accutrements, like TV and dog
toys that turn the dog's mind to mush.
What kind of shelter do you provide for the dogs?
There are actually many caves along the shoreline, artificially
made, which dogs can go to to avoid the rain. They are great
caves. People like them too. I think that even bears would
love these caves for hibernation. But mostly, the weather
is BEAUTIFUL on the Island so shelter is not really an issue.
Dogs LOVE hurricanes, too, which we recently discovered!
My dog is very high strung and often gets into fights
with other dogs. I can control this now, but what happens
when fights break out on the island?
Fights break out occassionally, but this is not a real
issue, because eventually, the dogs learn to get along. Every
now and then some dogs gang up and kill and then eat another
dog, but this is just natural, and it's okay for it to happen
now and then, but normally this is not the case.
High strung dogs often are a symptom of a dog not properly
conditioned to human lives, even though he reacts mean only
to other dogs. It will take canine socialization for him to
learn. But there are preparations you will need to make in
training before we pick him up. The specific type of pre-training
will be determined after our representative meet with you.
Certain things you can do is to start finding rodents and
squirrels for the terriers to kill. This is his natural instinct
and without that outlet, he will look towards other dogs and
even sometimes babies. We can't have that happening.
Speaking of fighting, what do you do about pack-forming?
For introduction to the Dog Island, we like to have all
the new dogs spend time together in the bungalo, which is
really the Pen which is just the pre-Dog Island place for
the new dogs to "pack up" with each other.
You see, on Dog Island, pack forming is very common and normal.
But if a new dog was just let loose onto the island all by
him or herself, the pack would easily destroy him. This is
why we like introducing only packs onto the island, because
it allows for mutual respect of packs and clans, and they
learn to intermingle very quickly. We are lucky that we thought
this through beforehand, because we've ended up with zero
unintended casualties of pack wars!
No matter how big Dog Island is, I'm sure that overpopulation
and overcrowding will become an issue someday. What do you
do with dogs once it's time for them to leave the island?
Dog Island has not been around TOO long so the question
of "after" has never occurred. We are hoping that
with the growing popularity of dog island, there will be more
legislation
passed that will allow more dog islands to open in the country
and world, and then overcrowding will not become a problem
at all. We still have many years and many dogs to go until
overcrowding is a problem on the island. Also, the dogs keep
themselves trimmed too. And also, we've received many spayed
and neutered dogs which cuts down on reproductions.
Is it possible to send dogs who live in shelters and have
no chance to find a new family to live in? Are you willing
to work with shelters on this matter?
Definitely. We believe that shelters do great work, and
could stand to learn from our philosophy and approach, as
I'm sure we stand to learn a lot from them.
The web site does not explain why there is a need for
Dog island. Could you please try to explain?
Yes. I will try to explain here. For years human beings have
owned other human beings. This was called slavery. During
times of slavery, slave owners talked about the difference
between treating their slaves in a "good" way and
in a "bad" way. The issue was never, should we or
should we not own slaves. For a more detailed discussion of
this notion, see Valerie Martin's book Property.
You'll find it to be an eye-opener.
The same issues apply to us, in this 21st century. We have
conditioned our lovely canine friends to live under our rules.
They are used to it, yes. They have learned to love us anyway,
yes. But it is not right, no. Dogs should live free, should
live lives unfettered by humiliation due to forced public
defecation and having to walk on a leash.
It is with this in mind that Dog Island was created. Is it
the ultimate answer? No, but it's a step in the right direction
- dogs living on their own, controlling their own destinies
in ways that they absolutely cannot while under human rule.
Here at Dog Island, we look to give back to dogs what we
have taken from them: their freedom.
Are you sure/can you guarantee that even purebred dogs,
used to live with humans and enjoying it, would feel well
at dogisland?
Wouldn't they suffer and miss human company?
Let's discuss how you and your dog can benefit
from working with Dog Island. Believe it or not, no matter
how happy you dog may seem now, it's true that he is still
a slave to you. This is not your
fault, not directly, at least. Because centuries have conditioned
us to not notice that humans enslave dogs.
The Dog Island is the first step in a long process of "Re-Wildification"
which will help dogs to rediscover their true instinctual
roots. There is no need for them to be wasting their time
chasing balls and frisbees when they should really be hunting
rabbits and gophers.
People who have sent their dogs to Dog Island truly understand
that to fully express their love to their dogs, they have
to let their dogs be free. The dogs will never harbour any
resent towards you, the owner.
In fact, in their own, unique ways, they will thank you for
letting them to really be themselves, to really be free.
We hope that you can sit with these thoughts for a while,
take a deep breath, and then please tell us about your very
special relationship with your dog
.
We are sure you are a wonderful, loving and protective dog
owner, and once you tell us about yourself and your relationship
with your beautiful dog, we will explain to you how you will
feel even better once you decide to let your dog rediscover
his/her ancestral roots.
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