Hope this isn't too off the gardening subject...
Regarding toads in the garden: Anyone have experiences with dogs picking up
or licking your toad? I understand there are some toads that don't pose a
severe threat, but others that can kill a dog or cat with very limited
contact. I am thinking of getting a "common toad". Any experiences with
dogs and common toads? I don't think my dog (Brittany)& the toad will ever
make contact, but just in case... better to be safe than sorry.
Thanks.
I had a beagle, who like other scent hounds, was quite nearsighted.
Beowulf, an airedale cross something came to visit and taught her to hunt
mice. I had some topsoil delivered, and it was full of hibernating toads,
which I "planted" under a honeysuckle hedge. As they emerged, Kathiki
beagle chomped down, then went around licking her mouth with a sour
expression on her face. Between her and my MIL who went after some weeds
like she was killing snakes, they slayed (slew?) them all, alas. The dog
was none the worse for wear, and it didn't dissuade her from hunting and
killing more. Margaret L
In a message dated 6/16/01 2:37:10 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
luvmymartian@YAHOO.COM writes:
<< Regarding toads in the garden: Anyone have experiences with dogs picking
up
or licking your toad? I understand there are some toads that don't pose a
severe threat, but others that can kill a dog or cat with very limited
contact. I am thinking of getting a "common toad". Any experiences with
dogs and common toads? I don't think my dog (Brittany)& the toad will ever
make contact, but just in case... better to be safe than sorry.
No experience with dogs and toads, but one of my cats found a toad when she
was very young, picked it up, and very quickly put it down. Didn't like the
taste, I guess. Then the toad hopped and the cat picked it up again, and
quickly put it back down. This went on for several minutes until I felt sorry
for the toad (not the foolish cat) and put the cat in the house. She lived
another 19 years, so I don't think any harm was done. The was a common New
York state toad, nothing exotic.
Mary Ann
Ah, brings back a headline from an Irish paper years ago, when the hippies
were licking toads to get stoned; some sub-editor got the word "hop-head"
into the headline.
