Daniella: I don't know about determining the sex. I would have to read more on the little Screech Owls. If they are like some others, the female is larger, but then how do you tell if there is only one?

Also, like some of the other owls, if they produce, then mamma probably stays on the nest and dad brings (yuk) food, but I am not sure exactly how this works with these birds...

Mel:

I know some New Yorkers have animals in their apartments, and I have never understood how they are able to housebreak dogs. If you live on the 50th floor of a building and have a puppy, how do you make it outside in time? And what happens when people work and have a dog that needs to go? It is not like you get a lot of notice, and puppies, especially, have small bladders... They can't hold it for 8-10 hours. Here, you watch the dog and if he/she starts acting fidgety, you open the door and put it in the yard-QUICKLY. Some dogs stay outside. Some have doggie doors. So how does one make it to the park in time?

Cathie

Cathie:

I can tell you how some people don't take out their pets. I have friends around the corner. Many many of these people on that block have dogs or cats. MANY!!!! I know all the doggies by names. Most of the dogs, well they bring them out in the morning and whenever you have to bring your dog out. They also (by law), have to have a pooper scooper (or some kind of doggie doody picker upper thingee).

Now around the corner on that block, these houses are either multiple or two apartment houses. Many people have dogs. Also, many people never take their dogs out. The other day I asked my friend. Does your daughter in law or son ever take Angel out of the house for their "business". She said "not really, once in a while, if the weather is nice'. I said 'but how does the dog do their "business'?? and the answer was WEE WEE PADS.

Now I've seen these in the apartments (I gather all of you dog owners know what a wee wee pad is).

So my friend said "they have trained their dogs to do ALL their business on the WEE WEE PAD, and then they put the stuff in shopping bags, and then throw them out.

So I gather this is how a person living on the 50th floor (and who chooses not to take their dogs out for walks), well, I guess they train the dog to go on a WEE WEE PAD. It's the only option they have, right??

I mean, cats use a litter box. But dogs either go outside with their owners, or do it on the WEE WEE PADS.

Now, also in NYC, where you have all the large apartment buildings, 50 floors, etc, many of these people also hire professional dog walkers. When Alan and I go into NYC for an appointment, we often see a person walking 7 or 8 dogs at a time. These people are paid to do this and this is how the dog gets his exercise, and does his 'business".

See?? I got to actually answer a question on this forum and I don't even have a pet. lol

Melody

Thank you for that information, Mel. This now makes sense. People in a 50 story building probably don't have a lot of options...

Some people in our area may train their dogs like this, but I have never it done. When we discovered doggie doors, we thought we had died and gone to heaven... Dinner with 2 dogs before door=dog wants out, dog wants back in, other dog wants out, other dog wants back in. Scream...

Miss Minnie, my renal failure dog, gets the urge in the middle of the night-husband to the rescue. If he had to go down 50 floors, we would be in trouble... He would be pi**ed and she couldn't hold it...

Cathie

Cathie:

A doggie door is a little door on the bottom of your front door where your dog can run out, do his stuff and run back in again, right???

You will never, never never, ever find such a thing in Brooklyn, or anywhere else in NYC. People here are so paranoid because of crime, that they ultimately put 3 locks on their front doors and lock up their windows to.

I guess, in other states, there is much less crime, hence a person would feel perfectly safe with a doggie door.

See, if a dog can get in and out, so can a skinny man or woman.

Ah, for the good old days, when one didn't have to worry about doggie dogs and such. My mother used to tell me that back in the 30's, no one locked their front doors and you could ride the subway system all night long. I used to look at her like she was nuts. She would say "are you kidding, we used to go to Roseland and the Arcadia in NYC, and no one would ever approach you on a train. There was no crime.

THERE WAS NO CRIME!!!

What a statement!!!

Be well

Melody

Well, Mel, you are half right. A doggie door fits in the door and your dog can go in and out at will. I doubt that many people here have them in the front door though. I think nearly everyone has them in the back. Front door=dog running off or someone grabbing it...

Times have changed. It used to be when your dog got out-a neighbor would bring it home. Now, if it gets out, you will be lucky to ever see it again...

And a big doggie door? Forget it, unless you have a BIG, BAD dog for an "UNWELCOMING" committee...

My little owl is out this morning, sitting in the door to his house... It is cool and he sits and watches me closely while I talk to him and water hanging baskets... Soon, he will disappear down into the depths of his box for a snooze after the battering crew arrives to harrass him... I would love to be able to touch him, but hubby says that is a no no... They are protected by federal law...

Cathie

Hi. See I gave you something to do research about genders. I never thought about that in NY about animals. You know here in Ca when I was looking at apartments it seemed less accepted animals. In MI with a pet fee there were more. For me even before my pain issue it was a major reason I didn't want a puppy to have to take it out like every hour in 6 inches of snow. I don't think its fair to an animal to keep it locked up all day by itself when people work such long hours. Plus I'm not big on pee pee pads aka why I don't like cats.The whole potty inside if not in a toilet yuck. I know I'm weird but at least I admit it.

Cathie:

Take a picture of your little owl friend, so we can enjoy him too!!!

Melody

Daniella: No you are not wierd. A lot of people feel the same way. We are lucky to have back yard access for our dogs. Some people leave theirs outside all of the time. For me, this is not right...

Mel: Maybe hubby can show me how to do pics and then put them on the Internet. My friend said he would put a video camera up, so I could watch from inside, but I don't know if he can do this now, since the owl is in the box...

Cathie