I don't understand the backyards in North Carolina - help please! (Portland, Durham) - - Page 4 - City-Data Forum

southernlady5464 · 08-10-2007, 09:19 AM

Quote:

I guess that I must have grown up in a different time but from the age of about 5 or 6 I spent most of my free time exploring the woods with my friends. When I was 7 or 8 years old I was regularly trekking for miles into the woods.

I did too....

I don't have a fence here and don't want one. Of course I don't have dogs or kids either.

I do want to screen the creek in back...considering using bamboo as my option instead. Liz

autumngal · 08-10-2007, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by southernlady5464

I did too....

I don't have a fence here and don't want one. Of course I don't have dogs or kids either.

I do want to screen the creek in back...considering using bamboo as my option instead. Liz

Bamboo..nice! Great idea!
We have a pond and our lab will live in it at the most inopportune times. Thankfully our fence does not block the pond view. I can see how that would not do the view justice,

J_Lurk · 08-10-2007, 09:33 AM

I don't think strays are a big issue in most suburban parts of the Triangle, but I did grow up in a rural dirt-road part of northern Wake County where people dumped animals *a lot*. I'd say we had a strange animal walk up every six months. Some of them we took in as pets, but some were downright dangerous and took nips at us. There also were packs of roving dogs when I was a kid; I remember seeing a goat that had been killed by them and it wasn't pretty. Admittedly, this was 30 years ago, but I think there are still areas where people tend to dump animals and if you live in one of them I can understand being concerned. Also, its one thing to say that kids should be able to deal with strange dogs ... but rabies is pretty common in this area. I spent a lot of time in the woods as a kid too, and the thing I learned was to keep a long, long distance between me and a strange dog. If one approached me or the house it meant he was either (1) domesticated or (2) dangerous. There wasn't a lot of middle ground.

But, again, I think we're talking about places that look pretty rural, not your average suburb in the Triangle.

adlnc07 · 08-10-2007, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by autumngal

Right now I am tackling my neighbors kitty who insists he owns my back deck, he hisses and attacks me, my hubby and is not scared of my dog. BUT! gets scared if my cat gets out by accident,

I wish fences kept out cats.

My dogs have nearly caught my neighbor's cat twice now - you'd think it would have learned after the first time. I try to check my (fenced) backyard before I let them out, but sometimes I forget or get distracted. To all those cat owners out there who let their cats roam suburban neighborhoods - be aware that your neighbor just might have a high prey drive dog who can reach 40mph in a few seconds! Bound to scare the heck out of any cat expecting a fat happy Lab to come out the back door!

southernlady5464 · 08-10-2007, 10:12 AM

Quote:

I wish fences kept out cats. My dogs have nearly caught my neighbor's cat twice now - you'd think it would have learned after the first time. I try to check my (fenced) backyard before I let them out, but sometimes I forget or get distracted. To all those cat owners out there who let their cats roam suburban neighborhoods - be aware that your neighbor just might have a high prey drive dog who can reach 40mph in a few seconds! Bound to scare the heck out of any cat expecting a fat happy Lab to come out the back door!

Before you outrun a cat, though, he'll probably be over the nearest fence: A cat can jump six times his own length from a sitting position. A cat's powerful thigh muscles coil and release incredible energy, allowing him to escape gravity and fly.

And having had cats all my life, I have seen this happen. Liz

needhalc · 08-10-2007, 10:39 AM

Coming from CA, the "no fence" thing did take a little getting used too..but I love it now. Our first thought, since we have young kids, was to fence it. Our association only allows short fences...wood or wrought iron. We back to a golf course so view is an issue. After a few months, we changed our minds...the kids were fine, and it would have cost a bundle! The previous owners did have en electric fence...many do.

adlnc07 · 08-10-2007, 10:40 AM

I've no doubt that cats can outrun *most* dogs. I own retired racing greyhounds and I can tell you that greyhounds do in fact catch, injure and sometimes kill, cats that they find in their backyards. Luckily I've not experienced this first hand, but I've seen more than a few posts on greyhound message boards about some not-so-happy endings. My dogs have come back with a piece of fur off a cat - that's as close as they've gotten so far. One of my dogs did catch and kill a bird though.

Anyhow, I keep chasing the cat out of my backyard, and off my front step, and hope that I never have to deal with anything worse.

Angel_038 · 08-10-2007, 10:53 AM

A few people have invisable fencing. My fiance and I just put up a 4 foot picket fence in 4 days. What a job tha was. Our dog loves being able to run free now. I heard fences lowers the value of a home and maybe thats why you see alot of homes without them. Not sure.

jeannie216 · 08-10-2007, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adlnc07

I've no doubt that cats can outrun *most* dogs. I own retired racing greyhounds and I can tell you that greyhounds do in fact catch, injure and sometimes kill, cats that they find in their backyards. Luckily I've not experienced this first hand, but I've seen more than a few posts on greyhound message boards about some not-so-happy endings. My dogs have come back with a piece of fur off a cat - that's as close as they've gotten so far. One of my dogs did catch and kill a bird though.

Anyhow, I keep chasing the cat out of my backyard, and off my front step, and hope that I never have to deal with anything worse.

We have 2 cats but are strictly indoor. I was always afraid that something would happen to them, runaway, fights with other animals, disease, etc. so they've always been inside. I've also heard that indoor cats have a longer lifespan then outdoor cats. My one cat is perfectly content being inside, even if the door opens he just sits and looks from afar. The other one, tries every chance he gets to escape... he was born wild though so maybe thats why...

KCfromNC · 08-10-2007, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by southernlady5464

I did too....

I don't have a fence here and don't want one. Of course I don't have dogs or kids either.

I do want to screen the creek in back...considering using bamboo as my option instead. Liz

At the risk of getting off topic, there are two types of bamboo. You want a clumping type rather than one which spreads by underground runners. One will make a nice screen, the other will take over your (and everyone else's) yard...