How do Dogs and Cats adjust to Charleston? (moving, food)

[emilybh]

Originally Posted by Brandon Hoffman

Alligators may try to eat small animals but not around the marsh. They cannot tolerate saltwater and will die if exposed to it for too long. If you are near a freshwater pond such as on a golf course the alligators are more of a nuisance but a fence will keep them out of the yard.

We only have 6 types of venomous snakes in SC so they shouldn't be worry to you at all. If you see a snake it's most likely to be a rat snake or an eastern king snake, neither of which is a threat to your cat. In fact, the only snakes that would probably pose a real threat to a cat or small dog would be E.Diamondback or a Timber Rattler.

There's no reason for snakes or alligators to prevent a move to a lovely city like Charleston.

LOL!!!! ONLY SIX VENOMOUS SNAKES! YIKES! THAT IS A LOT! I don't think we have any in New England and we don't have no-seeums.

One of the reasons I want to move is the nicer weather but if there are so many pests we have to watch out for and I have to stay inside in a hermetically sealed house with windows shut to avoid them (or have to slather poisonous gunk all over my skin to keep mosquitos and noseeums away if I do go outside), I may as well stay here and be stuck inside for different reasons (because of the weather).

Please say (truthfully) it isn't THAT bad down there. I'm thinking I might end up in Wagener Terrace because I want to be within walking or close driving distance to most everything. Are the bugs and snakes and rates bad in the city?

[DJShymansky]

Emily, I live in Wagener. I haven't seen a snake in 5 years. Palmetto bugs are about all you'll notice and we love the neighborhood. You don't need to worry too much about the flying insects either. Screen windows, screen doors, or ceiling fans on your porch will solve those problems.

[emilybh]

I guess that makes me feel a little better DJ.

[Dave-O]

I just moved to Mt. Pleasant from Seattle over a month ago and flew both of our pets down here. One is a Lahsa Apso dog, the other a Calico kitty. My home is on two large ponds and each has a gator. The animals love being out on the screened porch and both roam the yard. We keep an eye on both and have heard that common sense goes a long way with the dog, i.e. don't send him on a barking match with pond animals.

I've also read that issues with snakes are overblown and rare. Yes, there are way more snakes down here than up north. However, most are non-venemous and those that are (about 6 different types) do whatever they can to avoid contact with dogs, cats, and people before behaving in a manner that would be considered dangerous. I'll go out on a limb and suggest the snakes have way more to be worried about from cats and dogs than the other way around. Snakes like to eat bugs, geckos, and small rodents. Some snakes even eat other snakes and frogs. The gators "will" attack menacing little dogs, so the suggestion of a fence is a good one. We may be doing that, but right now we walk the dog on a leash.

Anyway, good luck! This is a great place to live.

[Brandon Hoffman]

You have more species of venomous snakes in NE than we do here. For what it's worth, the Copperhead doesn't have potent enough venom to kill a healthy adult, and Coral Snake is unable to bite a person unless they get something really small like the webbing between fingers. The Diamondback, Canebreak, and Timber rattlers are rare in most areas now, the water moccasin is a bit more common but they eat small things like frogs and mice. Snakes don't want to bite a person, they want to save venom to catch food. You don't have to worry about snakes.

It's not bad at all down here.

[emilybh]

O.K. Thanks for all the guidlines on bugs and snakes etc. Now are there any veterinarians you recommend? Especially, are there any who are also holistic vets in the Charleston area? I know there are in Aiken but what about Charleston?

I need a vet with a good bedside manner who likes cats who will let me be in the room while my cat is being examined that isn't going to try to insist on a whole bunch of vaccinations (with long term side effects) and who is going to support my giving my cat a whole foods and or raw food diet.

[DJShymansky]

I don't know off-hand, I honestly can't remember our vets name, but I'd check with the Doolittle's stores in the area since they support the raw food, pure organic diets and supplies. They'll probably have plenty of recommendations to give you.

[emilybh]

Originally Posted by DJShymansky

I don't know off-hand, I honestly can't remember our vets name, but I'd check with the Doolittle's stores in the area since they support the raw food, pure organic diets and supplies. They'll probably have plenty of recommendations to give you.

COOL, DH! What a GREAT idea for a store as well as a great name -- considering what people spend on their pets nowadays. Sounds like it might have good investment potential if it is publicly held.

[Luvsdabeach]

As long as I have be alive I have only been close to 3 snakes and only 1 was poisonous. You will see many more mosquito's than snakes. lol Sat. I was over near the old Wando high school, in Mt Pleasant, was biten several times. I guess they don't spray as much over there. So far this year I haven't been biten where I live.......I hope I just didn't just jinx myself.

[Dave-O]

I'm one of those people that bugs enjoy feasting on. The mosquitoes can be nasty at dusk here and when the temps are above 70. However, the worst for me are no-seeums. Mosquitoe bites seem to go away very quickly here. No-seeums (I think they are knats) bite and the bites might not show up until several hours later, and those bites last for a week. I end up taking Benedryl to keep the reaction to a minimum. Locals here tell me to get "Skin so Soft" from Avon and put that on your arms and legs if you're planning to be out for extended periods, i.e. fishing (which I enjoy), golfing, etc. I guess those little bugs hate that stuff and won't bite through it. I'm ordering a bunch.

Even taking into consideration the bugs, this place is a great location to live in my opinion.