The case of the disappearing dog toy

[Zoisite]

Originally Posted by fisheye

I put out rubber snakes to repel birds from our blueberries and hawks ate the heads off the snakes! I put out an plastic owl to chase the crows from our apple trees and the crows plucked out the eyes. Most animals have a curiosity. At first they are timid about anything new in their environment. Then they have to check it out as they become more accustomed to it. But, sometimes like with our rubber snake and plastic owl; we trigger their natural instinct to attack or eat.

Besides the possibility that a fox or raccoon could have taken the dog toy; there is the possibility that a bird of prey could have mistaken it for a meal.

That's funny, and so typical. I just about fell off my chair from laughing when I read that.


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[Meemur]

I can't find the article right now, but cats will also make off with stuffed toys. There was also a video on Facebook.

[rodentraiser]

Here's a fox playing with a dog's toy:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdXTO0pR2zM

[banjomike]

Originally Posted by SSeligman

You're not the onlyone thats seen this or experienced it, in my case it was a wild animal that took the toy for their "own use." Not sure why wild animals are interested in dog and cat toys, but they are animals too, and get fasinated with all kinds of objects so what would make a pets toys any different? your not crazy

Don't forget other domestic pets. I had a cat who stole toys from all over the neighborhood. She would drop them on my bed as gifts.

I was never able to figure out where the toys came from, so I didn't ever return any, but I'm sure she would hit some yards harder than the others; some of the toys were always newer than the others, and I always thought those folks were quickly replacing earlier toys that my cat stole.

It wasn't only pet toys. She brought home silverware, a bullet, assorted coinage, socks, a pair of men's underpants once, T-shirts, small pillows, magazines, and baby rattles. Once brought home a burnt-out lightbulb and once, a used disposable diaper.

It all ended up on my bed, along with living and dead mice, birds, squirrels, and a dead baby kitten.

I owned 2 dogs too, and they would get up on the bed and take what they wanted. Sometimes the cat gave them presents, not intended for me.

[Nanny Goat]

Where we lived once, our dog had a doggie rawhide bone she would play w/ outside. My husband was out once and caught the neighbor's dog stealing it. She came up our long driveway, which she did once in a while and when he turned his head, away, doing something, he saw her through his peripheral vision put her head down, grab something and take off. No more doggie rawhide bone.