Trying to find some solution to the hawk situation, we purchased the above “Raptor Shield” vest for our Chihuahuas. Luckily, we only bought one. When my husband opened the package, he said “That’s the biggest waste of $70 we’ve spend in a long, long time.” The vest was very different from what we were expecting.

The vest somewhat fits Chile (in the photo above), but it only offers very minimal physical protection. The sparse area that is covered is covered in bullet proof vest material that - in theory - should prevent a raptor's claws from puncturing a dogs back. Unfortunately, only a tiny portion of the dog is actually covered; thus leaving other very vulnerable areas of the body open for potential injury.

The pattern of the vest is supposed to visually throw a hawk’s perspective off about the wearer being prey. The true usefulness of the vest hasn’t ever really been proven since no dog wearing one of these vests has ever been attacked with it on. However, I assure that the only people to lay out a fair amount of money for such a dumb doggy outfit are people who have a hawk problem of some sort. So maybe the vest does addle a hawk’s perspective. Or maybe it's just good luck (that had nothing to do with the vest) which has prevented an attack. Good luck was with us with the day that hawk was only a handful of feet over Bella and seriously eyeing her... Well no matter what, I would not allow a small dog out alone (with or without the vest) when a hawk is seen in the area. IMO, this vest also is not one which would fully protect a small pet from injury. It covers too little of vulnerable body areas & the fit is funky.

This vest is too big on our two slightly smaller girls. It spins upsidedown. At the same time, it is not big enough to fully protect. So even if the vest concept might work, this one actually offers no protection at all for really small dogs. The other "predator proof" dog vests that I've seen on the market are even stupider & seem less effective than the one we bought.

Nevertheless, since Chile stays pretty close to me when out on the deck, I can now allow her short times outside (with the vest on & me watching out for the hawk). This way, she now will again be able to occasionally sit & view life in the backyard as she did before the hawk showed up on the scene. Chile really enjoyed her 15 minutes of being out today. It was much better than being stuck in the house all the time. The other two girls are still stuck in the house; except to quickly go potty under our guard.

We still have no good solution to the hawk situation.
We’re still stuck at home because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Life is far more stressful than it should be.

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The threat of increasing disease all across the USA keeps us still in Stay-at-Home social isolation. The threat of a dangerous hawk has us suddenly also grasping at straws to try to protect our dogs.

When will life ever be normal again?

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July 30, 2020: There was only MORE really bad stuff in the US COVID news today.

“The Association of American Medical Colleges’s warning said that
‘if the nation does not change its course -- and soon -- deaths in the United States could be well into the multiple hundreds of thousands’” Currently, the estimate is 230,000 American deaths by November 1st, but that won't be the end.

“Scholars at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security said in a report. ‘Unlike many countries in the world, the United States is not currently on course to get control of this epidemic,’”

“The latest high-profile victim of COVID-19 was Herman Cain, a former Republican presidential candidate and supporter of President Donald Trump, who pointedly refused to wear a mask. Cain was diagnosed with the disease in late June after attending a Tulsa, Oklahoma, rally for Trump, an event where many attendees crowded close together without wearing face masks. Cain tweeted a photo of himself at the event without a mask, surrounded by fellow Trump supporters. At least eight Trump advance team staffers in attendance test positive for coronavirus.” St Louis Journal

“As Deaths Climb and G.D.P. Plunges, Trump Rules Out ‘a Blanket Shutdown. With U.S. cases near record highs, Trump dismisses wider shutdowns and calls again for schools to reopen.” NY Times

“The president, who has been pushing for schools across the country to reopen for in-person instruction and calling on more governors to reopen their states even as federal data shows serious outbreaks across many states, broached an idea on Twitter, writing, “Delay the Election until people can properly, securely and safely vote???”

Now, who does this idea benefit? The American people or Mr Trump? He is much against allowing Americans to vote by mail to protect their health during a pandemic. To date, he is the ONLY politician lobbying to change the US constitution concerning the November Presidential election. Despite prepared statements given to him to read, he also remains a coronavirus denier. According to him, everything is "great" and the "China Virus" (his words) is "overrated".

“A Word from the Experts : Dr. Michael Osterholm, epidemiologist at the University of Minnesota : Americans will be living with the coronavirus for decades.” Market Watch

“Birx says COVID-19 shifting to Missouri, other Midwest states.” St Louis Journel

“Coronavirus Task Force designates Missouri as COVID-19 ‘red zone’” KY3 News

“Missouri’s governor is opposed to statewide face mask order” Missourinet News

“For second time in a week, Kansas City Metro experiences record breaking coronavirus cases.“ KC Star

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