Thanks for all the advice and kind wishes. It's funny someone mentioned a possible return...I was already considering that, especially after my bellow. Still - I think it was the right thing to yell. We'll be harder pickings next time! We met several dogs, mostly pits, and are still researching. Ideally I want something like a Shepard or Rottweiler mix - maybe with a lab or retriever.

I'm hoping against hope they left prints on the lighter they left behind. The Philly police did their usual job - I had to push to get them to take prints off of the AC and they were generally disinterested in being bothered with police work.

I wonder if a Bull Mastiff would eat Philly Cop?

The noise a dog makes is likely more important than the fierceness.

And how fierce a dog is can depend on several factors. This dog would gnaw the leg off anyone who dared mess with my GF:

http://i872.photobucket.com/albums/a...erratta003.jpg

He had been abused for several years, and then dumped in a local park. It took awhile, but he is now quite attatched to us.

This dog looks fierce and has a nice big bark:

http://i872.photobucket.com/albums/a...ndmaizy002.jpg

At nearly eighty pounds, he probably is scarier to a burglar than he actually is. Once someone is in the house, though, I'd want the beagle. I'm not kidding. There would be blood.

I've found shepherd mixes inspire more fear, even more than pits. It's because they are smart and loyal. And the police use them.

plus a lot. My GF and I have four strays. One was found wandering starved in an alley. One was left in the trash, in a box with two inches of her own waste at the bottom (seriously). One is the abused and dumped beagle above. The last is the big black dog. He was in at least five different places his first year and considered unmanageable (nothing could be further from the truth).

When you get a dog, you have to make a deal with them not to give up on them and dump them.

Glad both of you are okay. That is a very very scary situation and you seem to have handled it well.

Another vote for the shepherds! I live with a spectacular border collie that was rescued a year and a half ago at 1yr of age. He has bonded well with everyone in our household, including the cat, and is very defensive of his home and yard. He does take cues as to when to relax but does bark and growl quite menacingly, which I am grateful for living in NYC. He is a very good judge of character, also, and knows who to trust on his walks. If people are drunk or obviously intoxicated, walking erratically, etc, he gets protective, but not aggressive. Also, super cuddly :)

Maybe you'll gain a great friend from this event.

I'm thinking the dog could be a silver lining. I promise...we are not the type to rush things. We've had a dog. We've been talking dog for months, this just iced it. We have 3 rescue cats, all picked off of the street.

Whoa Aaron, that is scary stuff. That is really awful about your computer and other things but I am glad no one was harmed. I can't imagine actually seeing the people inside your home.

An other option would be a Mokave or other large cat, I think they mature around 30lbs. that would make someone think twice
http://modelspinning.shikshik.org/_c...use%20cats.jpg

Plus I'm thinkin' low maintinace, litter box and at feeding time just let it out the back door....Im sure it could hunt up something for dinner ;)

Ok cat people, small mamal and children lovers, the feeding comment was in jest....still a cool beast to have around the house don't ya think?

That sucks and it's scary. A dog is the best option, but ours died a few years ago and we're not in a position to take care of a dog now. So I keep a S&W in the bedstand. No I'm not a gun nut.

RE: above,
I should probably clarify my previous response. I wouldn't recommend anyone buy a gun for self protection. Depending on where you live, of course. I own one because my wife and I used to enjoy the shooting sports, and I keep it around as an absolute last resort in case of impending grave threat of injury or death to a family member. I would never consider shooting someone over a bicycle or a stereo. I'm not sure about my wife, though. And she's an excellent shot. A dog is a much better deterrent to anyone coming in the house in the first place. Good luck Aaron and may it be the last time.

Good grief. That is SOME cat. I like.

Advice:
Have a gun (you don't have to feed or clean up after it).
Don't hestitate to use it.

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6147/5...4c17b925_o.jpg

FIFY :)

On a serious note: I'm glad you are both okay and it was nothing worse than losing some things. They can always be replaced - even the hard work - but you'd probably be hard pressed to find another Lori and she'll say the same about you, too.

I hope this is your quota filled for the year, dude!

DD

Wow Aaron, I'm sorry you had to deal with that! I hope it fades away quickly.

I'm glad you weren't hurt. Been there, chased them out into the woods, got 2 but not the 3rd.
Then I had to deal with all the yelling and screaming when the police got there; their "people" wanted me arrested for assualt.

The judge sentenced them to repay me the $2800; never saw a penny.

not much more to add to this, really :). Just so sad to see all these things happen to you in such a short while. all the best wishes.

Jasus Keerist... Move down here to Delaware and commute. No sales tax...

Just got home and read this sad news.

Feel bad for you guys.

Nice folks like you don't deserve this in your own home.

Not always... The next door neighbor's boxer took three bites out of my wife about 6 weeks ago. Animal Control took possession of the dog and observed it for a period of time and then euthanized it because of its temperament.

Not all of them are so soft and cuddly. My wife, who has never been afraid of dogs in her life, is now afraid of dogs. :(

Aaron, glad things worked out as OK as they did. Some years just get jacked up for no apparent reason. Your 2012 sounds like how my 2010 ended and my 2011 started out: BAD! If all goes well, all will get better soon!

I concur. I have a pit bull mix and she's even friendlier than my Aussie. She'd kill an intruder with licks and tail wags.. Temperament and training has more to do with it than any in born "bloodlust."

Aaron so sorry to hear this. I'm glad you guys are ok. Me, I'm a gun guy but if you're not comfortable around guns and unless you know for a fact that you could pull the trigger on someone don't get one. If you know the work and care involved with a dog and are good with what it initials then I say go for it. My vote is for a Doberman. My family has had several and they are awesome dogs. My sister had one that was professionally trained for guard duties but was the sweetest dog. My niece was little and would crawl all over her. I also had a Dobbie and she was a great dog. If someone came over that she didn't know, she put always herself between them and me until she trusted them but would not be aggressive toward them. Every time I let her outside in the backyard she would make one lap around fence to check everything out. I always said she was on patrol, lol. Dobermans are very protective of their families, the females even more so. I am a big fan of rescue dogs, I have one now but in this case you may want to look at buying one. Go to a legit breeder and spend some time with some dobermans I think it will be just what you're looking for. Stay safe my friend!

Mutt

This stinks, man. Sorry to hear about it and am glad the situation ended without any harm coming to you or your wife. Dog is probably the right move here and an alarm system wouldn't hurt either. I have a friend who lives on Iseminger in S.Philly and he has a nice and loud alarm system that I'm sure would be a deterrent in a situation like yours.

+1 to BBM's advise here. Think about getting any dog first and make sure you are committed to caring for and loving the dog for its life. That said, I agree with your "get a dog" idea:thumb:. Our son's setter has a deep booming repeated bark that has scared off a few suspicious people walking up the driveway. She would actually hold the door for them if they came in, since she loves everyone but, the noise she can make causes them to think twice. Sorry you got robbed Aaron, hope you get all the cards and accounts changed quick enough. If they knew to take a hard drive they are most likely selling personal info to other scumbags.

I do have 3 shotguns for bird hunting and a pistol of my wives in the house, with plenty of ammunition. She can unlock the gun case quicker than I can when she hears something around the house. Glad I don't sleepwalk:twitchy:. I think a load of shot from a 12 ga magnum duck gun would make them get gone and drop things they were carrying. and as everyone knows Florida has the Stand Your Ground law, too:notamused:. And, we have an alarm system with motion sensors to boot.

Really sorry to hear about that, but glad you're all okay!

This is my home protection system:

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=254887

George is a pound rescue as well. Loudest bark you've ever heard. Good thing, as we live in a bit of a sketchy neighborhood. It's the price you pay to have a house 200 yards from the beach. Having a dog is a big commitment (far less travel than the past), but very, very gratifying.