Would you care if your dog was found?

[seashel]

Originally Posted by dblock

I would have called an made a report to animal control. People like that need to be educated to the fact that when they let their animals out like that they put everyone(including the dogs)safety at risk.

let's see, 1) dog could have got his by a car. check.2) could have been an accident on the road, by people trying to avoid him. Check, 3) Good Samaritans trying to step in to help guide him to safety could have got hit by a car. Check.

Sometimes I just shake my head and wonder

Hear hear!

A couple of years ago I returned a wandering toy breed dog to the owner's property. The dog was elderly and about three miles away from home. I couldn't catch her but followed her very slowly in the car with the hazards on, praying we wouldn't meet any other vehicles along the way. When we eventually arrived I was astonished that the owner was away and the dog was being cared for by a relative - who greeted me at the door in her dressing gown and told me the dog escaped the previous night!! The lack of concern for the safety of someone else's animal was staggering.

[celloyogi]

The thing that horrified me the most about the situation was the fact that while the owner was so cavalier about the dog's running loose, the dog obviously loved the owner. To me it just doesn't compute that a person can raise a dog in what has to be, in some way, a loving home (or the dog wouldn't act like that), but at the same time not give a rip if the dog is out running on the streets. I can only guess that they see the dog as a fun toy or something to have around.

I would have considered animal control, if I hadn't come across the right house. If I see the dog out running again, I won't call animal control but I'll be half-tempted to pay for a day or two of boarding at my vet's office while I put up 'found dog' signs (just by her house...). Animal control in Michigan has strict rules regarding reclaiming animals and how long an animal can sit in the pound (5 days for dogs, I believe, meaning tight window for rescue groups to intervene) before being PTS so that would be a last, last resort.

[romeosangiovese]

I have returned dogs to people like that too. Completely infuriates me! If you know your dog has a habit of running off, why don't you do something about it!

Worse are the ones who purposely open the gates to "let the dogs out for their walk". Oh no, the people don't go with them. The dogs are expected to walk themselves around the neighbourhood and come back. And they live on a main busy road.

I'd like to think these people know that the dogs can get stolen and even killed by cars, or seriously injured, but doesn't look like it.

[ElleKayCee]

Originally Posted by celloyogi

The thing that horrified me the most about the situation was the fact that while the owner was so cavalier about the dog's running loose, the dog obviously loved the owner. To me it just doesn't compute that a person can raise a dog in what has to be, in some way, a loving home (or the dog wouldn't act like that), but at the same time not give a rip if the dog is out running on the streets.

I would definitely care if someone found my dog, especially along a road! That sounds so dangerous.

I don't understand how someone who loves their dog would be so calm about it. Trust maybe? But even if it's smart enough to stay away from traffic, who's to say someone won't steal it? The thing that makes dogs amazing though, is their loyalty. I'm pretty sure even the most neglected dog would still be happy to see their owner
Anyway, there are probably other factors to be considered. I know in some places it's not uncommon for dogs to run loose. Like the Hachiko story, I believe, where the dog would wait for its master by the train station.

[celloyogi]

Originally Posted by ElleKayCee

I would definitely care if someone found my dog, especially along a road! That sounds so dangerous.

I don't understand how someone who loves their dog would be so calm about it. Trust maybe? But even if it's smart enough to stay away from traffic, who's to say someone won't steal it? The thing that makes dogs amazing though, is their loyalty. I'm pretty sure even the most neglected dog would still be happy to see their owner
Anyway, there are probably other factors to be considered. I know in some places it's not uncommon for dogs to run loose. Like the Hachiko story, I believe, where the dog would wait for its master by the train station.

People in my area generally don't let their dogs run; the only dogs I've seen running freely have been escapees and it's uncommon.

A year ago I chased down a basset hound in my area, down a gravel road in my cheapo thong sandals for at least seven or eight blocks. He'd been running chasing who knows what, having the best time being wild and free in the mud. I finally cornered him in a ditch and hauled him out, and later that day got my tetanus vacc updated (still have a few scars in my calf from the muddy doggie scratches). He was perfectly friendly but bassets are surprisingly heavy and he was trying really hard to give me kisses - flailing legs scratching all over the place. The owner turned out to be a neighbor's son come home to visit, dog's name turned out to be Wiggles. No collar on Wiggles, either. In that case the owners were so grateful they tried to pay me. That's the reaction pet owners should have!

[ElleKayCee]

Originally Posted by celloyogi

A year ago I chased down a basset hound in my area, down a gravel road in my cheapo thong sandals for at least seven or eight blocks. He'd been running chasing who knows what, having the best time being wild and free in the mud. I finally cornered him in a ditch and hauled him out, and later that day got my tetanus vacc updated (still have a few scars in my calf from the muddy doggie scratches). He was perfectly friendly but bassets are surprisingly heavy and he was trying really hard to give me kisses - flailing legs scratching all over the place. The owner turned out to be a neighbor's son come home to visit, dog's name turned out to be Wiggles. No collar on Wiggles, either. In that case the owners were so grateful they tried to pay me. That's the reaction pet owners should have!

Sounds like an adventure! Wiggles is a cute name for a basset hound, and from your story he did quite a bit of that with you
You're a very good person for going through all that and I would be as equally as happy/relieved as his owners were, if not more.
I was thinking more along the lines of if they moved from a place where it was common. Just trying to think of possible explanations because I didn't understand it either \:

[celloyogi]

Originally Posted by ElleKayCee

Sounds like an adventure! Wiggles is a cute name for a basset hound, and from your story he did quite a bit of that with you
You're a very good person for going through all that and I would be as equally as happy/relieved as his owners were, if not more.
I was thinking more along the lines of if they moved from a place where it was common. Just trying to think of possible explanations because I didn't understand it either \:

Wiggles is hilarious; he visits once in a while and you can hear him howling from miles away, or it sure seems like it, anyway. But as far as me chasing him down, I'm sure the passing cars thought it was hilarious. And honestly, I think anyone on this board would have done the same thing (a lot of people have!) - chasing him down, not laughing (or actually probably both!).

[grumpylilmoose]

Back in AZ we had a few dogs that ran free, we also had 15 acres for the dogs to run in.
The roommates parents owned the house next door, the house way behind us had a few dogs whom hung out with ours.

I moved back in with my dad with the dog and it was a hard adjustment for the dog

A few escapes later and she figured out where "home" was and we figured out a runner was best for her.

:)

[AusnAsh]

Wow! I'm with everyone on this one. I get letting your dog roam free in a countryside (though I'd be afraid of bears and other wild animals or thieves, whatnot) but in an urban area, No Way!

I've driven up my street before where a terrier mix was out. I parked, pulled over, and tried to coo the dog over. When I stepped a little closer, it growled so I gave him his space. There were people walking down the street and I asked them if they knew who's dog it was but they didn't know and they sure as heck didn't care. What's wrong with some people! Finally after ten minutes, the dog trust me and let me read his tags. The owner had no clue he was outside but wasn't worried. I've seen that same dog out and about, guarding the house. He could get run over by a car!

[Toffee's Mom]

omg
and GOOD FOR YOU, so glad you were helping the dog out.
Too bad we couldn't slap the owner upside the head