That is a very sad situation - but it may not be the owners fault. Until they put the automatic electric meters in our area, I often found stray dogs - seems like the meter reader didn't always shut the gate!
We enrolled in the self-red program until the automatic meters were installed in our area.
When I was the Newsletter editor for the Greater Charlotte Shetland Sheepdog Club (GCSSC) many years ago I printed an article titled "Trust-A Deadly Disease". I also republished it in a couple of other club newsletters that I was the editor for. You, the Human must realize that you are responsible for them.
Here is a copy of it from a Lab group
view linkIf I am not home my dogs are in the house or in runs in the yard to protect them. Even the ones that I trained in obedience were never given the option to run free.
Wolfie
Thanks for sharing that article alphalonewolf. I always have a lease on my dog. I don't trust him in the street, but I have always envied people who could let their dogs out and they would not stray very far. This article really opened my eyes. Fluffy will NEVER be outside without a leash if I can help it! We live in a small subdivision in a somewhat rural area where there are wild animals - bears, bobcats, coyotes, and eagles. I never let him out alone because I never know what could happen to him if I'm not looking. He has escaped a few times, and I panicked. I chase after him until I catch him and put his lease back on him.
When we evacuated for Hurricane Gustav last year, I kept his lease on him in his pet taxi so it would be easier to walk him, but somehow he managed to get off lease in the taxi and he got lose when I opened the taxi door at a gas station and was running towards the highway. I screamed a "blood curddling yell" and he stopped, rolled over on his back and I managed to get to him before he ran onto the highway. I was never so scared that he would be killed! I hugged him to me and his heart was beating as fast as mine was!
Mine are also either in or in the runs if I am gone. However, I also had a meter reader leave a gate open. I called and complained and it has never happened since.
Even being careful it can happen. My sheltie got out this summer. We were in Arizona visiting my son. We left the dogs in the house when we went to run some errands. Thank goodness we put the puppy in the crate (he would have eaten the house if we hadn't). Anyway, my sheltie was left in, but not created and a really bad storm rolled in. My son (who worked nights) got up to get some things off the deck and he didn't realize the sheltie got out. He went back in, shut the door, and went back to sleep. A few hours later my DIL came home and called to see if there was a reason the dog was out. Thank goodness this dog is very well trained. He just stayed on the porch and waited. While a bit wet, he was just waiting for us. What with the major thunder and lightening storm, a strange area, our rig done I am just very thankful he stayed put.
Good post Alpha, I always have my dogs on leash or in their stroller.... Everywhere I walk there are always dogs loose and their owners think they have control....Not only do people run over dogs, I have seen them deliberatly run over squirrels, etc...
My yard is fenced in and the meters are on the front and side of the house, not the back where the fence is. BUT...one day years ago, my son came to cut my grass...and left the gate open. I was going to give my Papillon a bath..so I put him outside to go bathroom first...no collar on. He wandered out of the fence and a dog that lives on the corner and was ALWAYS loose chased him. I made tons of phone calls right away and made posters. Luckily the next day I got a call from a local rescue agency that I called and they said they think they found him. He was at a house about a mile away that looked the same as ours. Anyway..that taught me a lesson, I ALWAYS check the fence gates when I let the girls out..you just never know for sure.
doggonehappy...I have seen ducks run over! Now just how fast does a duck waddle across the road...you know it is deliberate.
Dogdazed thank you for trying to help that poor dog and the kindness you showed him in his last minutes.
I too try to check the gates. That is why the big puppy is in a run as well as a fenced yard. I think he could get over the fence, if he tried. Also with the meter back there this makes sure he can't get out during the day. When we are home they aren't out that long, and both are there, so I don't worry about him as much. It is a constant job, just to do our best to make sure they are safe.
