I once saw a photo taken of a cat that was frequently believed to be "lost" whenever he hung out in a park near his house. The cat had a collar with the usual license tag, but that wasn't enough for people who were concerned. So, the owners put an additional tag on the collar that read, "My name is Clarence. I live by the park. I'm not lost." I believe it had their name and phone number on the back.

Maybe you could add a tag like this to "Lassie's" collar?

Thanks Jewel,
he did have a collar on with his name address and my phone number. They took him anyway. His next tags will say his name and that he's not lost, but on a mission from God. Oh and I'm getting him micro chipped too. :)

Wow. Some crazy people in this world. Good luck keeping your dog safe.

We had a neighborhood dog when we first moved here about five years ago that was so awesome. Everyone loved him, especially my daughter, who was then about 4-5. He suddenly disappeared and we happened to speak to the owner, who was chasing a new puppy. She said he'd been adopted by somebody in the next town, because they couldn't keep him confined. I tried a few times to see if we could contact the new owner and visit, but was ignored. My daughter cried herself to sleep at times over that dog for quite awhile. I'll never forgive those jerks.

I will probably get ragged on for saying this too, but I have a friend in dog rescue who is very adamant about "stray" dogs. She picks up any and all she sees that may be just walking down the street in any town she drives through. And when she picks them up she either takes them to her house or gives them to a rescue group right away to be adopted out. One time I asked if she ever considered that maybe the dog jumped the fence or got out a gate? and wouldn't its owner be heart broken to never see it again. She really never answered me. I guess she means well but still.

When I was a kid, there was always a neighborhood dog that everyone looked out for, fed snacks to, or knew where the elderly owner lived. But I realize streets and highways weren't nearly as busy with traffic as they are now. I remember a little rat terrier in particular named "Bounce", so called because he always ran on just three of his legs - all the years I remember him. There was a "Tanker" and a "Hot Rod" too over the years. Hot Rod got his name because, well, he could run as fast a hot rod!

I got so sentimental that a tear came to my eye. Sorry OT.

The problem is this case is not that people tell lies.

The problem is that the farmer and you have not settled on who will the dog live with.

The other problem is that the dog is allowed to run loose.

The simple solution is to adopt this dog from the farmer, who by your account is willing to agree to this arrangement. Fence in a safe yard for this dog with secure fencing so that one of your doors opens out into the fenced yard to let him in and out easily. If your dog should get loose, at least he is streetwise and less likely to be hit by a car, but you should be keeping him safe at home. Also be sure he is always wearing his city/town dog license, rabies tag, and an identification tag with your name, address & phone #. It sounds as if you are quite fond of this dog, so why not take the final steps and do right by him? He sounds like an awesome dog.

One of these days that dog will get hit by a car and everyone will feel really bad....

In this day and age, in the suburban areas where I live and drive, no dogs run free. I always try to corral a loose dog. I would call the number on the tag, though.

Once, when a friend had found a loose dog in a more old-fashioned neighborhood, she called me and asked what to do about it. I called the county dog shelter to ask and during the conversation was told that here, someone who finds a dog and does not turn it in or at least give animal control the info about the dog and where it can be found if its owner calls, is actually guilty of theft.

Does your family have time to take the dog on its rounds a day or two a week, so that he could be safe? A day or two a month? Does another one of his fans?

The problem is not the people who pick the dog up off the streets...it's that the dog is left to run free.

Interesting that the OP & her son is doing the same thing as the people she's complaining about (i.e. claiming the neighbors dog as theirs).

"They broke his spirit and is afraid to go to his owner's house" - uh, no, it just sounds like he's confused about which home is his. I know I was confused reading it - I can only imagine how the dog feels!

This post was edited by kashka_kat on Mon, Jan 27, 14 at 10:21

If you let your animal roam, embrace these possibilities:

1. It will get killed by a car.

2. It will get taken by a coyote

3. It will get hurt (see above #1 and #2), crawl away and die.

4. Someone with sense will figure the owner does not take proper care of the dog and then decide to keep it to save it from above #1, #2 and #3. They will give it a safe home.

5. It will disappear cause unknown. (See #1 - #4).

Whatever happens, the so-called owner is responsible.

This post was edited by elly_nj on Mon, Jan 27, 14 at 10:22