~~FWIW, I don't have any issues with families who let their dogs out front in unfenced areas, as long as they're watching the dogs and taking effort to ensure the dogs aren't in jeopardy,  or if dogs escape their normal environments (e.g. through a normally closed front door or shut side gate).  In the Great-Reiley's thoughts ; "Sh*t happens".  I just can't cope with the principle idea that it was okay to let the dog out front to do its business and NOT be paying attention to the dog, especially when no restraint system was being used.  If the dog had run through an open door or jumped the fence, I'd be less likely to be critical, but when I interviewed the lady, it was very much like listening to a 12 year old tell you why it was okay to leave the bicycle in the river.

dwain

Ditto on Dumping Daze of Spring-time - managed to find one kid a new home (OTI from family member of a senior couple where mom recently passed away and dad was admitted to full-time assisted living, family didn't want the dog), and no more than two hours later, phone call from the overloaded Humane Society about two more just admitted -  perfectly nice kids, adoptable once the spays are completed (and one kid needs to go through heartworm treatment).  That's four dogs in four weeks in a rescue with room only for one or two dogs at a time.  At the same time, we just turned down two adoption applications - one because they'd just relinquished a dog for "barking too much, we want a quieter dog" and another for "dog was out front pottying and ran into the street and was run over by a car and killed - we didn't even see it until after the car screeched" (that came out in the phone interview, wasn't on the adoption application).

Hard days to be a rescue.  Over here, the Humane Society is dealing with owner-surrenders due to recent flooding - in some respects I'm glad they're turning the dogs in but in other cases?  13 year old cocker and 8 year old sheltie relinquished "we just can't deal with the dogs and the house at the same time".  Heart-breaking, because both dogs have been together since the sheltie was a pup and with their owners forever...perfect snuggle-bunnies.  no worries, they're already en-route to another rescue though.

~~~