Am I wrong? Serious answers only...?

Did you check with the County's Animal Control division? Maybe they saw it loose (or someone else complained) and they picked up the dog.

Make notes of everything you did and remember about the situation - as honestly as you can - in the event they or you take legal action. Personal records, made during the "situation", will go a long way to support your position.

The dog should not have been running loose. If the dog was in their yard, and you were gone, it seems to me you had no responsibility for it being gone.

Maybe it wandered away. Maybe it was dognapped. Maybe another neighbor has it. No, the neighbors sound a little nuts. And your post here sounds on the honest side. Keep a copy of it, too, as evidence of your concern and ordeal.

Don't antagonize the neighbors, but let them take you to court if they insist you pay them. It seems you have a better case than they do. Next time - if there is one (and the dog returns) - take pictures of it in your yard... document anything you can [but don't drive yourself nuts].

There may be leash laws - where a dog must be on a leash is off it's owner's property or penned in. If you have the time, check that. That will give you ammunition and confidence that you are and did the right thing.

Don't worry... They could have done many things with the dog, or anything could have happened to it, in two hours.

If you want to e-mail me you state, county, town, I can try to find dog-laws for you. CosmosClara@yahoo.com [I enjoy looking up law.]

How long ago did this happen? (Has the dog been gone 24 hours and the neighbors are already demanding money?) Do they show any concern for their missing dog or just the payment for it?

Hope all works out for you. (Don't worry!!) Let me know if I can help.

Clara

P.S. You might want to call Vets, the Humane Society, and any no-kill shelters in the area, besides Animal Control. Don't rely on your neighbors' word that they checked these places. (They may have delivered it, themselves, to one of the places!)

P.P.S. I misunderstood -- I thought you put the dog in THEIR fenced yard. It may have climbed the fence... You were trying to be helpful, don't worry!

check to see if there are leash laws in your area, if there is, he was in violation of them by letting the dog run loose, no matter HOW it got out! It was nice of you to try and protect the dog from getting hurt or hit by a car, if the man can not appreciate that, well hes just being a butt! A person can take another person to small claims court for about any reason, so he may try to do that , if he thinks he can get money out of you. Hopefully you have kept track of the times the dog was out, if you write that on a calendar and the times, the court will take that as evidence of the dogs getting out on a regular basis. If you did not do that, as some of us would not think to do it (I didnt when this happened to us once, but did after that anytime we had a loose dog problem!), if you have anyone else outside your family who had seen the dog loose, they could be a witness for you if he should take you to court. I dont see the court making you pay for the dog as it was NOT your fault the dog disappeared... nor your fault the dog continually got loose. You were only being a good neighbor, unfortunately some people can not appreciate that! Check with your local animal control, maybe others have talked to them about this dog running loose, and if so, theres the evidence you need to prove it was not a one time thing with the dog! Best of luck with this, and next time they get a dog,if it escapes from thier yard also, just write it all down on your calendar and if you can, take video or pix of the dog being loose!

Wow, your neighbor sounds like a jerk, and their dog seems pretty uncontrollable. You had the best intentions to help the dog, but looking back on it, you probably shouldn't have gotten involved. You could have called the local animal control people, saying there was a dog on the loose, and then it would have been up to your neighbor to explain the situation to the authorities. Now, I would call the local shelters/humane organizations to see if any lost dogs have turned up with them, and inform them of the situation so they know there is a lost dog around. I would also ask their advice because they have a lot of experience with situations like this. It is the dog owner's responsibility to keep control of the animal. They should be held accountable for letting the dog get loose in the first place. Good luck, it is their responsibility, not yours!

I read your post twice to make sure I didn't miss anything... Just to be on the safe side with my answer, I assume the dog is still missing???? As you stated your "horrible" neighbor says now you owe him $400.00.

GF, anyone that would let their ($400.00) dog run loose should have been thanking you instead of cussing you. From what all you said you did everything in your power to make sure the dog was safe, thus not even getting a thank you for your efforts.

I would definitely call The Humane Society and tell them what all you just told all of us.... This man acknowledged that you came to his door, plus he acknowledged that he didn't answer it because (as he said) he didn't open the door as he didn't know who you were. That's really a crock... I am so very sorry for the abuse that he inflicted on you, your children and your Mom and Husband...

That should never have to be tolerated by anyone trying to do a neighborly good deed. He's probably just blowing smoke out of his you know what, but just to be on the safe side, I would ask around for any witnesses who might have seen this man's dog running loose, and if not, I would call an atty. as most of them give you free advice on the first visit. Please call the Human Society first though as someone might have called them to pick up the dog.

Good Luck! You sound like a nice caring lady, and I hope all turns out well for you....

~Linda~

It is not your fault, he didn't put responsibility on you to watch his dog... you were just doing him a favor! I would definately file a report on abuse, this is not your fault! he is the one letting his dog loose throughout the neighborhood and cant keep an eye on him and cannot lock him up when gone! DO NOT pay the 400 dollars, if he wants to take you to court, gladly go (this is at his expense) and state what you did and how he is with the dog (letting it run loose!) and i feel that you will not be punished for doing an act of kindness... Hope all goes well and everything turns out okay!

He can't sue you as he is responsible for his pet. Owners are suppose to keep their pets under control at all times. If I were you I would call your local humane society when you see the dog running loose. A nice fine will help them remember their obligation to their pet. Also do not take someone talking to you in that manner. Call the police and file a complaint. Try to remember though that it is of no fault of this dog. He is only doing what is natural. I would rather have an overly friendly dog running about than a vicious one.

Love & Light

Interesting...

Depending on where you live, there may be laws against what you did (putting their dog in your yard). Even though you were trying to protect the neighbor's dog, they could press charges against you for theft of personal property. Yes, that is ridiculous. I don't think they would really be able to make a case against you though.

You do NOT owe them a penny. I would consider writing a letter, explaining all the times you helped the neighbor's dog and have it copied and notarized and then send a copy of the letter to them by certified mail.

This way they will understand that you are not going to put up with their abusive insults or threats.

Stand up for yourself. I know it is hard, I have a similar situation with the neighbors behind us. They breed muts so that they can sell them falsely as pure bred Rottweilers. A few weeks ago, one of the puppies was screaming and I went to check on it and a six month old puppy was trying to kill it. I hopped the fence and brought the puppy home. I called Animal Control and they came over and told me to put the puppy back because animals are considered "personal property". I refused to put the puppy back because I knew it would be killed. I wrote them a note and put it on their door and when they returned home I returned the puppy.

Good Luck

P.S. Definitely contact the local police to make a report and then contact your local animal control and talk it over with them.

My neighbors dog has gotten out several times and I have brought it in my house until I get them to come get it... it is not wrong of you, you were trying to be a helpful person...your intentions were good, but the dog IS a dog... it got out..it was already out to begin with so how can they expect you to be responsible...regardless of the fact that it was in your yard or not is no reason they should think you are liable for him running away. They cannot do anything legally to you...there was never a contract that you were responsible for the dog...they may try to intimidate you but they are just mad and very rude! Tell them next time keep there dog chained up and it wouldn't run away...dont sweat this...not your fault!

Document everything as accurately as you can. Times and dates you took his dog back to him, what happened that day, any conversations you have had with him (about the dog or not), etc. Accurate notes will help if they try to sue.

A case might be made that having secured the dog, you took it upon yourself to ensure the safe and proper return of the dog. If it had been his wallet with lots of money in it, and you left a note telling him you had it for safekeeping, and the money vanished somehow- you would be responsible for it.

I think they would have a hard time proving anything since you were trying to help and they did not try to meet you half-way.

Just out of curiosity, did you occur any expenses between the dog entering your home or trying to catch and return it those other times? Document that as well just in case.

In the meantime, I would let things cool a bit, then I personally would try to ease the tensions between you without admitting to any guilt or wrong-doing, which would be tricky. Just plain not doing anything is an option, but I hate having tension between me and neighbors.

What Jerks!! Next time their dog gets out, just call the dog catcher. Let them get their dog out of doggie jail. Besides it will be safer at the pound than running the streets.

I wouldn't pay them a penny. It's not your fault that the dog got out and it certainly isn't your responsibility to make sure the animal is safe when it does get out.

Good luck.