I know dogs escaping can happen to anyone but this morning I took the neighbours chocolate lab for the 3rd or 4th time in a matter of months so it is clearly not just a one off. It is also escaping from the house or garden not running off when out on walks. Infact the first time we returned the dog the owners told us she could open the lock on the very low gate that secures the back garden and we told them they need to change it but so far nothing has been done. The dog is in great condition, well fed and exercised regularly but I am really worried about this dog as she is very likely to be hit by a car (twice I've spotted her whilst in my car, once at night) and she seems to be wandering quite a distance from her house (we live on a quietish road with lots of cul de sacs going off it and we have returned her from our cul de sac to her house which is on the other side of the estate). She is also really friendly so I don't worry about her biting as I think this would be unlikely although like with any dog possible but she would be an easy target for dog snatchers as she will run to anyone.
Has anybody had experience of this? Can anything be done apart from trying to speak to the owners again?

Have to say that if I picked up a neighbour's dog several times and they weren't taking steps to rectify it, the next time I picked it up I would drop it at the Police station rather than at home. Maybe a bit of worry and possibly a fee to re-claim it would focus their minds?

But maybe I'm just mean ... ;-)

M.

the next time I picked it up I would drop it at the Police station rather than at home.

The police will no longer deal with stray dogs, it's up to the local council. But yes, I thought along those lines too -if they had to pay to get the dog back they might just fix the fence!

With the girls on this - twice or three times at most I'd take the dog home but beyond that ensure that in future the neighbour had to make the effort to get their dog back and hopefully part with a sufficient amount of cash that they decide to invest in securing their garden and gate!

The more you help the neighbour on this one, the less well you serve the dog's best interests IMO ;)

Have to say that if I picked up a neighbour's dog several times and they weren't taking steps to rectify it, the next time I picked it up I would drop it at the Police station rather than at home. Maybe a bit of worry and possibly a fee to re-claim it would focus their minds?

But maybe I'm just mean

That sounds like a fantastic idea :)
If they keep letting her escape I would worry for her as they obviously dont care if she wanders out and gets hit, just cause shes fed well doesnt mean shes treated well if you catch my drifter? :)

Thanks for your replies. That sounds like a good idea and should certainly shock them into doing something. I would worry though that they didn't find her. I know if they didn't bother looking they are not worthy of having such a wonderful dog but the local animal rescue centre is very grim and I would hate for such a lovely girl to end up in there.
Hmmmm a difficult situation.

when my neighbours dog was escaping all the time and getting into my garden (she could open my gate) she would then mess on my front step or open my front door and let my boy out I called My friends brother who is a dog warden for the local council (they all have one)   he called on them and discussed with them their options, he only visited them once and what was a daily problem for me hasn't happened for months :)

I would give it a try, I am not sure what he said but it worked :)

Thankfully my boy wouldn't leave the garden even with the gate open

What myself and some neighbours have done is take the dog home with us and call the neighbours to come and pick her up.  I was the first (as far as I know) and found out who the dog belonged to.  The second two neighbours brought her to me when they found her and were so disgusted that the owners continued to let her run loose (at age 14 and going deaf) that they insisted the owners come to their houses as well, to pick her up.  Because of the old girl's age we were all reluctant to call our OSPCA.  It seems to have finally sunk into their thick skulls and I have not seen the same dog for a few months now.  For good reasons I hope.

I wish I had done that for another neighbour's GR who easily jumped their 4 foot fence.  I put her back in her yard and knocked on their door twice.  Unfortunately they did nothing to curb the escaping and she was hit and killed on the busy road they live on.

I know if they didn't bother looking they are not worthy of having such a wonderful dog but the local animal rescue centre is very grim and I would hate for such a lovely girl to end up in there.
Hmmmm a difficult situation.

that depends whether or not your local animal shelter holds the council stray dog kennelling contract.
if you deal with the dog warden, he will only take the dog to the kennel that holds the contract.
this will either be a rescue centre, boarding kennel, or pound which the council run themselves.

> If they keep letting her escape I would worry for her as they obviously dont care if she wanders out and gets hit, just cause shes fed well doesnt mean shes treated well if you catch my drifter? :-)

Absolutely know what you mean.  I was at the vets yesterday dropping off a form, over the road there's a house with a very fat terrier cross.  Friendly wee fellow.  On the way back to the car, it looked like someone had let it out - the gate is easily openable, and the dog was sniffing around.  He ran over to me as I was crossing the road, and luckily was keen to get back in - all I had to do was unlatch the gate and let him in.  The family were totally unaware (I could see the TV in the lounge from the street so they were in).  I think some people are just unaware.

I would never have an unlocked gate where my dogs had free access, mien is always padlocked as you cannot trust that someone won't accidentally or even maliciously leave a gate open.

> I would never have an unlocked gate where my dogs had free access, mien is always padlocked as you cannot trust that someone won't accidentally or even maliciously leave a gate open.

Indeed.  I do believe this gate had been opened intentionally - the fences were only 3' but the dog was small and very fat lol!

My own gate isn't padlocked, but then my dogs only have access to the garden when I'm here, and just about everyone round here knows what dogs I have (due to the loud barking at the front window and fence at passers-by).  Generally a dog-friendly area too.

> But maybe I'm just mean

Or very sensible?