I have just come back from a lovely walk with Mack and yet again we came across a dog without a collar. The poor thing had a mark on his back which looked like he had been shaved and he looked like he had not long been docked! I could see the cut marks, so I presume he wasnt docked as a pup. The dog, I think was a Jack Russell, was lovely. He had a good sniff of Mack, and Mack even seemed to like him. Mack is quite an aloof dog. He started to walk with us, which was nice but then did panic me a little. I was thinking does he have an owner or should I take him in, give him a good feed and bath, and give him somewhere to sleep. I then came across an old man who I see quite often walking his Cairn terrier.  The man said that he sees him about 3 or 4 times during the week, and that he does live locally. The only thing is I get so upset and worry so much when I see a dog wandering. If he only had a collar and tag I could have rung his owner to tell him where he was!! It was only last week I saw the most beautiful Golden Retriever walking, without an owner or a collar!! My problem is I want to take all animals in. I am not allowed another dog though! I suppose it makes me appreciate Mack, and reminds me how well he is looked after, and how happy he is. Just wanted to share this with you all.

I know how you feel, the collar problem drives me nuts too.  Not long ago I was walking my rott X to a nearby field, when a little jack russel came running along the road to us - no collar.  She stopped to say hi and wet herself when Opi sniffed her!  I picked her up, the only people anywhere near were a couple who found this little dog very funny - they thought she was mine.  I was about to turn round and take her home when her owner appeared - she actually lived in the house I was standing in front of, and had run down the road and back again to where we were.  If she'd had a collar, I could've taken her straight back - otherwise she could easily have ended up in a shelter for rehoming, without me ever knowing her house was right next to me.  Infuriating.

I also nkow of a couple of labs that never have collars on - I see them at a bit of parkland I take my dogs too sometimes.  Their owners are always nearby, but the chocolate lab always ends up trying to play with my dogs.  If he was wearnig a collar, I could calmly get hold of him and take him back to his owner - it's not like he listens to their calls.  As it is, I have to try and make him follow us to them, or wait till they come get him.  Drives me nuts!  Collars are such a simple thing, hardly difficult to get wrong - yet so many people do.  Hell, far too many dogs I see *with* collars don't have tags on them.  I'm starting to think there should be some random check and on-the-spot fine system for it - maybe it's a line of work I could go into... :)

I quite agree with the on-the-spot fine thing. Isnt it unlawful not to have your dog have ID? I believe the fine is £5000. Wouldnt it be better if people spent £15 for a collar & ID tag. To be honest I feel like buying a collar for the dog myself and finding his owners and getting an ID tag done myself. It has ruined my Sunday as I am worrying about the poor thing now!

Hi Gillie no its not just you. Im the same. Its hard to tell if these dogs are "latch key dogs" or a lost pet. I have pmd you ok.

hI, my OH was out with my boy a couple of weeks ago, in the park when a loverly Boxer girl came running down a hill to play with Bandit, also a Boxer, they had a whale of a time playing chase. 3/4 hour later still no sign of her owner , my OH phones me at home, worried ,and what shall he do, as there is not a soul in sight, and he did not want to leave the little girl on her own.thinking she must have been abandoned. He was about to put her in the car and bring her home with him, when  over the hill as calm as can be, walks this chap. OH!!!!!!! she`s mine, he said! i knew she would not go far when she ran of,and carried on his walk.

It beggers belief that people can be so irresponsible , anyone could have just picked her up and taken her home with them.