Did I do the right thing? Feel terrible

[Anonymous]

My son and I were taking a walk and noticed our (new) neighbor’s puppy behind their fence. It looked like a golden-doodle, or a breed that looks like a teddy bear. We’ve never actually met these neighbors beyond a wave as we walk by - they have young kids and seem nice from afar.

On our way back from the walk, the dog was in the street…he jumped the fence. He was incredibly sweet, well-behaved, affectionate….he seemed to just want company. We rang the bell a zillion times but nobody was home so we got the dog back over the fence but he kept jumping out…this happened several times, and then he ran down the (busy) road toward an even busier street, with many cars. He had no collar.

I could not bring him in my house (I have cats) and we don’t have a fenced-in yard. I had no idea when the neighbors would return; I rang their bell many times. There was no way to keep the dog safe from running off so I called the humane society near my house and they told me to bring him in. My plan was to leave the neighbors a note letting them know where to pick him up.

The woman at the shelter was a bit rude, and asked me why I brought the dog in if I knew where he lived. I learned that the neighbors might have to pay a fine to get him back. At this point I started to second-guess myself and decided to just figure something else out, but the woman seemed reluctant to let me take the dog back and told me I’d have to fill out a form, etc. I dropped the dog off but just felt really terrible about it.

When I got home I put a note on my neighbor’s door with a flyer from the humane society so they knew where to pick their dog up, and just as I was walking away, they pulled up; they had been out looking for their dog and the woman was crying with relief, and kept apologizing. But now I feel terrible - because I may have gotten them in trouble, and it turns out if I had only waited a little bit longer, they would’ve gotten home and all would’ve been well.

I just had no idea when they’d be home and the dog was a sweet puppy that didn’t know not to run off. He could’ve been killed or lost - he was going fast (I got him in my car to prevent him from going further).

Was this an example of - I should’ve minded my own f-ing business? Will my neighbors hate me now? I just didn’t want their dog to get hurt.

[Anonymous]

You did the right thing. Hopefully now the irresponsible owner will be responsible.

[Anonymous]

Just to add - other neighbors were involved too and none of us knew what to do; nobody could take him home. I was the last one standing and made the decision about the shelter, but maybe that was dumb, considering I knew where the dog lived.

[Anonymous]

It's fine. They were incredibly negligent on multiple fronts.

[Anonymous]

How is he able to get outside the fence? I don’t think I’m asking for you to answer me.

I am only astounded a puppy could jump over(?) a fence.

[Anonymous]

I think you did a right thing. I think there are other right choices you could have made like locking him in your bathroom away from the cats. But the choice you made wasn't wrong. Leaving him to run around and get hit by a car, or leaving him in your car to potentially die of heat exhaustion, or selling him would have been examples of wrong choices. You may have saved his life.

[Anonymous]

You did what you could to protect the dog and the dog is safe. That is the important thing.

This may be what they needed to have happen to get them to realize their arrangement - the fence - isn’t safe.

Do not feel terrible. But for you, the dog could have been killed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How is he able to get outside the fence? I don’t think I’m asking for you to answer me.

I am only astounded a puppy could jump over(?) a fence.

It was not very tall; the prior neighbors built it themselves, I think. It was sharp and spikey on top too…we had to be very careful when we helped it back over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How is he able to get outside the fence? I don’t think I’m asking for you to answer me.

I am only astounded a puppy could jump over(?) a fence.

It was not very tall; the prior neighbors built it themselves, I think. It was sharp and spikey on top too…we had to be very careful when we helped it back over.

Meant - the fence was not all that tall. The dog looked like a big puppy - so not a baby. It was big but it just had that puppy look. I may be wrong. But it was not fixed.

[Anonymous]

You did the right thing. The dog is a puppy and they didn't know it could clear the fence, now they know and will put up a better fence and/or not leave the dog outside unattended.

-dog owner who would not be bothered by this interaction

[Anonymous]

Thank you for the support. I do feel better. My priority was to keep that sweet dog out of harm’s way. My neighbor was obviously distressed, worrying about what happened to him. At least he’s alive.

She kept thanking me but if they have a bad experience at the shelter and have to pay a fine, they will probably hate me.

[Anonymous]

I'd rather pay a fine than bury my dog.

You did the right thing, OP. Kept that pup safe!

[Anonymous]

I don't understand why you're agonizing, OP.
You did the best you could without the means of communicating with the family.

The lesson that should jump out at you and the neighbors is that you should all have each other's cell phone numbers! Please tell me you all did this.

And no, she's not going to hate you. She should just be grateful her dog didn't die in traffic.

[Anonymous]

You're good! You kept a neighbor's pet safe. Full stop.

[Anonymous]

No you’re fine! You went above and beyond. That’s why they were appropriately grateful and apologetic.