We aren't really sure who did it Connie but I saw more dogs loose today than I ever have. We've been having a string of morning garage burglaries in our area and my guess is they opened our fence and bolted when they saw dogs. Probably the same with the others according to police.
We were so very fortunate that our friends and family and the local Humane society shared his photo for us. It had been shared around our town more than 200 times within a couple hours of losing him! That's also how we got the tip that helped us find him. A college student saw him running through a parking lot. He had his tags on and is microchipped but none of that would help since he ran from anyone that tried to walk up to him. He just does not like strangers unless I am around. I need to find a way to work through that with him.

Great that you found him.
I have padlocks on my gates for just such a reason.

Thank God, Haz is home ok. Prayers being said for the other dogs.

Do you and the neighbors have padlocks on your gates?

I have a paddle lock but am required to take it off to let the meter readers in, so have to remove it for the 5 day window they come every month. Can't wait to get out of town for that reason alone. I don't know the other families but doubt they lock their gates. Everyone is pretty trusting here and most don't even lock their cars or homes.

"He had traveled 10 miles, crossed the busiest street in town and a US highway. My husband tracked him and spotted him in shelter belt across a frozen marsh ground. 3/4 mile recall and he came flying, crying and shaking to us."

Poor Haz was probably just as terrified as you guys were, and just as relieved to see you as you were to see him! I'm so thankful he is safe!

"I have a paddle lock but am required to take it off to let the meter readers in, so have to remove it for the 5 day window they come every month."

Are you saying it has to be unlocked for the entire five-day window? I only ask because our utility company also has to come into our yard to read the meters, but they are required to knock on my front door before entering the yard. We get a phone call each month to remind us that they will be out in the next few days, but they still have to come to our door for permission to go in the yard.

"My dogs will never pee alone again."

Count me among the dog owners who feel exactly this way. My dogs are never outside without someone either being out there with them, or having an eye on them from inside the house the whole time.

Again, I'm so happy this turned out well for you, Amy, and I hope the other families' dogs are safely returned. What a horrible experience for all of you.

So glad that he is safe & sound at home.

All my gates are heavy duty key padlocked on the inside & not reachable from just reaching over the fence top, My dogs are never out unless I am at home & out with them or in the kitchen keeping a close watch on them. If I'm not out there, they usually just sit on the deck, staring at the door, waiting for me to come out.

No one gets on my property unless I am there. Meters are read remotely from the street by the water & electric companies, oil deliveries are set up when I can be there to let the delivery man into the yard to access the fill pipe at the rear of the house.

Glad to hear that HAZ is home.

Other than the person who opened your gate glad to hear there are still some good people left in the world who aided in finding Haz. Glad to hear he is home and safe.

I'm with you, I never allow my dogs to be out unattended or closely watched. My AC experience has jaded me, I know of instances where well cared for dogs have gotten loose and been picked up by people who wrongly make judgement calls that the owner allows it to run loose/mistreats it and decides to keep it, give it away, or removes collar and tags and brings it to a shelter as their own dog. It happens a lot more than people realize, I've seen it a lot and a very important reason why someone who is familiar with the dog should go to shelters in person and physically look at the dogs, the dog may look different, act different, etc and the dog can easily be passed over as a different dog. Sorry about the digression.

Usually I am very careful and just inside the door when they are out but went to investigate a crashing noise (groggy 5 year old meets hardwood floor) The best I can figure is that I interrupted thieves by letting the dogs out. There are foot prints leading to our side fence. My best guess is that when I unlocked the gate, they used it to bolt and the dogs gave chase. If they hadn't, they would have likely been found in the front yard playing in the snow. They didn't make a noise. Not one bark. My daughter's Bichon was hiding in the window well when I went out to get them. It was definitely a scary experience I don't care to repeat. It is even scarier to think that there was probably someone rummaging through my things when I was mere feet away unlocking my gate. On one hand, I'm glad they escaped and I avoided a dangerous confrontation but not cool that Hazard endured such a day because of it.
Jodi, one of my biggest fears was that someone would assume he was uncared for and take matters into their own hands. Especially since he is thin compared to the average dog owner's standards.