One more thing on the dog shooting issue if no one minds.

I live in the country in a county where the rule is there's no leash law, dogs are allowed to roam, but if they're aggressive others can shoot them. Where I live it's been a long-standing tradition for all the dogs to be allowed out to run, and I always just turn my dogs out when they have to potty. Mostly they're in the house with me, but I don't walk them on a leash, for example, or have a fenced yard for them.

Recently I've been increasingly worried that someone will shoot them. Bridey never used to go out for long, just out to do her business then right back in. She goes to doggie day care for exercise. But now that I have Zeke too, they go out and are gone for up to an hour. I'm not sure where they are. None of the near neighbors would shoot them, I don't think, but I worry they may be going a long distance and someone who doesn't know them might shoot them. Technically you can't shoot them unless they're being aggressive, but you could just lie and say they were attacking. They're big dogs. The cops would believe it. Or just toss the bodies away. Who would know?

So now I mostly let them out in the area I have fenced in for the chickens. And I take them to the dog park more. And of course there's doggie day care.

I'm still letting them out the back door at about 5 am every morning, though, and I do worry about them. So far they've come back every time - knock wood - but there are people out there like newtus's neighbor who wouldn't hesitate to shoot.

I always imagine they're running miles away, but when I look out they're right there in the trees behind my house or even lying in the back yard. It still preys on my mind.