[SallyintNorth]

A collie dog lived in a barrel, tied by a chain, in the entrance to a farmyard.

A passing do-gooder became upset thinking about the poor life this collie was having.  Eventually she could stand it no more and she untied the dog and took it home.

The collie never settled, became destructive and sulky.

Eventually the do-gooder took it back to the farm and chained it back up.  It seemed happy.

I have been told this story by a friend of the do-gooder, so I believe it to be true.

[Rosemary]

 

[Sylvia]

I daresay the dog had hours of exercise daily, doing what it was born to do and the barrel was a well known "bed".

[doganjo]

And it also MAY have been a much loved pet and taken inside every night.  Just WHO does that do gooder think he or she is - GOD?  For goodness sake!!  Don't ever anyone try taking any of my kennel dogs away or I'll string them up!

[SallyintNorth]

The other thought I had was that this dog had a job.  All the time it was away from its post, it would have been worrying about who was coming to the farm, who was protecting the farmer and his family... Animals which work really are different to pets, I think.

[Lesley Silvester]

And how must those poor owners have been feeling, wondering where their dog was? 

[HappyHippy]

I can understand why the do-gooder would think they were doing a good thing, but knowing farm/working dogs could probably have predicted that outcome  There could have been other ways of handling the situation surely, rather than resort to what is basically theft 
All's well that ends well though and the dog is back in it's place in the 'pack' and hopefully the do-gooder will have learned a valuable lesson 

[plumseverywhere]

I agree with Happy Hippy - this is theft!! Also animal cruelty     Can't stand do-gooders, they usually do more harm. (the stress that the 'mad cat lady' has put my children and I through, tsk!!)

[Hermit]

I used to go to a farm near Clitheroe in Lancs and there was a dog in the same situation. We thought poor dog when we first saw it but when we got to know the routine of the farm we found the dog was very happy and off its leash most of the day and slept with in the machinery shed at night as a guard dog (well it barked). She thought she was doing right and the plight of the dog must have worried her very much to take the dog but at least she has learned a lesson that the dog is where it is happy as she could have taken it to rescue if she had not learned the lesson

[Sylvia]

I've known farm dogs that wouldn't go indoors by a nice warm fire if you invited them

[SallyintNorth]

I've known farm dogs that wouldn't go indoors by a nice warm fire if you invited them

Mine come in occasionally for a special treat - but they can take about 5 minutes in front of the fire and are then panting, clearly uncomfortable and very glad to be put outside again! 

When Skip had an op on his elbow last year, the vet sent him home for bed rest as soon as he was fit to travel, saying that the vet's accommodation was way too hot and stuffy for a farm collie.  (Mind, given that we are a hill farming area, maybe they should have some cooler, better ventilated recovery beds for farm collies...)

[YorkshireLass]

I was waiting for the punchline there.....

What the heck was she doing STEALING a valuable animal?!
Disgusting.
If she had concerns, that's what the RSPCA, the council, and everyone else are there for.

Do I need to padlock my kennel* to keep my dog safe?!





*(once it's assembled  )

[Lesley Silvester]

I was waiting for the punchline there.....

What the heck was she doing STEALING a valuable animal?!
Disgusting.
If she had concerns, that's what the RSPCA, the council, and everyone else are there for.

Do I need to padlock my kennel* to keep my dog safe?!





*(once it's assembled  )

Yeah, no point in padlocking it before it's assembled.