I can't understand how someone could neglect or mistreat an animal. When I was about 10, a dog in our neighborhood used to run away all the time. Most of us knew that she was badly abused (beaten, etc.). Shortly after we found this out, we "stole" her. Word got around the her owners that we had her, but they waited a year and a half before they ever called and asked for her back. Luckily, we had since moved out of the neighborhood and told them that we no longer had her (of course, we still did though). She was the BEST dog. She died 7-8 yrs. ago, but I know that her time with us was very happy. I still miss her though...I don't expect I'll ever get over that.