I had to pull a couple 12 hour shifts while in school for nursing. My mother was watching my kids for me. Unbeknown to me, she felt bad for our beagleX and took her to watch as well.

I have told her many many times that Maggie can't be left alone. She has severe seperation anxiety. She must be crated if she is left. My mother took my kids to soccer practice and left Maggie in the back yard alone. Of course, Maggie escaped and attempted to follow whereever my mother's car was heading. It turned out the police caught Maggie after a 45 min chase down main street during rush hour

My kids were obvisouly hysterical. I was way less then happy. Fortunately the police did take her to animal control and I found her there the next day. She lost her tags in the process so they did not have her identification.

When I picked her up, I joked with the people there that I knew they wouldn't put Maggie down right away. She is a well cared for dog, obviously belonging to someone. They were quick to inform me that if they had been full, since she wasn't tagged, they could have put her down as soon as she came in. So, I do know that is policy in some places.