What a wonderful story. It reminds me of how I "acquired" Miss Brown. She had been tied with a dirty nylon leash, connected to a rude collar of that loop-and-twist chain, to a street sign in my neighbor's yard. It was early September, still beastly hot, and she had no water or shade. I took her to my back yard, replaced her too-tight collar with one that fit and put her in the shade with water to drink. I, too did the bare minimum to "find" her owner - it was obvious from her visible ribs, her cowering, and what looked like a cigarette burn on her flank that she had been abused. She has turned out to be such a loving, loyal and grateful dog. I'm so glad I rescued her.