My little Ripley that I just adopted on 1/16 was at a shelter because he was found roaming. He was in deplorable condition. He is a poodle and he had mats all over him. In fact, his mats were matted. He had briers (sp?) sticking into his fur and he was skinny and also not neutered. After the appropriate waiting period he was free to be mine. YAY! My son asked me an interesting question the other night. He said, "Mom if you found out who Ripley's owners were and they were devastated would you give him back?" I thought only briefly about that and said that if it could be proved to me that he had been on his own for a while and that was the explanation for his condition I would give him back. **GULP** It is hard for me to even imagine doing this as I already love him so and his little personality is so sweet. I do feel, though, that if a similar thing had happened to me (i.e., Bella or Ripley were found roaming somehow) I would want the same consideration.