I can understand how awful/angry it made you feel, but you also have to think of this, he's probably really had some run ins with bad dogs and just can't get it off his mind. In the country here where I live people threaten that all the time to others, at this time there's huge dog coming over to my house, peeing on my tires, our carport wall, taking huge poos in our yard, but me and my mother aren't the type to threaten to shoot, but alot of other country dwellers will in a heartbeat and it's a shame, really, and I hate it. Mom usually just calls animal control and has them go talk to the owners, I'm just scared I'll walk out with the dogs and there will stand this huge dog who may be mean and attack them, a large dog could kill Rebel or Claire. Anyway, could you train Max to an invisible fence or buy a fence? I know they aren't cheap though, I'd love to get a fence. It sucks so bad, I totally understand why you want Max to be able to run, I want my pups to be able to run too, but saftey concerns me most. I wish you the best of luck whatever you do, you know the situation better than us and I know you'll do what's best for you two. {{Hugs}}