Jungo Rd Winnemucca NV2131a

The other dogs, I could buy as strays living off the desert, but this one looks too well cared-for to me.

The mystery put somewhat of a shadow over that day's exploring. They looked so healthy it was hard not to assume that they were very recently abandoned.

Animal abandonment has been a big problem, particularly (as Don notes) when the economy turns south. There are (utterly unenforceable) laws against it--you see a sign to that effect on crossing into California northbound on US 395. And it's so unnecessary, because there are lots of breed-rescue organizations out there now. All three of our dogs are rescues, adopted from a local rescue society. A few years back, there was a note at our local convenience store about 2 "lost" dogs--I heard about them because they looked like our dogs (Aussie shepherds). I called the number on the notice to say PLEASE don't turn them over to the pound--give them to the rescue society. Fortunately the woman who answered already knew about the rescue society and had taken them there. She'd had them ten(!) days already--they clearly had been dumped.

And Don, it's not just "cats vs. dogs"--we have a cat too, one of many we've had over the years! (She thinks she's the superior being.) It's surprising how many pet owners have cats _and_ dogs.

And Doug, how awful that people would ditch their pets so casually!