The Goblins have won this time.

[Denis]

Glad your friend is back. Do get him chipped and checked out... there are some truly weird people out there.

[SharkBait]

OK, now that I'm a bit more rested and clear headed let me address the replies with details.

Good news.

1) Talk to your vet about having an Identification Tattoo placed on your buddy. That will do more than all the high res video in the world.

2) Have him checked out by the vet. If you care about him that much, it's a small thing to do.

3) Explain "Clint Smith Style Neck Pouch." I'm intrigued.

He is going to be tattooed and chipped tomorrow morning. He will also have a thorough examination. The Clint Smith pouch is just a moderately sized pouch with a neck string containing things such as eyeglasses, a charged cell phone, extra ammo, Sure Fire light, et. al. When the feces hits the ventilation oscillator you simply grab your self defense tool and place the pouch over your neck. Now you have hands free and your survival and safety tools readily at hand.

Glad to hear he's home! Get him checked out by a trusted vet just to be sure he's ok all round.

No disrespect meant, but please keep him inside during the unsociable hours. I think the "early warning dog" concept has a lot of merit. I really don't like the guard dog idea at all. I'd no sooner put my dog on guard duty than I would my kids (if I had any). If it's important to you, don't leave it on the lawn outside, especially in a high crime neighborhood.

Just my 0.02c.

None taken. He has been inside at night since we got him back. as I said before I'm having to seriously rethink my home defense structure and previously held ideals. Take the damn truck and lawnmower, just don't come inside. If you want to come in now you get to become acquainted with the dog AND me. More motion lights. I'm turning this acre into a frikkin' parking lot at night.

There were two thoughts I had here.

1. If he's uncut, possibly there was someone with a bitch in heat in the neighborhood who wanted that particular mix and returned him after the "service" (this also fits with the amount of time gone).

After much thought and consideration this seems to be the most plausible. Jeez, they could have just asked...

2. Someone was testing him in order to fight him, and either he was of the wrong temperament or they changed their guilty mind.

I thought (and worried) about this, as well. That he came home unscathed pretty well put this fear to rest.

C.C.: As to him being a lousy guard dog you may be right. He's saved my bacon more than once but this recent event proves the fallacy that a good dog in the yard is the end all of early warning systems.

I am as you all probably are obsessed with home and personal security not because I am afraid, but because it is my responsibility to do so. I have spent countless hours taking self defense training, reading books, publications and blogs on said subject, practicing on the range, and shooting in IDPA matches. I live in condition yellow. I thought I had a functional system set up in my home to deal with "unexpected" situations. Outside of the dog going missing, this week has turned many of my preconceived notions on their heads. Security is not just a set up system to be implemented and forgotten. It is a complete mindset and requires constant attention and vigilance. I have not taken offense at any of your pointed observations or comments. I was tried and came up short. I'm treating the whole event as a teachable moment and moving on from there. I have an 18 month old son and wife at home and cannot afford to do anything less. Thank you all again for the thoughtful replies.

Merrick

[Rich]

As far as "moving on," also consider moving away.

[308Mike]

I'm REALLY glad to hear he's home and okay, and no doubt your stress level has dropped SIGNIFICANTLY now that he's back home (as well as having that hole in your gut plugged, the one that was ripped out when you discovered he was GONE).

When you do your re-evaluation, you need to WRITE IT DOWN so you don't miss and/or forget things. Work on it for a while, then go do something else and come back to it with refreshed eyes. Continue doing so for AT LEAST a WEEK, if not more - if you want to be serious about your security.

[skb12172]

Assuming he's a barker, that's really all you need. Far better for him to be in the house, anyway. Like you said, take the truck and lawnmower. I want to know if someone is trying to come INSIDE. He doesn't have to be an attack dog. All you need is a head's up and you can take care of the rest.

By all means, illuminate, etc., but I wouldn't write him off as a useful part of your inside defense over this situation. Like you said, it's a teachable moment. Several of us have had at least one.

And please consider Rich's advice. If you can swing it, it's worth pondering.

[SharkBait]

Rich: the "moving away"part has been a part of the plan since the beginning. I bought this place in '03 for $50K and paid it off quick. I've been saving up money ever since to buy a "nice" house in a good neighborhood. We're looking HARD for a new place. The heck with the cheese, let me out of the trap...

[308Mike]

Rich: the "moving away"part has been a part of the plan since the beginning. I bought this place in '03 for $50K and paid it off quick. I've been saving up money ever since to buy a "nice" house in a good neighborhood. We're looking HARD for a new place. The heck with the cheese, let me out of the trap...

Well, hopefully, your housing market is doing FAR better than it is in SoCal. I'd like to think that in those intervening years and after a few improvements to the property, you can more than 50% on your investment. If not, from what I see in the LOCAL housing market, you might have to hang onto it for a couple more years to realize its potential vs. when you'd like to get the F' out ASAP!

OTOH, the sooner you get out and get your profit where you can, the sooner you'll be rid of it and not have to be concerned about that property ANYMORE. Sometimes, that could be worth MORE than the actual profit (and if you take a market loss, you might be able to deduct it from your taxes).

The bottom line is: what's it worth TO YOU?

[McClarkus]

Glad to hear he's home safe. Granted we are in the middle of nowhere but I like to use a doggie door. Dog comes and goes as he pleases into a contained, fenced area. Our concerns about goblins run more towards mountain lions and bears than the 2 legged but it works well for us.

[Combat Controller]

Hey! Total silver lining time. It's also a good time to get a home loan since interest rates are so low. I'm just glad he's back, for whatever reason.

[Combat Controller]

Glad your friend is back. Do get him chipped and checked out... there are some truly weird people out there.

"arrange"? Don't they have a frikken editor on staff?