Poor Rusty.:( He deserves a good home where he will get lots of attention. I hope they just 'get tired of him' and let you keep him, or at least let you guys find him a loving home.

I think you should just give Rusty all the love and attention you can whenever he is at your house. That may be all the positive attention he gets. I agree with your husband, I definitely wouldn't take him home.

I think by them saying they were just going to leave him out, they sort abandoned responsibility for him. The next time they came over, I would just ask if I could have him.

I hope that they will see that it is better for Rusty that he live with your family.:)

It sounds like Rusty is just craving some attention and some play time. It also sounds like the parents are just plain worn out. I know quite a few people, who after they had babies, that the dog just gets on your last nerve. Me included. You're tired, stressed, don't want your neighbors to be bothered and just plain fed up. It sounds like they're decent people but two babies and one dog is just too much for them(and I think the babies will win out).

We had a dog that would come over every day and play with my kids. I called the number on his tag and left message after message. Each morning he'd be back. A week or so later I get a call asking why I was calling. Turns out they were on vacation and they had hired a boy to take care of the dog. The dog was bored and looking for people to play with. They had no idea he'd been going down the street for some fun. Poor thing ended up getting hit by the school bus I later found out. In the country it's not uncommon for a dog to run loose. We do have pictures of that summer and my boys will always remember the nice big dog who came over to play with them in their sandbox.

Wow - what a dilema. Good luck to you and Rusty!

These people seemed really confused. You said that the gf just had twins? I wonder how their kids are going to be raised...

I think you should welcome Rusty into your home :)

Poor Rusty! You guys are being so sweet to hims and doing all you can.

Thanks for everyone's concern and thoughts/prayers for Rusty. He is still coming over every day, but I guess someone is getting him every evening - we have been gone the last few evenings and when we get home, he is gone.

Someone posted about dogs getting on your nerves, especially after babies....well, I am sorry, but I just care........that is your pet, the one that you loved one for years and you just want to toss him outside and out of your life. Not me........I could never do that, EVER!! I know having babies can wear you out, but I just don't see how anyone can push their pet outside - especially when you have had this pet for a number of years and he has been your driving buddy and hiking buddy and slept in your bed for all those years. Things change, but I don't see how the love for your pet can change and so drastically!

Anyway, Rusty is already a part of our lives and we love him as if he had been around us forever. The weather is getting colder here, so if he stays outside and at our house, he will be coming in with our dogs.

We plan on being home tonight, so I will see if they are coming to get him.

Hi all! I just wanted to let everyone know that we were home the other night and seen our neighbors girlfriend come to get Rusty.....I guess, she feels sorry for him too and disagrees with her husband on just leaving him out.

BUT.....Rusty has NOT been around today???!!! So, I don't know what is up with that. We don't mind, but we get alittle worried about him. It is kind of a yucky, rainy dog here, so maybe they have left him inside or something....we will see if he comes over tomorrow.

I was reading this thread. How is Rusty today? Did he come over? Just keep him and give him to a family that cares..just say he is missing or something..poor dog.

Yes, I can't get Rusty off of my mind. How are things????:confused:

Just checking on Rusty:)

Hi all!

Well, Rusty never made it over the other day, but was here all day yesterday. Yay! BUT they never came to get him this time. It was cold and raining, so at about 10pm, we let him in. He was very hungry, so we fed him and of course, he is still here today. - I guess we will see if they come to get him tonight. My DH didn't want to let him in because he thinks that he will get in trouble (more so then usual) if he didn't come home....but, I just couldn't let him stay out there all alone in the dark and cold - especially when he is use to sleeping in the house everynight (or use to at his house).

Pictures
 

Here are some pictures of Rusty, Sophie and Luke inside last night.....Luke and Sophie have a twin mattress they normally sleep on (downstairs), but we brought it up for them last night.

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Aww you have such a big heart for doing this. Please keep giving us updates!!!

aww he looks so happy :)

Wow what an interesting neighbor. Poor Rusty. I am so happy he has you guys for neighbors. I am praying for him.

Just read your thread
 

He sure looks like he's at home in the pics. I would find him a good home if you don't wan't him yourself, he just wants some attention and love.
God Bless you for taking it upon yourself to be a caregiver to him, alot of people would have never gotten past his growling and would never have seen him for the sweetheart that he is, who can blame him for sticking around your house, with friendly people and canine buddies? He would be a fool to go home and be ignored.
Sure do look forward to hearing how Rusty makes out.

So excited
 

to see Rusty gets a sleepover. Hope you can make it permanent:)

Omg I Just Now Read Your Post....you Will Forever Be An Beautiful Angel With Wings In The Heaven For This...rusty Is Lucky For Having You And Your Family As Loving Every Now And Day Parents...i Am Praying For Rusty And Your Family As Well...hopefully Rusty Will Find A Great Home In Your Care If The Owners Would Just Let Him Be...instead Of Leaving Him Out And Then Coming To Get Him Every Night Or Other Night..i Mean Come On...its Obvious That Rusty Is Not Happy There...and His Is A Good Dog With You...the Owners Just Need To Chuck It Up As A Loss..and Give Rusty Up To You For Ownership....i Rather Have My Dog Happy With Someone Else..then Miserable (however U Spell It) With Me!! Just My Opinion!!!

Sending Prayer Your Way.....from Bee And Wyatt!!!

Good Luck!!!

Update on Rusty......

Well, it is been a rollercoaster ride w/ Rusty & his owners.

For several days/nights, the neighbors have just left Rusty to roam on his own. He never went home and stayed here most of the time.

The weather here turned cold, fast! It was down to 26 degrees for two nights w/ rain and heavy fog. Our dogs sleep in every night, and we didn't want Rusty to be out there, so inside he comes (again).

Finally, after several days, the neighbor guy comes to Rusty. He is really nice and seems so concerned about Rusty being away from home during those cold nights and not eating. Again, he says that he just doesn't know what to do with him. He came to get him the next night too, but this time, didn't talk to anyone, just got Rusty and off he went.

So, Rusty was here again last night....another cold and rainy night, so inside he comes. He is really clean....it looked like they had just given him a bath and reapplied his flea/tick drop. Rusty seems to be at home in our house...like it has been his home from day one. He listens to commands and sits on the floor right next to my DH and at night, he sleeps in our bedroom on my side of the bed (on the floor)......Mojo doesn't seem to mind (Wow! Our room has always been HIS room and the other dogs could never go in there). But, Rusty wants to sleep there, instead of with our two dogs and for some reason, Mojo doesn't mind.

I am just waiting for the neighbor to come back to get him and just tell him that since they "don't know what to do with Rusty", that we would just like to keep him and take care of him. I am just tired of worrying about him over there and feeling like I am doing something wrong by letting him sleep in our house.

I did tell the neighbor the other day that we did feed him.....it had been a good two days that he hadn't eaten, I wasn't going to watch him starve........his home must be pretty bad, if he is starving and he won't even go home to eat there!

I just hope the neighbor understands where we are coming from and I hope he will see that this would be the best for Rusty...and probably for them too.

Wish us luck.....and please keep Rusty (and all of us) in your thoughts and prayers!

Thought and prayers is something I can do. He is so handsome and seems content in the pictures. Hopefully they will let you keep him.:)

I was thinking of you guys today Hope all goes well. You & Rusty are in our prayers.

You have my prayers
 

that all goes well, as Rusty has adopted you.
I know you have his best interest at heart and apparently so does he.
I am looking forward to a happy ending for all of you.

God Bless

Just breaks my heart..
 

Oh poor Rusty......he is just lonely.......and he feels that your home is his "safe haven". Geez........I think, if it were me at this point...............well...............I would pour on the love......yep.....I would feed him, keep him warm, love him and treat him as if he was already your pup.......at the very least........you are the "step parents.....or in-laws"

What is the damage if you just love him and protect him as if he was yours...........let Rusty call the shots...............he will choose where he wants to be...................you just need to be ready and willing for it to happen....

God bless your heart.....you are an angel.....:mademyday :love-hug1

I'm so glad Rusty found you guys! I hope your neighbors let you keep him.

My sister has the same problem, and she finally ask the guy to let her have him or she would buy him from the guy. He told her no it was his dog, and the son took him with him when he moved , but 1 month later he was back with out tags and she has had him ever since....:) Good Luck maybe you will be able to keep Rusty, but if not don't worry he will be back....:)

"wow", what an interesting story..

Thanks everyone!! I enjoy reading what you all have to say about our "strange" situation!

Rusty was here last night and still here tonight. He, of course, slept inside last night and ate and will do the same tonight. It has gotten so cold this last week (course, our weather is crazy...it is said to warm back up to the 80s by Sunday)......oh, we have Halloween goodies for Rusty too!

We are (of course) attached to him, but we know that he isn't ours (yet)! We just worry ourselves sick when they come to get him. I hope that one day, I will post that we have a new dog....Rusty!

Keep Rusty in your thoughts and prayers!

Jenn...
 

I am so very proud of you and your husband.....

Indeed you are quite a special gal!!! :hearts-xx

Some pictures of Rusty
 

I took some pictures of Rusty inside tonight.....it was Luke's birthday, so I have some of them all together too.....(my daughter is in there some where also)! :p Luke's b-day pictures (some of them) are posted in the Brothers & Sisters thread.
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Oh, this mattress is a little cheapy trundle bed mattress....they are like $25 new and have made a perfect bed for our big dogs! It is light weight, so it is easy to carry up or take back down stairs. :thumbup: Luke takes up most of it, but he will occasionally move over enough for Sophie and Rusty to get on it too! :rolleyes: