We tried to adopt a cat once from a local shelter. If there was any indication that you would let the cat outside, for any period of time, they would reject the application. Also, if there was any indication you would ever leave the cat alone for 10 hours or more, they would reject the application. So, we left all those cats in the shelter, where there were almost certainly terminated, and bought a kitten from some random people on craigslist.

After that cat passed, we tried to adopt a dog from the local shelters. All required an interview and house visit, with random unscheduled visits within the 6 months after. We bought a puppy from some random kid.

That's a stock photo.

> According to Wissner, his dog was wearing a collar with a rabies tag and a halter bearing a plate with his name, address and contact information.

> Faith, an Akbash whose job was to protect Wissner’s sheep from predators, was nowhere to be found.

> The sheep were still grazing on the other side of the fence, but their guardian had vanished.

> ...

> According to Wissner, his dog was wearing a collar with a rabies tag and a halter bearing a plate with his name, address and contact information.

The caption for the photo:

> Shepherdess Brittany Cole Bush with a herd of goats on the Arambel Ranch in western Wyoming. (Brittany Cole Bush)

It's possible people don't like sheep ranchers. Or maybe its just that one rancher. We have the goat herders in our area that fence off parts of the undeveloped land during the summer because it's a fire hazard. Those guardian dogs never leave the fenced area, and they will let you know when you are too close very quickly.

Our largest dog is extremely active. He is a great bird and rabbit dog and he runs and runs and runs when we're not hunting. He'll follow the tractor for miles back and forth in the field. He's skinny but, according to the vet, exactly where he should be in weight.

Our neighbor's mom called the animal warden on us for not feeding him. He eats better than I do.

Her dog is a morbidly obese miniature collie.

Most people's perspective of ideal animal shapes is incorrect.