Almost at the start of a 300 mile journey home today I came round a corner on a country road to find two dogs trotting loose in the middle of the road. One had a collar and what looked like a tag, the other didn't.
I stopped the car and made room for them, but could only pick up the one without the collar - the other had trotted on down the road while I was making a space on the seat.
The dog I put in the car had torn pads - like when humans get blisters and the skin makes a flap - and was limping.
I wondered if I should have left them to it but I couldn't bear the thought of them being run down by someone in a faster car.
I tried the nearest house in case they were from there - no answer. A chap in a nearby house said he'd seen them roaming at least 2 hours ago. He didn't know them, but suggested another house that might.
I went there and they weren't sure, but offered to look after the dog and reunite it with its owner, or the person they thought was its owner. They had their own dog so were 'doggy people' and would know how to look after it.
I don't know if that was the right thing to do - what would you have done? I'm sad that I separated them but this lovely dog was in pain from walking. And I was so worried that they'd get run over.