Sure we all make mistakes. No doubt some people do think they are perfect, but not all of us do. I don't believe that MTdrather is a moron jack@$$!!, and I don't think any of us deserve to be called &96$#@#$, either.I don't think that "Dog guys" love ripping on inexperienced pet owners and new trainers, I don't think anyone here thinks he or she is all high and mighty, and I'm sure we all know that soetimes, "STUFF DOE'S INDEED HAPPEN"That being said, my pointwas that this is something that needs to be treated in a serious manner. Kids and adults need to take responsibility for their four legged friends. If a dog who is confined manages to get free and roam the neighborhood and you track him down and attempt to get him back home, that is resposible dog ownership. If your dog is allowed to run at large and with no supervisio, that is irresponsible dog ownership, likewise if your dog is sick and you don't know what to do for him, then taking him to vet is being responsible, not taking him is just being irresponsible. I believe thateveryone should the basic responsibilitys of owning, and caring for any anjmal they plan to keep. I believe that people should learn everything they can about their pets and animals before you get the animal. Your new pet deserves a home where his basic needs will be met and where he will be tended to abd kept safe. I think that the boy needs to be educated before he gets another dog. Hopefully he will have learned from his mistake and he will be more responsible in the future. Sometimes being a little harsh is neccesaryto get your point across. Coddling him doesn't do anything to help him realize the severity of his mistake, a mistake that he must prevent in the future. I hope that he has learned somthing thru all of this so that it will never happen again. Treating this as nonchalanly as some of you seem to want to is wrong. I simply believe that there is a certain prtocol to be followed when you own an animal, and since that animal depends on you for his very existance, then you need to do right by him. And as for you,NEBHNTR, I can honestly say that when I was growing up I never forgot to clean up my dogs crap, nor did I ever forget to feed him. My old man had a rule. The rule was that the animals always ewere tended to before I was allowed to eat. I raised 2 boys with that same rule. Some people might find this to be a little harsh, but damned if it doesn't work.