What do you guys think about keeping a dog outside "for protection"? Up front, I have to say I'm against it. I spoke with a police officer from Cape Cod a couple of years ago and he told me that no dog should ever be left outside unattended. He said, "You know all those dogs that somehow "escaped" from their yard? Yeah, most likely stolen." He said that an increasing problem all over the country--including New England--is "yard dogs" being stolen by dog fighters to be used as "bait" in training the fighting dogs. He said that the dog fighters patrol neighborhoods looking for dogs left alone--small or big--and that living in a "good" neighborhood won't protect you or your dog.

I also found this:

http://www.iwclubofamerica.org/outside_dogs.htm

Your thoughts?