Advice needed:

[Tsiya]

I live on a back road where people drive waaaay too fast. The people across the street have 2 young Jack Russels who are part Houdini. We've caught them in our yard or in the street probably 7-8 times now from when they've escaped. These puppies are one lucky escape away from being roadkill. J is over there now giving them water(nobody's home and it's supposed to hit 80+ today) and trying to block off the screened-in porch where he's stuck them after seeing them in the road.

Is there anything I can do? I hate to call the SPCA on them next time they get loose, but their owners aren't doing a bloody thing to keep them in it seems. The last thing I want is to come home and one of the little buggers is smeared.

[Nubhorns]

The last thing you want to do is take them out of their yard without trying to contact the owners first - even if you mean well, pet 'theft' is a pretty serious offense, even if you're just keeping them on the other side of the street so they don't get run over. I suggest talking to the owners first, since I don't think anyone wants to see puppy roadkill, the owners included. Just let them know that you're worried and offer to keep an eye on them while the owners aren't there. No harm in trying a polite approach first, and they might give you access to food and water for the pups while they're not home.

I know exactly how you feel as I live across the street from a big park, directly next to a huge intersection and have a Houdini dog myself - it's incredibly unnerving, but thankfully she's an inside dog. Animal control can and will take dogs who are wandering around, however, so if they get out again it might be best to call the pound. At least then they'll be somewhere they can't get out and run around until the owner gets a call from the shelter.

[Worba]

That's a tough call. My understanding is that the SPCA only gets involved in cases of major abuse, animal hoarding, etc, and animal control officers usually only when someone has been attacked, or (sometimes, usually if it's found in a mall or something) if the animal is believed to be a stray.

Could be wrong though.

Best thing you can do is talk to your neighbors, describe some of the more dramatic near-misses that you've witnessed, hope it gets through their skull, and remind them it's only a matter of time before one or both dogs get hit and killed.

Nothing else you can do beyond that.

[Tsiya]

Half the time we're catching them in our yard, the people next door to them have a fenced-in yard and outside dogs, but I guess my two inside dogs are more fun to aggravate lol. J talked to the guy and he's saying it's his kids' responsibility. He and his wife are always grateful we catch the buggers, but a couple days later here we go again.

Just pray I'm not the one who makes hamburger out of one of them...

[Dewclaw]

How old are the kids? Depending on their age, he can say they're responsible, but they may not be mature enough to know how to keep them from escaping, or even be able to prevent it. Are the pups escaping from a yard? Is an electronic fence a possibility?