I've heard of "pickers" hanging around shelters but they usually offer "good homes" to distraught owners of dogs and then use them train pit bulls.
Doesn't sound like that.
You'd think the shelter would monitor what goes on around their property a little more closely, wouldn't you?
So if this transfer was not done through the shelter is there a contract? Or was there an agreement that the man would reclaim the dog after he found a place to live? If there isn't anything in writing he should be able to get the dog back in small claims court methinks.
Doesn't sound like that.
Seems by now someone should at least be curious about how well the old Shep is doing at his new digs. Hiding and hiding and hiding sure doesn't LOOK like the behavior of an innocent citizen outraged that the previous owner of her dog has turned out to be an Indian giver.