Dear Amy,

“Neighbor A” had a very rough year. Her business went under, and she lost her home to foreclosure.

My husband and I helped her move to an apartment. She left a cute, expensive little dog, along with some possessions, in her home. She said she couldn’t have the dog at her apartment and that her adult daughter was going to get the dog.

A week later, I was reading in my newspaper about pets abandoned due to foreclosure. It made me think of that dog. My husband and I went over to see if the daughter had picked up the dog. She hadn’t, and the dog did not have any food or a drop of water. The temperature all week was 105.

I fed and gave water to the dog, and I took it for a walk. I called “Neighbor A” and told her the condition of her dog. She said she would contact her daughter again. I told her that I would continue checking on the dog, but that I was leaving on vacation soon.

“Neighbor B” agreed to check on the dog, along with our pets, while we were away.

While on vacation, I got a frantic message from “Neighbor A” that her dog was gone.

I called her and left a message that I had no idea what happened to the dog and that I left “Neighbor B” in charge of checking on the dog.

“Neighbor A” left more messages while I was gone that she went door to door asking about the dog. She was told that “Neighbor C” took the dog.

When I returned home, “Neighbor C” told me that she put the dog in a shelter more than 100 miles away.

“Neighbor A” is now asking me if I know anything about the situation because she wants to press charges.

I really don’t want to get in the middle of this.

What do I tell “Neighbor A”?

The person who should be concerned about having charges pressed against her is “Neighbor A.”

I’ve also read about the impact of the foreclosure crisis on family pets, and it seems that in this case, the pet owner did not make a concerted and consistent effort to find a home for her dog — or to check on it while it was in limbo.

Your neighbor has already heard that “Neighbor C” took the dog. If she asks you for details, you can say, “If your understanding is that ‘Neighbor C’ took the dog, then you really should ask her — not me — where it is.”

Earphones at work

Dear Amy,

“Employee at Wits’ End” complained about loud music piped-in to the workplace.

May I suggest that the person get a set of electronic noise-reducing earphones? I have a set, and even without being connected to my entertainment source, they reduce the ambient noise almost completely.

If the employer refuses to turn down the volume, this is a good solution.