unwanted companions

[BuckeyeBill]

I have a completely different attitude against (stray) dogs, based on experience.
In Southern Europe, as well as in the Middle East, there are very few privately owned dogs, but strays are a serious plague.
They typically live around litter places.
The ones that stray around populated areas do this for begging or stealing food.
As a foot traveller/hiker you many times have to cross the "litter cordon" around towns, by this crossing through the living area of the local stray dogs pack.
This is anything but comfortable, sometimes even dangerous.
Its best practice, and I had to learn this the hard way, to carry a club or some stones when going there.
So whenever I see a (stray) dog, by instinct I bend down to pick a stone.
I would never come near the idea to take care of a stray in a positive way.

I was just about ready to ask if anyone has come across of stray/feral dogs running in a pack. I read in the paper awhile back about a pack of dogs running around the city. They were attacking other dogs, cats and went after a child playing in her backyard. After several attempts to tranquilize and capture them, the decision was made to shoot them. I didn't know how I felt about this until I thought of them attacking my grandchildren. I then agreed with the city's decision. It is sad that this had to happen.

[Leo L.]

Yes, I happened to run into a very agressive pack of dogs once. Had to fight for my life (at least this was my impression) with a heavy club, finally a native rescued me.
When reading The Tracker by Tom Brown it remembered me on this specific event.

[peakbagger]

Loggers and folks in the woods used to have no problems shooting dogs that were running deer. Even domestic dogs will get caught up in it on occasion.

[BuckeyeBill]

I just finished reading this article from Outdoor magazine that deals with what it takes to have a good dog.

[GoLight]

The dogs are the owners responsibility not some random hiker who happens on them by chance. Don't berate this guy because he tried to be helpful but not as helpful as you deem he should have been.

I was searching for something to say in the OP´s defense, but you said it better. I agree, the OP did practice compassion by leaving a message for the owner where he could retrieve his dogs, and the OP took time to feed them some expensive jerky, so yeah, that was a good deed in my eyes.