An alderman for a small local town got a call from one of the residents. "I'm having a problem with a stray dog coming into my yard and turning over the trash cans. What are you gonna do about it?" The alderman thought a minute and said "Get a piece of sausage and throw it as far as you can into the neighbor's yard. The dog will go after it and not bother you anymore." A couple of days go by and he gets a call from the same guy. " The dog's still coming around. What are you gonna do? " " Hmmmm. Sometimes it takes a while to work. Keep doing it for a few more days and the dog will get the message." " OK. I 'll try it again." A few more days go by and the alderman gets another call. " The dog's still coming around. I tried your crummy idea and it doesn't work. What do I do now." The alderman is about at the end of his rope now and says " Well, you've been feeding him, so he's YOUR dog now."