Two mutts — one black and one white — stand post every morning, skulking their prey from the overgrown grass past the patch of pines.

They wait until the first signs of the headlights can be seen rounding the bend. Back hunched low in racing pose, he pounces across the southbound lane nipping at the car door. He — I am assuming — chases for hundreds of yards, before a slow reversal back to the perch.

It’s not some mornings. It’s every morning. One day the black one will rush, sometimes the Pontiac gets tag-teamed, but never ever do those mutts catch up. Like addicts at a casino slot machine who never win, yet keep plunking in quarters, these dogs just keep chasing.

Gotta love that tenacity.

I feel, though, that I one day will round that corner and find one, or both of those mutts who dashed toward a southbound pickup only to miss the northbound log truck.

Dogs, despite how most dog-lovers feel, just don’t know any better. No matter how many times we believe they can understand our commands and think logically, they cannot. If they did, maybe they would look both ways before crossing.

The dogs wear no collars and likely are using the front yard as home base. Rarely if ever can the humans who live beyond the walls be seen. If these mutts belong to them, the care is lacking. Those people are certainly not alone.

Much attention has been paid to loose horses roaming the roads of Warren County and as heartbreaking as it is to see, the numbers of horses pales to that of unwanted dogs and cats. The shelters are full and too many have found homes wandering around town.

Drive in the area and the number of wild or stray animals is alarming. Heartbreaking is more like it. Animal lovers who are “parents” find it difficult to fathom how someone could neglect or let a beloved pet run wild.

Mutts belong on the couch or in the front seat of a car looking out the window and designing windshield nose art.

Mutts belong on leashes or at least confined safely away from an oncoming school bus.

Mutts belong in the living room, butt on the floor, left paw extended seconds before the treat even appears: Pavlov’s theory at its finest.

Dogs don’t belong chasing cars on busy streets, or roaming in packs around town.

Yet too many otherwise wonderful dogs are.

What a sad shame indeed.

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Sean P. Murphy can be reached at smurphy@vicksburgpost.com