Thanks everyone for your kind words. Well, the honeymoon is over... We found out why he may have been put out on the street and ended up at animal control. He has severe separation anxiety. We borrowed an old, beat up, butt-ugly airline carrier from a friend (i.e. very strong, compared to today's models) until a huge new wire crate I ordered came in. He destroyed his new crate in two days... I've ordered another airline style carrier, but I'm worried that the lighter weight wire in the door won't hold him. He was fine in his wire crate when we were home - even slept in it, ate in it, etc. willingly and happily - with the door open.
We're visiting our handicapped son this weekend (he lives in a group home about four hours from our house), staying in our VERY small camper. I've put him outside on a strong cable tie-out for a few minutes, thinking he'd like the fresh air (and to give us a little break from him taking up almost all of the floor space), but no...he stood on his hind legs trying to get back in. And he can see us through the window. I've made him get off the camper several times, so now he's staring at us through the window. Sigh...
I'd love to be able to leave him loose at home and in the camper when we have to go out, but I'm terrified of the destruction he'd cause when he panics. I'm praying his new crate works, or I guess I'll have to get my friend's old crate back (which btw, does not fit in the camper).