My MIL and kids took the dog to Scotmid (MIL being kind and thinking about how much dog might like a walk), where he was briefly tied up while they were inside. When they came out, they untied him, picked up his lead and headed off home. In the process youngest offspring had his second copious nosebleed of the day, and in dealing with that, when MIL looked down, she obviously hadnt clipped the lead properly and dog was gone - off for a wander.
As for "tied up for hours", it would appear some eejit - presumably trying to be helpful
-, saw the dog on dog's return to Scotmid, and had the "bright" idea of tying him up again - meaning the hour my MIL and kids spent searching for him on the prom in the wind and rain was of course fruitless 
- and also meaning everyone got to be all judgemental about how we left our dog tied up at Scotmid until he was arrested by the polis. 
I arrived home at 10.30 from a very long day at work to be told the sad tale by MIL, to spend more fruitless time wandering the streets and prom trying to find him, and to call the polis frantically trying to find my very much loved and never neglected dog, whilst very upset and worried about him.
Poor dog indeed.
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