Helping animals, even domesticated ones, is hard because of exactly what you said. They don't think you're trying to help, they think you're trying to take advantage of their bad situation so you can harm them. I'm glad the outcome was good and the dog was able to run off to play with his friend. Up here in the arctic of Canada we have similar problems with stray dogs running loose and getting themselves into so much trouble.

I get the feeling they your Uncle truly loves to work with wood and build. And I think that as long as he can be out there doing what he loves, then he will be out there. Lol