Well, that was easy. I was just outside cleaning up from last nights snow. I see him out in the road. I whistle to him/her and the thing starts barking at me. Nice huh? Well I start walking toward it and it just stands there barking at me. Suddenly from a house a few doors down a woman yells out and the dog sprints home. I hear her yelling "Bad dog!" Bad dog? Bad owner.
So mystery solved. Those people were just letting the dog out to run around.