What Do You Do If You Find A Lost Dog Or Cat? Block Talk

That dog trotting down the sidewalk or cat hiding in the bushes or meowing at your door may appear lost but may live just a few houses away.

Your first instinct may be to step in. But that’s not always wise. Let’s be honest: Not all dogs are nice. Some are trained to be aggressive. Good intentions don’t count for much in these situations. And even nice dogs may become frightened and run farther away from home. A cat may scratch and bite

Subscribe

So, what do you do? If the animal, especially a dog, has a tag and appears amenable to your company, is it OK to walk it home and put it back in a fenced yard? Do you knock on doors looking for the owner?

Or do you call the local animal control office to pick up the stray cat or lost dog? If the pet is a repeat offender — say, an indoor/outdoor cat that does nasty things in your perennial garden — do you respond differently?

Beyond that, are lost dogs and stray or outdoor cats a problem where you live? How do you handle it?

We’re asking for Block Talk, Patch’s exclusive neighborhood etiquette column. Just fill out the survey below. As always, we don’t collect email addresses.

About Block Talk

Block Talk is a regular Patch feature offering real-world advice from readers on how to resolve everyday neighborhood problems. If you have a neighborhood etiquette question or problem you'd like for us to consider, email beth.dalbey@patch.com with Block Talk as the subject line.

Catch Up On Block Talk

• The Doorbell Rings; Do You Answer, Or Has Etiquette Changed?
• How Early Is Too Early To Start Mowing On The Weekends?
• Speeding Through Neighborhoods? Read This Before Someone Is Killed
• Unruly Parents Are Ruining Youth Sports
• If You Don’t Return A Shopping Cart, Are You A Total Jerk?
• ‘Poop Cleanup In Aisle 9’: Do Dogs Belong In Stores?

You May Also Like The Question

The Question is a new, exclusive Patch series that poses a broad array of questions about etiquette and what to do in certain situations — and readers provide the answers. Catch up:

• When Grieving, These Words And Deeds Offer Comfort
• If You Think A Child Or Someone Else Is In Danger, Here’s How To Intervene
• Here’s A Tip: Stop Asking For A Gratuity For Everything