What do I do if I find a stray cat or dog?

Editor's note: This is Part two of the Frequently Asked Questions article that lists the top ten questions heard at the Strafford County Humane Society. Please see last week's article for the first five questions and answers.

What should I do if I find a stray dog or cat?

If you find a stray dog, report it to the police. An animal control officer will bring the dog to a holding facility (which may or may not be the local shelter) where its owner can pick it up. Remember that stray dogs can be nervous and unpredictable. Don't risk getting hurt trying to catch a dog. With cats, it's best to call your local shelter before doing anything. It's also good to make note of the cat's appearance. A cat that looks clean and well fed may not be a stray; he could just be visiting from a nearby house. Your local shelter can give you instructions on where to bring the cat and, if necessary, can rent you a Havahart trap to safely and humanely catch the cat. Again, be careful when approaching an unfamiliar animal. Do not risk injury to yourself just to catch the cat.

Is it okay to bring a stray cat into my home?

It's not recommended, at least not until the cat has been cleared by a vet. Remember that stray cats have unknown histories. You do not know if the cat carries something as serious as rabies or feline leukemia or something less harmful - but terribly annoying! - like fleas. If you do bring a stray cat into your home, keep it in a separate room in your house away from your other pets until it is cleared by a vet.

Are you a no-kill shelter?

Shelters get asked this question all the time, and it's a hard one to answer since everyone's definition of "no-kill" is different. Some believe that "no-kill" means no animals are ever euthanized while others use it to mean only animals that are ill or dangerous are put down. To get the most accurate answer, you should ask shelter, "What is your policy on euthanasia?" If you're still not sure, don't be afraid to ask more questions.

Should I declaw my cat?

It's definitely not recommended and some vets won't even perform the surgery. Essentially, declawing a cat is much like cutting off the tips of a person's fingers. While declawing can be done for medical reasons, it is most often done for the owner's benefit. If you're considering declawing, please have a conversation with your vet first to learn more about the process. If you haven't brought a cat home yet, visit your local shelter and ask about cats that are already declawed. If you already have a cat, try getting nail caps and keeping up with regular nail trims before exploring declawing.

Should I pet insurance?

There's no right answer to this question. Having pet insurance is not a bad thing, but opting not to get it is also okay. Every pet owner feels differently about what is best for their pet. Pet insurance can be difficult to understand and, unfortunately, by the time you realize you need it it's too late to get insured. It's important to remember that pet insurance doesn't cover pre-existing conditions and there are breed exclusions. Because of this, many pet owners find that insurance isn't worth it for their pet as it wouldn't cover any of the expenses they have. If you have a young and healthy pet, though, pet insurance could be beneficial for the future. Before getting pet insurance, be sure to do a lot of research. There are many different options out there. For some helpful links on pet insurance reviews, check out the Cocheco Valley Humane Society resources page on our website at http://www.cvhsonline.org/communityresources.cfm.

Alaina Goodnough is the Promotions Coordinator at Cocheco Valley Humane Society in Dover, NH. She lives in Sanford, ME with two parrots, a cockatoo, a cat, a bearded dragon, and two dachshunds. She can be reached at CVHS at devassist@cvhsonline.org. To learn more about Cocheco Valley Humane Society, go to www.cvhsonline.org or call 603-749-5322.