So what do you do when you have unwanted pets in your yard??
This just happened here. We had a  cat come into our fenced in backyard while the kids were outside. So I went out to see the cat and  saw it had on a collar and got info off the collar to find the owner. I call the owner, Who is someone in our neighborhood, who we don't know well. The mom is super nice, and I think has a tough life. Anyway I leave a message for her telling her we have her cat, please call back. While we are waiting for the call back, #4 goes outside and the cat comes in. Now I am chasing a cat around the house, trying to catch it. Without getting scratched or bit. I catch it and the cat does NOT like to be picked up. I dispose of it outside, where the kids are eagerly waiting to see the cat. I tell them to follow it around, but don't touch it. Yeah RIGHT! This is a cat!
 She calls me back and tells me it is a super nice cat, loves kids, won't hurt anyone, etc. While I am on the phone with her, the car bites or scratches #5. Since I am not out there, I do not know what #5 did to the cat 1st. It could have been justified, I mean #5 just turned 3 and isn't around animals.  So I get #5 calmed down and then get a phone call saying her son is walking over to get the cat. Perfect! He comes over and I take him into the backyard to catch the cat. It takes him awhile, and the cat hisses at him also, but he does catch it. I thank him, and I am happy to report the cat is back home!!

We do not have pets, 5 kids is enough for me to take care of!! I know the kids are always asking for a pet, maybe after today they won't. The sweet innocent cat was not that when it left here!

If the pet seems harmless and has a collar, I would like to try and get ahold of the owners 1st before I call animal control. What do you do?