Polly's Porch: Loose Dogs, Stray Cats and Being a Good Neighbor
A reader worried about loose dogs and stray cats writes to the Woodruff Times advice column; Polly answers that responsible ownership is a neighborly duty.
The Woodruff Times advice column "Polly's Porch" took up a familiar local complaint on June 19, 2026. Here is our summary.
The letter: A reader signing as "Dog Tired" wrote that loose-dog posts show up on Facebook nearly every week. The reader mentioned chickens attacked, a lost cat, neighbors uneasy about walking their own streets, and conflicting advice about whether to call the city or the county. The writer also noted more stray cats and pets roaming without leashes or fences. The reader said they love animals but believe owners are responsible for keeping them under control.
Polly's answer: Most loose dogs are not bad dogs. They are usually pets that slipped a gate or wandered off. But a loose dog cannot tell a child, an older neighbor, another pet or livestock apart, and a friendly dog can look like a threat from across the street. Large stray-cat populations also cause problems for neighborhoods, wildlife and the cats themselves.
Polly calls it a community problem before it is a government one. Secure fences and gates, collars with ID, leashes, and spaying and neutering prevent more trouble than any ordinance. The column closes by saying that in a town that looks out for one another, looking after our animals is part of being a good neighbor.
Note: The column does not say which agency handles loose animals inside versus outside city limits. Check with the City of Woodruff or Spartanburg County before you need to call.