Dogs On The Brain
This is a two parter: if you come across an unattended K9, are you allowed to approach and engage? If you do engage and something goes terribly wrong, who is at fault?
The Commissioner (formally known as the Baker (career change)) had some great feedback on this one. First, the owner is looked around for. If the owner cannot be found the, dog will be approached. If the owner is found, the dog will be approached as well (unless requested not to by the owner). Really, approaching the dog is not in question here. If upon engaging with the dog, something does happen to go terribly wrong, it is never the dog's fault.
Incidentally, this is almost verbatim the answer that The Earl of Sandwich gave (formally known as the Candlestick Maker (not sure if this was a career change or just a title change))
Generally, I think the consensus is that it is not the dog's fault. I completely agree with this. However, I am hesitant about approaching unattended animals, even with a leash and/or collar. Maybe they are shy. Maybe they are a little aggressive. Maybe their owner is just a little possessive. Who knows. Though to be fair, if you leave your pooch unattended, you must accept the consequences of your actions.