Sagwa the Stray consists of:
- An Aesop: There's more to being a leader than ordering people around. Sometimes a good leader listens to what others have to say. Otherwise, they miss out on good ideas.
- Break the Haughty:Throughout the episode, Dongwa's acted as though his word is law as he lead the search party for Sagwa. When Lee-Wan came forward with a potential lead on her, Dongwa shoots it down, since the description of her being collarless doesn't match his sister. But later, upon realizing his sister has been taken (and having no one to blame but himself) he's reduced to begging Lee-Wan for an idea on how to get his sister back.
- Butt-Monkey: Sagwa goes through this.
- Heroic BSoD: Sagwa goes through this when mistook for a stray and adopted by Mei-Ling against her will. She tries to get off of Mei-Ling's family's boat, but to no avail. So she despairs that she'll ever see her home or family ever again. She soon snaps out of it when Fu-Fu drops the collar back on her.
- Idiot Ball: We wouldn't have a story if Mei-Ling had the sense to realize Sagwa didn't want to go with her. So of course she has to be dumb enough to not notice Sagwa not wanting to live with her and leave her family and friends.
- Dongwa also lives up to this trope, as he chooses to ignore Lee-Wan about a cat she met potentially being his sister, despite that she fits Sagwa's description with the exception she wasn't wearing her collar. Justified, as he might've been on a power trip from leading the search party and have been too stubborn to listen.
- Jerkass Has a Point: The Sleeve Dogs may be opposed to the Miao siblings, but one of them has the right to be smug when she points out to Dongwa he has no one but himself to blame for not listening when Lee-Wan came forward with information about Sagwa.Pang: It's true, ink face. As leaders go, you're a great order-er, but a lousy listener.
- Not Now, Kiddo: Lee-Wan constantly tries to tell Dongwa about a collarless cat she met that could be the missing Sagwa, but because she's described as a cat without a collar, Dongwa ignores her. It isn't until the Sleeve Dog, Pang, finds Sagwa's missing collar, that Dongwa finally listens to Lee-Wan.
- Sweet and Sour Grapes: Once learning that Sagwa actually belongs at the palace, Mei-Ling and her family do the right thing and return her. But later, Lee-Wan comes by wanting to be adopted, giving Mei-Ling the pet and friend she's always wanted.
