Lost, found or stray dogs
Contents
- What to do if you find a stray dog
- After a stray dog is reported
- What to do if you have lost your dog
- Dog fouling
What to do if you find a stray dog
If it is safe to do so, and you are confident, check to see if the dog is wearing any form of identification. If so return them directly to their owner.
If you aren't able to reunite the dog with its owner, then you should report it to us.
Alternatively, you can call our customer service team on on 0191 433 7000.
Our priority is to offer a centralised and co-ordinated service for the collection of stray dogs with the aim of reuniting dogs with their owners as quickly as possible.
This service is available between the hours of 10am and 3pm, Monday to Friday. An out-of-hours dog collection service available from 10am to 3pm on Saturday and Sunday. There is no collection service outside of these hours.
You may wish to keep the dog with you until arrangements can be made for its collection.
Please remember that rehoming organisations cannot take strays directly off the street or from well-meaning members of the public except under certain emergency situations.
If you think the dog is dangerous, it should be dealt with directly by the police.
A dangerous dog is one that has already attacked or puts a person in genuine fear for their safety, or the safety or others. It can be hard to define a vicious dog as it may simply be scared, hungry, or feels under threat.
If a dog has bitten somebody, attacked another dog or seems likely to attack, you should report it immediately to the police.
Why you shouldn't look after the dog in your own home
It may not be advisable to take a stray dog into your own home.
No assessment has been made of the dog's health or temperament, and you could put yourself or your family at risk of injury or disease.
If you do take a stray dog into your home, then the law requires you to tell the council. If you don't, you could be accused of theft.
After a stray dog is reported
We have a duty to collect and impound dogs that are found straying in a public place, and are not accompanied by their owner or a person in charge.
No other organisation or charity can collect a stray dog. You should not hand a stray dog over to anyone apart from the owner or the dog warden.
Once reported, our dog warden will collect the dog and will check to see if it has a microchip, or any collar/tag identification required by law.
If the dog is microchipped, it will hopefully be possible to establish ownership and contact the owner to let them know their dog has been found. Find out more about microchipping on the GOV.UK website.
If it is not possible to contact the owner, or the dog has no accurate means of identification, the dog warden will take the dog to our approved kennelling facilities.
After a stray dog is taken to the kennels
If a dog has not been claimed within 7 days of entering the kennels, it will be transferred to the ownership of Animal Care Services (ACS) who offer a re-homing service as part of their care programme.
What to do if you have lost your dog
Any dog that is unsupervised in a public place may be collected by our dog warden.
If your dog has a tag with contact details, or is microchipped, the dog warden will try to contact you. If the dog can't be taken straight home, it will be taken to our approved kennels.
We understand that losing your dog can be a traumatic experience. If you have lost your dog, you can report it online or call us on 0191 433 3000 to see if your dog has been collected by the dog warden and taken to our approved kennels.
You may wish to contact other kennel providers in the area, as a member of the public may have taken your dog directly to an alternative local kennel.
If your dog has been taken to kennels by the dog warden, you will need to call Animal Care Services (ACS) on 0116 269 6177. You will have to pay a release fee before your dog is delivered back to you. The amount of the release fee will vary depending on how much time your dog has been at the kennels.
Kennelling costs consist of:
- £25 statutory fee that is required regardless of how long your dog is kennelled
- £25 admin fee that is required regardless of how long your dog is kennelled
- £25 per day kennelling fee
The below table is illustrative of cost throughout the 7-day statutory holding period.
| Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £75 | £100 | £125 | £150 | £175 | £200 | £225 |
If your dog requires veterinary care when it is picked up or at kennels, you will be liable for any cost incurred to us.
Be a responsible dog owner
Dogs should always be walked and exercised with a responsible person present. Never allow your dog to wander, roam or exercise on its own.
Collar/identification tags
Legally, all dogs must wear a collar and identification tag with contact details.
All dogs must be microchipped, and your contact details must be kept up to date. For more information visit the GOV.UK website.
Dog fouling
The dog warden is also responsible for dealing with issues of dog fouling. According to the Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act, a person in charge of a dog has a duty to remove faeces from public areas, including:
- back lanes
- grassed areas
- parks
- streets
- cemeteries
- play areas
If the faeces is not immediately cleared away, the person in charge of the dog will be issued with a £75 fixed penalty.
You can find out more information on the dog fouling page.