Lost, found and stray dogs
Owning a dog is a big responsibility that includes some legal obligations such as microchipping your dog and ensuring that it doesn’t cause a hazard or nuisance.
Stray dogs
A stray dog is one that is in a public place and not under the charge of its keeper. It is easy to assume a stray dog has been abandoned, but in most cases there is a distraught owner searching for it.
To protect the dog, other animals, the public and the environment we will collect stray dogs. We will check the dogs collar and microchip and attempt to return the dog to its owner. If this is not possible, the dog will be taken to Crowfoot Kennels with the hope that the owner can be found. Where this isn't possible Crowfoot Kennels will make every effort to find a new home for the dog.
If you have found a stray dog
Always be careful approaching what you think is a stray dog, as it is not always possible to tell if it will be aggressive.
If you decide to take personal responsibility for a stray, you are legally obliged to do one of the following:
- Return it to its owner, if the owner can be identified from ID tags or other means.
- Report the found dog to us or the local authority in the area where the dog was found if outside of the District.
If you have access to social media, such as Facebook, you may wish to share details of the found dog on local community pages as this often results in a swift reunion with the owner.
Lost dogs
If you have lost your dog you can report is to us and we will check if we have had reports of a found dog matching the description. You can email Crowfoot Kennels or call them on 01283 585510 in case they have collected the stray on our behalf. If they do have your dog there is a collection charge of £20 plus any kennelling costs and vet fees incurred if your dog is tagged and/or microchipped or £25 plus any kennelling and vet fees incurred if your dog is not tagged or microchipped.