Stray and Missing Dogs

We offer a service to deal with stray dogs, dog fouling and minor nuisance issues.

A stray dog is any dog loose in a public place with no one obviously in charge of it.

If you find a stray dog, please call us on 01279 655261 (ext 7140)

Between 9am to 5pm - an officer will aim to attend as long as the dog is confined or contained.

Out of Office Hours - follow the instructions on the answerphone message which will direct you to our out of hours number.

Please note, we do NOT deal with:

  • rehoming
  • welfare
  • dangerous dogs
  • serious dog attacks or attacks involving persons
  • injured wildlife

 

To report a banned dog or dog attack, please contact Hertfordshire Police

For more information on banned dogs please visit GOV.UK

For other enquiries, please contact the RSPCA or another rehoming organisation.

Kennels in East Herts

Between 5pm and 8pm Monday to Friday and between 9am to 8pm Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays you may be able to take the dog to our kennel, please telephone them first on the number below to make the arrangements.

Alternatively you can contact a vet or boarding kennel near to you who may be able to help. If this is not possible but you are able to keep the dog until the next working day, please contact us during normal working hours when an officer will collect the dog from you.

What happens to stray dogs found by the Council?

Dogs wearing a collar and tag will, on the first occasion and wherever possible, be returned to their owner. However, on subsequent occasions they are placed in kennels and will not be released unless all fees due to the Council are paid.

Any stray dog will be held at the kennels for up to seven days. If you do not collect your dog within seven days, you will lose the right to reclaim it, and we will try to re-home it.

Report a lost dog

If you have lost your dog, please call us on 01279 655261 within 7 days and we will check our systems. You should also contact your local vets, local animal rescue charities and other neighbouring Local Authorities who may have picked up your dog as a stray.

How to get your dog back

To recover a stray, you will have to provide proof of your identity, ownership and pay the costs and fines:

  • Administration charge of £21
  • Statutory fine of £25 for a not having a collar with the name and address of the owner inscribed on the collar or on a plate or badge attached to it.
  • There is also an additional kennel charge of £15 per day

If your dog has strayed and been involved in an accident, or has been found to require urgent veterinary attention, it may be taken to a vet. If this is the case, you will be liable for the payment of the vet fees.

Microchips

All dogs aged eight weeks old and over must be micro chipped and their keeper's details must be up to date. Failure to comply will mean you may be served with a notice giving you 21 days to comply or you may face a fine of up to £500.

Microchipping has a number of other welfare benefits, including serving as a deterrent to dog theft and can help the rapid return of the pet to its owners should it become lost.

More information on microchipping is available from The Dogs Trust website.

Identification Tags

The law requires that while in public all dogs must wear a collar with the name and address (including postcode) of the owner engraved or written on it, or engraved on a tag. Your telephone number is optional (but we would recommend this).

You can be fined up to £5,000 if your dog does not wear an identification tag.