SDK Environmental Ltd operates a dog warden service on our behalf to deal with stray dogs. The dog warden, authorised officers from the council and police community support officers enforce the legislation associated with dog fouling. The council gives general advice about your responsibilities as a dog owner.
Dog Identification
Dog owners should ensure that their pet wears a collar and identification tag at all times. By law, all dogs in public places should wear a collar and tag giving the name and address of the owner. This also enables you to be reunited with your pet quickly and safely.
Dog owners also have the option of having their pet microchipped. It takes a matter of seconds to insert a tiny chip - the size of a grain of rice - into the animal. Once the chip is in place, the dog can be scanned to reveal the unique identification number which will be recorded on the National Pet Register's 24-hour database, together with all the owner's details. Your local veterinary surgery should be able to help with this service.
Lost dogs
The first thing to do is to contact the dog warden service which is operated by SDK Environmental Ltd on our behalf. Please call 08444 828338 between 9am and 5pm 7 days a week.
If the dog warden picks up your dog because it's not under your control, you will be required to pay a fee for it straying. You may also be required to pay for kennelling costs and any other expenses incurred by the council arising from your dogs detention.
Found dogs
The dog warden will collect stray dogs from your property. If you find a stray dog you can call us on 08444 828338, we provide a 24 hour service.
Finders have the option of keeping hold of the dog, however, the dog warden will need to visit to scan and photograph the dog and check that your home is suitable. You need to be aware that the stray dog is legally the council's responsibility and that we have a duty of care to that animal. You must be willing to hold onto the dog for a minimum of 1 month and after that time you are able to keep or rehome the dog yourself, however, the legal title to the dog will remain with the original owner.
Date Updated: 29/04/13