Ashfield District Council: Stray Dogs

Stray Dogs

Stray dogs are a big problem in Ashfield and we are determined to reduce the number of strays that we collect.

Dog lying down

A dog that is loose or escapes into a public place and is not under close supervision can be a menace. A stray dog will foul, can be aggressive and in some circumstances may attack people. They may also cause road accidents, worry livestock and injure themselves.

For all of these reasons it is important that stray dogs are collected and taken into kennels for their own welfare and for public safety.

What your council must do

The Environmental Protection Act 1990 states that:

Where any stray dog is found in a public place or on any other land or premises the Council has a duty to seize the dog and detain it. At Ashfield we have a Dog Control Officer to carry out this duty.
Where any dog seized wears a collar or is microchipped, or the owner of the dog is known, a notice in writing will be served on the owner stating that the dog has been seized and the amounts for which they would be liable.
A person claiming to be the owner of a dog seized shall not be entitled to have the dog returned to him/her unless he/her pays all the expenses incurred by reason of its detention and such further amount as is for the time being prescribed.

At Ashfield we consider the welfare of a stray dog, together with public protection, to be of paramount importance.

What is a stray?

Although there is no statutory definition of a stray dog, the RSPCA defines it "as one that is in a public place and not under the charge of a keeper". Even a dog that appears well cared for and healthy will be collected as a stray if in a public place and not under supervision

The role of animal welfare charities

Animal welfare charities (such as the RSPCA) and animal rescue shelters have no statutory obligations in respect of the collection and care of stray dogs. Apart from emergency cases, animal welfare charities will always refer finders of stray dogs to the Council or to the Police.

What to do if you find a stray dog

When the Council Offices are open

If you believe a dog to be straying and it is within the boundaries of Ashfield District Council, you should report the matter to the Customer Service Team as soon as possible on 01623 450000. You will be asked to provide the following details:

Your name, address and telephone number (mobile if possible)
A description of the dog, and
Where you saw the dog to be straying.

If you can restrain the dog, without risk of injury to yourself and without causing too much distress to the dog, this would greatly assist the Dog Control Officer. The Dog Control Officer has a target to respond to all reports of stray dogs within 4 hours. In practice we attend much quicker than this.

When the Council Offices are closed

If you believe a dog to be straying and it is within the boundaries of Ashfield District Council, you should report the matter to the Dog Control Officer via the Council's Emergency Out Of Hours number on 01623 550077. Again, if you can restrain the dog without risk of injury to yourself and without causing too much distress to the dog, this would greatly assist the Dog Control Officer.

What you can do if you have lost your dog

If your dog has gone missing you should report to our Customer Service team on 01623 450000 and provide the the following information:

Your name, address and telephone number (mobile if possible)
A description of the dog (colour, age, sex, identifying features)
The date, time and where you last saw your dog.

If we have collected your dog

Our staff will attempt to match the description of your dog to any stray dogs that have been collected by the Dog Control Officer. If the description of your dog matches that of any dog we have collected as a stray, you will be asked to attend your nearest Council offices to identify your dog from a photograph.

If you identify the stray as your lost dog, you will be asked to pay a release fee before the dog can be collected from the boarding kennels. The release fee represents a contribution towards the Council's costs (time, fuel, veterinary care, kennelling costs etc) in providing the stray dog collection service. This fee must be paid in full before a release note is provided that entitles you to collect the dog from the boarding kennels.

Please note that as of 1st July 2009 Ashfield District Council increased their dog release fees to reflect the cost of seizure incurred by the Council. Consequently the Council charges the standard fee for the initial seizure and the further prescribed fee for instances where the dog has previously been seized (or the same person/household has lost another dog in a different time period). This is in order to promote responsible dog ownership.

Release fee	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Standard	65	85	95	105	110	120	130
Subsequent Seizure	90	110	120	130	140	150	160

The owner of a stray dog is responsible for collecting their dog from the kennel and the kennel owner is not able to release the dog to the owner without sight of the Ashfield District Council release note.

If we do not have your dog

Our staff will retain all your contact details and the details you have provided concerning the description of your dog on a Lost Dog Report. All lost dog reports are referred to the Dog Control Officer at the earliest opportunity who will attempt to match the description of your dog to any dog collected as a stray.

Collars and tags

All dog owners have a legal obligation under the Control of Dogs Act 1992 to provide their pet with a collar and disc that identifies the owner's name and address, when in a public place. Dog owners that fail to provide their pet with a collar and disc can be prosecuted and fined in a Magistrates Court.

Stray dogs - prevention is better than cure

The best way to avoid the distress of losing your dog and avoid the risk of your dog sustaining injury is to prevent your dog from straying off your property in the first place. Things you can do include:

Ensuring that your garden fences are secure and that your dog cannot get through any gaps.
If you have a gate, keep it locked to prevent the accidental release of your dog or fit a self-closing device to the gate.
Ensure your dog is supervised by a responsible person at all times when out in public places
Keep your dog on a lead if it is nervous of traffic, people or other dogs.
Have your dog neutered or spayed to control the instinct to roam. (Ashfield operates a low cost spaying and neutering scheme)

Dog control services

Ashfield District Council offers a comprehensive dog control service for the residents of Ashfield, whether a dog owner or not. The service includes:

Dog fouling complaint investigation and enforcement
Stray dog collection and welfare
Investigation of noise complaints concerning barking dogs
Low cost spaying and neutering
Microchipping service
Educational materials
Responsible dog ownership educational talks and campaigns
"No Fouling" sign installation

For information on other dog control services or to discuss how we can help you, please telephone 01623 450000 or write to:

The Dog Control Officer
Environmental Health and Housing Services
Council Offices
Urban Road
Kirkby-in-Ashfield
Nottingham
NG17 8DA

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