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

Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, all Councils must appoint a person to deal with stray dogs. At Ashfield we have a Dog Control Officer to carry out this duty. The Council also has a statutory duty to seize (collect) dogs which are straying in a public place.

Under the above Act, the Council is entitled to recover the costs of providing a stray dog collection service from the owners of dogs that are seized for straying. Select for release fees 50KB (updated Jan 2007)

On the first occasion a dog is seized, the Dog Control Officer will return it straight back to the owner, provided that the owner can be identified from either the collar and tag around the dog's neck or by scanning for a microchip. A dog will be taken to the owner's address but will only be returned if the owner is at home. A stray dog will not be returned into the care of anyone except the owner.

If the Dog Control Officer has to seize a stray dog on more than one occasion, the dog will be taken directly to boarding kennels for safekeeping. A stray dog will also be taken directly to the boarding kennels if the owner is not at home when the Dog Control Officer tries to return a stray or when the identity of the owner is unknown.

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

If a stray dog is collected that matches a description on a lost dog report, the Dog Control Officer will return the dog to the owner's address. If the owner is not at home we will make every attempt to contact the owner by telephone, using the number(s) supplied on the lost dog report. In the event that the owner cannot be contacted we shall take the dog to our kennel and the owner will have to pay the release fee at the Council Offices in Kirkby before the dog can be reunited with its owner.

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 Dog Control Officer as soon as possible on 01623 450000. You will be asked to provide the following details by our administration staff:

• 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 the

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 administration staff: 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 the Council offices at Urban Road, Kirkby in Ashfield, 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, kenneling 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.

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-see below for details)

DOG CONTROL SERVICES..FURTHER INFORMATION
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 contact 01623 450000

or write to:

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