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Lost and Found Dogs
We have a duty to deal with stray dogs that are becoming a nuisance or a danger on the road.
If a dog is caught straying, we will try to trace the owners and return it.
Otherwise it will be taken to the local dog rescue home.
If you need help contact us:
Telephone: 01327 322322
Email: environmental.protection@southnorthants.gov.uk
What if my dog is lost outside South Northamptonshire?
Owners are encouraged to report lost dogs to the local authority so that we can help find them. If your dog is lost outside the district you will need to contact the relevant council:
- East Northamptonshire Council
Telephone: 01832 742068
Email: environment@east-northamptonshire.gov.uk - Northampton Borough Council
Telephone: 01604 837837
Email: enquiries@northampton.gov.uk - Daventry District Council
Telephone: 01327 302485
Email: healthimprovement@daventrydc.gov.uk
What do I do if I find a stray?
If you find a stray dog, you should under the law:
- return the dog to its owner
- contact council for the area in which the dog was found
If the finder fails to take one of these courses of action, he will have an offence and would be liable, upon conviction, to a fine.
You may be able to keep the dog once efforts have been made to find it owner. If the finder requests to keep the dog, he must supply the officer with his contact details and details of the dog. The officer is required to keep a record of these details. Regulations require that the officer makes appropriate enquiries to ascertain that the finder is a suitable person to keep the dog.
The finder must then be informed verbally and in writing that he is obliged to keep the dog (if unclaimed by the owner) for not less than one month and that failure to comply with that obligation is a criminal offence.
In the past, anyone finding a stray dog outside normal working hours would have to take it to a police station. As of 6th April 2008 anyone finding a stray should either take the dog to the Council's acceptance point for stray dogs or contact the council to report the contained dog.
The contact details for a stray dog during office hours (Monday to Thursday: 8.45am - 5.15pm and Friday: 8.45 am - 4.45pm) is on the Council's main telephone number 01327 322322.
The contact details for the Council's acceptance point for stray dogs is:
Forest Lodge Kennels, Forest Road, Quinton, Northampton, NN7 2EQ. 01604 862239.
These kennels are open 7 days a week between 8am and 4pm.
For a stray dog out of normal office hours the public can call 0800 160 1022. This is the Council's emergency environmental health and flooding service. It must be noted that an officer is not on 24 hour call to attend to a stray dog, however, arrangements can be made with the operator for collection of the dog immediately the next working day.
Identification tags and chips
Dogs must wear a collar and tag when in a public place and you can be prosecuted if you do not do this.
The tag (or similar method of identification) should include your name and address and contact telephone numbers. This helps finders re-unite you with your lost pet.
You can micro chip your dog so that it can always be identified. The permanent chip is easy to update if your details change and can be read by a scanner.
For more information about Stray Dogs:
Contact Environmental Protection
Telephone: 01327 322322
Email: environmental.protection@southnorthants.gov.uk