Dogs
Find out how we can help with stray dogs, and the rules dog owners have to follow when out and about.
Lost and found dogs
If you have lost a dog
Call our Dog Warden to report that your dog has been lost. We will take the details of your dog in case someone finds them and reports it to us.
We’ll also contact our kennels to see if your dog has already been found.
Our stray dog register has details of the strays found in our area.
The Dog Warden is available during our office hours – 8:45am to 5:15pm Monday to Thursday, 8:45am to 4:45pm on Fridays.
Phone 01903 737755
If your dog is in our kennels or has been picked up by the warden, they will not be released without a fee being paid.
Kennel fees
| Time in kennels | Fee |
|---|---|
| Picked up but not kennelled | £80 |
| Up to 1 day - includes dog taken to the kennel but not kept overnight | £100 |
| Up to 2 days | £120 |
| Up to 3 days | £140 |
| Up to 4 days | £160 |
| Up to 5 days | £180 |
| Up to 6 days | £200 |
| Up to 7 days | £220 |
| Up to 8 days | £240 |
Accordion end
If you find a stray dog
If you have found a stray dog, you should always try to locate its owner yourself before contacting us.
If you cannot find or contact the owner, you can call our Dog Warden who will come and collect the stray.
The Dog Warden is available during our office hours.
Phone 01903 737755
During weekends the Dog Warden will be available to collect strays during the day.
Phone 01903 737500
The stray dog will be taken to kennels to be looked after until the owner can be found.
Please note our Dog Warden only provides a stray collection service.
Rules for dogs in public places
We have rules for dogs in public spaces to protect the health and safety of everyone. This is known as the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) Dog Controls.
If you're responsible for a dog, you must:
- pick up dog poo left by your dog in any public space
- keep your dog under close control
- keep your dog on a lead in all churchyards, cemeteries and anywhere signage says dogs must be on a lead
- not allow them to enter any children's play area or sport facility
- obey all signs that ban dogs from certain areas
Read the full Public Spaces Protection Order [pdf] 434KB.
If you’re caught breaking these rules you will receive a £100 fine, or if taken to court a fine of up to £1,000.
The law says your dog must be microchipped. They must also wear a collar or harness tag with your contact details on when outside the house.
Failure to follow the law not only risks prosecution but will also make it harder to get your dog back to you if it’s lost.
Out of control dogs
We cannot investigate reports of dangerous or out of control dogs.
If a dog has attacked a person, you should report this to the police.
If your dog has been attacked by another dog, this can be dealt with as a civil matter between you and the owner.
We recommend reading the following documents:
Dealing with dangerous dogs [docx] 62KB
What to do if your dog is attacked [docx] 20KB
Dog on dog incident witness form [doc] 58KB
Dog fouling and dog waste bins
We have 468 dog waste bins around the district. Please bag and bin your dog poo, or you could receive a fine.
If you find a bin that is full or overflowing, you can report it to us online:
If you find dog poo that needs cleaning up, you can also report this:
Dog barking
Every year, we receive on average almost 140 complaints about dogs barking.
Barking is normal behaviour for dogs and some breeds may bark more than others. Excessive barking, whining or howling can, however, impact people’s right to enjoy reasonable peace and quiet in their property. Dog barking can be unpredictable and it is often uncontrolled.
Why dogs bark
Barking often occurs when the owner is not at home, therefore they may not be aware that their pet is causing a disturbance to neighbours. Dogs need to feel secure; some dogs may therefore become stressed when they are left alone. Other triggers for barking include:
- boredom
- frustration
- guarding/protection
- excitement
When does dog barking become a nuisance?
A dog barking from time to time is unlikely to be considered unreasonable. If a dog barks for prolonged periods of time, at unreasonable times of day or night or if the barking is frequent or excessive, the disturbances could be considered to be a statutory nuisance.
How to control dog barking
Dog owners must ensure that barking is not occurring unreasonably. The dog may need to engage in a training programme or work with an accredited behaviourist. If the dog is lonely, leaving a radio playing quietly may allow the dog to feel that it is not on its own. If the dog is left for long periods, consider asking a friend or relative to visit the dog. There are also professional dog sitting and dog walking services available.
The Blue Cross has advice and information about ways to control dog barking.
Animal Welfare
Please contact the RSPCA if you are concerned about the welfare of the dog or think it might be barking because it is suffering.
Report Dog Barking
For more information or if a barking dog is causing an ongoing problem and you have not been able to resolve it by talking to the owner, you can report it to us.
Additional information about dealing with noise from neighbouring properties.