Dog Owners Advice - Missing and Found Dogs Information

Information, Education & Advice - helping dogs in need

Missing & Found Dogs:

Every day many dogs will be lost and some will have been stolen.

Some dog thieves are opportunists others are working as part of organised gangs. Dog theft has increased dramatically recently and dogs have been stolen and even ransomed back to their owners, be vigilant and be very aware, specific breeds have been targeted and thieves continue to operate in many areas, both urban and rural.

Some simple steps to help keep your dog safe:

• Make sure your dog is wearing a collar and ID tag, this is a legal requirement (Control of Dogs Order 1992) and it is a simple measure which can help reunite you with your lost dog.

• Have your dog micro-chipped, it’s easily and cheaply done and where as your dog may lose (or have removed) its name tag, an ID chip will be permanent and a way for the finder of your dog to contact you. A small microchip with an ID code unique to you and your dog can be simply implanted into your dog; a special scanner reads the code and matches the code with your information stored on a national database.

Imagine your dog is lost or stolen and ends up miles away in an area not covered by your search, the presence of an ID chip could make all the difference. Remember to keep your contact/address details up to date. For further Information contact:

www.avidplc.com - AVID PETTRAC UK database. 24hr lost & found hotline – 0800 652 9 977

www.identichip.co.uk – over 1.2 million animals ID chipped in the country. Tel: 01904 487600 Fax: 01904 487611

www.petlog.org.uk – National Pet Identification database. Tel: 0870 606 6751

• Another form of identification is a tattoo, for further information visit http://www.dog-register.co.uk – The National Dog Tattoo Register Database and Enquiries: Tel: 01255 552455 Fax 01255 552412 email: tattoo@dog-register.co.uk

• Don’t leave your dog tied up outside the shop, you may only pop in for a few minutes, but that’s all it takes for your dog to go missing and unattended dogs are easy targets, including unattended dogs inside vehicles, at dog shows, events etc.

• Some dogs have been stolen from their owner’s gardens, make yours as secure as possible and keep gates securely locked. Check the condition of your fencing regularly especially after strong winds, increase the height if your dog can jump over-especially when enticed to do so, check your garden for areas where your dog could escape such as under hedges or through gaps alongside sheds etc.

• Dogs have been stolen from secure gardens, both rear and front – thieves have climbed over fences and gates – be vigilant.

• Be extra careful when you have visitors or workmen at your home, dogs can and often do escape through doors/windows which have been accidentally left open or opened as people come and go.

• Keep an eye on your dog if you let off leash-don’t let him/her run too far ahead and out of your sight.

• Does your dog come when called-if distracted? Dogs can be lost when they run off distracted and then loose their bearings, seek the advice of a training class/individual – before you let your dog off lead.

• Be careful when speaking to anyone you don’t know, don’t let strangers have information about your dog, thieves can be cunning and try to gain information during seemingly casual conversation.

• Change your dog walking routine, try to alter routes and times if possible. Maybe you could meet up with a friend and walk together -especially if you exercise your dog in more isolated areas.

• Keep several up to date colour photographs of your dog and note down any distinguishing marks, if you do loose your dog a photograph will be very useful.

When a dog is lost:

Stray dogs can be found by members of the public and used to be handed into their local Police Station, but a change in the law which came into effect in April 2008 means that the police no longer accept stray dog.

The local authority (dog warden) now has sole responsibility for lost and found dogs. Dogs will make their way to the local ‘dog pound’ - a kennels where dogs are held for a period of 7 days to give the owner a chance to claim them. Dogs should be ‘scanned’ to see if they have been micro chipped and checked for other means of identification in an effort to trace their owner.

Once the statutory 7 day period has expired and a dog hasn’t been claimed it can be either put to sleep, passed over to a rescue or re-homed directly from the kennels. Many unclaimed dogs are put to sleep every year.

Some stray dogs are kept by the finder, but the finder of a dog must report the dog’s details to the local Dog Warden. Please remember if you find a dog – the owner could be out there looking, the dog could have been stolen.

If your dog is Missing – Remember to Contact the following:

• Your local authority (council) – telephone your local authority for details, give full information, then contact Dog Wardens of neighbouring councils, don’t rely on communication between offices. Also look up your (& neighbouring) Local Authority web sites, they may have a section detailing found dogs.

• The Police.

From April 2008 Stray Dogs are no longer responsibility of the Police - Commencement of Section 68 of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 means that the Police no longer have responsibility for stray dogs; this change in the law came into force on Monday 7th April 2008. You will no longer be able to take a found dog to your local (or any) Police station - the Police no longer have involvement in lost and found dogs. Speak to your local authority to find out what alternative arrangements are now in place.

• The local dog pounds – ask your Dog Warden where stray dogs are taken to, e.g.:

Dogs found inside the M25 – London are taken to The Dogs Home Battersea, contact the lost dogs & cats line on 0901 477 8477. Visit www.batterseadogshome.org.uk

For Birmingham Dogs Home Telephone 0121 643 5211. Dogs are collected from police stations across the West Midlands area and brought in by Dog Wardens. 5500 stray dogs were handled in 2003. Visit www.birminghamdogshome.org.uk

For Manchester Dogs Home Telephone 0161 205 2874. Dogs are collected on a daily basis from Police Stations & Local Authorities in the North West of England. Visit www.dogshome.net

The Destitute Animal Shelter – Bolton Tel 01204 526486 if you have lost a dog. Visit www.animalshelter.org.uk

• Dog Rescues, starting with those nearest to you and then moving out further afield.

• If your dog is ‘purebred’ – contact all the breed rescues (listed on internet or contact the Kennel Club www.kennel-club.org.uk Tel 0870 606 6750) and leave your details with each one.

• Visit your local & surrounding veterinary surgeries, www.vetlist.co.uk and www.rcvs.org.uk are both useful for locating veterinary practices. Leave your details with each one, put up notices if they have a board in the surgery, use a recent photo of your dog.

• List details on the internet sites, including:

• You know your own area – visit parks, pubs and shops, talk to people working and living locally, spread the word, ask if you can put up posters, window cards etc.

• Contact any local dog training clubs and speak to the Instructor ask for permission to give details to those attending the class, find out who locally works with dogs as these people are often ‘in the know’, give posters/your details to dog walkers, pet sitters, boarding kennel staff, breeding establishments etc.

• Contact your local newspaper; see if they will run a piece, if not, you could place an advert. Try your local radio station too.

To help you find these contacts use the Internet, telephone directory, Yellow Pages, local library, citizens advice centres etc, if you are having difficulty or need assistance you can contact an EDDR helpline, tel. 0844 856 3303 or email help@endangereddogs.com

• Contact petshops and ask them to put up a poster and keep their eyes open incase anyone has a new dog they wish to purchase food or a new collar for.

Keep a record of who you have contacted, who you spoke to and the date – list your contacts for future reference.

What to do if you take possession of a stray dog:

Return the dog to the owner if known.

Contact your local authority Dog Warden and follow their instructions.

The Police no longer accept stray dogs due to a change in the law.

You could also take a note of the dog’s description and list the details on the web sites helping to re-unite dog owners with their missing dogs.

If you, the finder, wishes to keep hold of the dog – you must still report full details to your Local Authority Dog Warden – it is an offence not to do so. You will be issued with a ‘finder’s certificate’ and will need to keep the dog for a min. of 28 days during which time the owner can reclaim their property.
If you decide to keep the dog - you should take the dog to your local veterinary practice and have the dog scanned for an ID chip as soon as possible.

In Scotland a person who keeps a dog by virtue of this section (Environmental Protection Act 1990 c 43) for a period of two months without it being claimed by the person who has right to it shall at the end of that period become the owner of the dog.

Under the Environmental Protection (Stray Dogs) Regulations 1992, the following procedure applies where the finder desires to keep a stray dog:

4.—(1) This regulation prescribes the procedure to be followed by the officer for the purposes of section 150(2)(a) before a finder desiring to keep a stray dog is allowed to remove it.

(2) The officer shall make a clear and accurate record of the following matters in a permanent form suitable for reference purposes—

(a) a brief description of the dog, including its breed (if known), and any distinctive physical characteristics or markings, tattoos or scars;

(b) any information which is recorded on a tag or collar worn by, or which is otherwise carried by, the dog;

(c) the date, time and place of the finding of the dog; and

(d) the name and address of the finder.

(3) Where the owner of the dog can be identified and can readily be contacted, the officer shall make reasonable attempts to contact him, and, if appropriate in the circumstances of the case, afford him forthwith a reasonable opportunity to collect the dog.

(4) The officer shall make all such enquiries as he considers appropriate in the circumstances of the case to ascertain that the finder is a fit and proper person to keep the dog, and that he is able to feed and care for it.

(5) The officer shall inform the finder both verbally and in writing that the finder is obliged under section 150(3) 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.

If you have information which could be useful to add to this advice section – please email details to:
info@endangereddogs.com

Missing & Found Dogs:

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