Dog Law Advice

Stray Dogs - 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.

The Police will no longer be accepting stray dogs from members of the public as sole responsibility now lies with Local Authorities in England and Wales.

If you find a stray dog, you will need to contact your local authority (council) and not the Police. (Dangerous dogs will still be handled by the Police.)
Your Local Authority will advise you where to take the dog or whether they can arrange collection of a found dog.

You will no longer be able to take a found dog to your local police station. The Police no longer have a duty to accept or collect a stray dog.

DEFRA Guide:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/localenv/dogs/pdf/straydogs-guidance.pdf
Guidance on Stray Dogs – DEFRA October 2007 PDF 110 KB

Further advice on lost and found dogs from EDDR

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