Lost or stray dog service

Lost or stray dogs

We cannot assist with:

• requests to deal with dogs being left in empty properties (this is the responsibility of the property owner/landlord, person or body acting on behalf of the property owner)
• requests for re-housing dogs due to the owner not being able to look after the dog due to personal circumstances (for example ill health, imprisonment/being arrested)

Use the form below to report your lost dog who has gone missing or a stray dog that you have found. It will take 3 minutes to complete.

Report a lost or found dog

We deal with incidents of found/reported stray dogs between the hours of 9am until 5pm Monday to Friday

We collect straying dogs that are being held by members of the public and safely keep them for a maximum of 7 days for collection by the owner (subject to the payment of a fee).

If you have found a stray dog and would like to look after it whilst attempts to find an owner are made, then you MUST still report this to us. Our provider will discuss with you the options and legal requirements in relation to this, which may include a request for you to surrender the dog to our provider so initial checks can be made.

Returning of a stray dog:

Where we can identify the dog owner from an identification disc or microchip and can return the dog without it being taken to the kennels this incurs a fee of £47.50.

Where an owner cannot immediately be identified and the dog is transported for kennelling, release fees apply. Release fees are made up of a standard £84.00 plus £12.60 per day kennelling fee. Payment must be made prior to any dog being collected by the owner.

Contact us on 0300 123 5021.

Kennelling is charged from the day the dog is taken to the kennelling provider. After a period of 7 days the dog is then the responsibility of the kennel provider and they must be contacted directly during their opening hours to discuss the matter with them.

Stray dogs out of hours

There is no stray dog pickup service outside of normal working hours, however it may be possible to drop stray dogs at our kennelling provider during the times stipulated below. You must however phone ahead to discuss details and arrangements with the provider first as this might not always be possible.

There is no stray dog drop off service after 9pm at any time.

Any dogs found outside of the council’s Stray Dog Service normal working hours and before 9pm may be handed in to:

Acorn Kennels

Heath Road
Whitchurch
Shropshire
SY13 2AA

Telephone: 01948 662931 (8am-6pm daily) or 07870 217617 (6pm-9pm daily)

Dog identification

Your dog must wear a collar and tag by law when out in a public place, which includes contact details of the owner. This information will assist in the dog being re-united with its owner.

If we seize a stray dog, and we can't trace an owner, we will keep it in boarding kennels for a period of 7 days, then if not claimed, efforts will be made to re-home.

Since 1 April 2016 it has been a legal requirement for dogs to be micro-chipped, and the owner details registered on a central database. If you have not already done so, you should ensure your dog is micro-chipped. It is also important that you update/amend your details, eg if you move house.

A local vet can micro-chip your dog for a nominal fee.

Dog fouling

The Council have put in place Dog Fouling and Dog Control Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPO’s) across all areas of the borough that are open to public. Breach of these orders is a criminal offence.

The penalty for contravening the order can result in the issuing of a £100 fixed penalty notice, or prosecution in a magistrate’s court with a maximum fine of a £1000. More information on our PSPO’s can be found on the below link with details of how to report witnessed breaches of the relevant orders.

• Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPO's)

To report incidents of dog fouling/request a clearance of dog foul in public areas, use the link below:

Report dog fouling

Dangerous dogs

Cheshire Police deal with dangerous dog reports including dog attacks on people and on other animals. They can be contacted on 101.

It is advisable to contact your doctor or NHS direct if you have been bitten.

Four breeds of dogs are banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, they are:

• Pit Bull Terrier
• Japanese Tosa
• Dogo Argentine
• Fila Braziliero

Dog muzzles

If you know that your dog may try to bite people or other animals when in public, it would be sensible for it to wear a muzzle.

The magistrate’s court can order that a dog be muzzled if it considers that it has been out of control or has acted dangerously.

 A dog should never be left alone whilst wearing a muzzle.

Giving an unwanted dog a home

Contact Acorn Kennels using the details above. In addition City Dogs Home in Stoke-on-Trent offer a re-homing service. They can be contacted on 01782 304130.

Page last reviewed: 25 January 2024