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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

DogsBestFriend, what's the law on finding strays?

13 replies

DooinMeCleanin · 27/07/2011 12:01

I know you have posted about lots of times, iirc you have to contact the dog warden but do not have to hand the dog over, yes? Then what?

My Dad and sister have found a stray at the beach. They are taking him to be scanned for a chip but with no collar or tag they are not hopefull. They want to keep him if no owner can be found.

OP posts:
DogsBestFriend · 27/07/2011 12:37

Yep, but if your council are as shit as Weardale was you'll have an argument on your hands!

You must by law report to the council. You don't have to hand him over but you must:

  1. Do your best to find the owner and hand over if he turns up.
  1. Keep the dog for at least 28 days and not hand him to anyone other than the owner (or of course the DW). You can stretch this - I've known those in your dad's situation to hand the dog to rescue with the ok from the DW, depends on the DW's willingness to stretch the law and his relationship with the rescue.

The only way the council can stop your dad from doing this is if they have very reasonable grounds to believe that the dog's welfare is at risk. So, they can't argue with him. :o

If pooch is well cared for and you WANT his owner to be found I'd also suggest you call the police and report him as found. You don't have to and they'll doubtless tell you that but insist as many folk still think that the police are the first people to call when they've lost a dog.

Will find the relevant law in a mo, back soon!

DogsBestFriend · 27/07/2011 12:43

Here you are!

Original poster
DooinMeCleanin · 27/07/2011 12:49

My sister has just been to pick up a spare collar from me. They've been to the vets. He is not chipped. The vet seemed quite savvy on the law and is the same vet who treat the Staff they took in from the pound. They now have her mobile number and she will deal with the DW if she tries to take the dog away. There is no way in hell my Dad would let the dog go to the pound after what their Staffy went through, so it's the pound who will have a fight on their hands Grin

According to my sister they are going to phone who they absolutely have to phone, then they are going to sit back and hope no-one comes forward Hmm, although given the breed of the dog and the fact that it is not nuetered, chipped or with any collar or i.d tags, it is probably more a lucky escape than anything else.

OP posts:
DogsBestFriend · 27/07/2011 12:51

Wink That's what I meant about whether or not your family wanted the dog to be re-united!

So c'mon, what is he then? Lurcher? Rott? Mastiff? GSD? SBT? :o

Original poster
DooinMeCleanin · 27/07/2011 12:55

Lurcher, but crossed with something huge according to the vet and my Dad. Given that he still aches for a wolfhound or something similarly huge I very much doubt that 'The Duke' will be going anywhere.

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DogsBestFriend · 27/07/2011 12:59

Oooooh! Crossed with something huge is good! My kinda dog! Sounds lovely.

coccyx · 27/07/2011 19:54

hope you get results you want.

MotherJack · 27/07/2011 20:26

Fingers crossed for your dad, Dooin. If my (albeit failing) memory serves me correctly, I think he needs a bit of luck.... and maybe it was fate on both sides

TidyDancer · 27/07/2011 20:41

Oh I really hope this works out! We have a fantastic DW in our area, who would do anything for any animal. I know how lucky we are.

Fingers crossed!

Original poster
DooinMeCleanin · 28/07/2011 12:28

The vet rang the dog warden. No-one has contacted my Dad about the dog, so the DW must be happy for the dog to stay there. No-one has reported any missing dogs of that description to the council or any vets yet. If they were bothered surely they'd have rang somewhere by now?

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Cheria · 28/07/2011 12:36

Hope this works out and you get a happy ending for the stray

Scuttlebutter · 28/07/2011 13:45

Hi Dooin, just to say that the owner MAY have contacted a DW, just not the one in your area. One of the things that I find utterly baffling and depressing is that DW in any particular Council area is under no obligation to pass on or share any details of lost/found dogs to any other Council areas. And the majority don't. If you live in an area which has more than one Council area in your vicinity (within a 10 mile radius, say) it is worth contacting ALL potential DWs in that area. Dogs can wander, can be dumped, can run off while on a day trip to the seaside, all kinds of things.

In your case, it will probably work out to this dog's advantage, as your dad is going to give them a wonderful home, but when anybody loses a dog, we always advise to ring lots of Councils. To make things even more complicated, not all Councils will scan strays and even if your dog is wearing ID, you may not be contacted if it is found.

Original poster
DooinMeCleanin · 28/07/2011 13:59

AFAIK our pound covers a few neighbouring towns. I'll ask my Dad to check with the vet and ask who she rang.

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