Lost or stray dogs

Stray dogs

Provisions of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 place all responsibility for stray dogs onto the Local Authority. Any dog found wandering alone in a public place is classed as a stray and will be dealt with by the Dog Warden under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The police do not hold records or take reports from the public regarding strays.  

If you have found a stray dog, then by law you must report it to the council.

If possible, secure the dog in a safe location and then contact the council. We cannot collect dogs that have not been secured, or go out to sightings of dogs. 

During council open hours 

Monday to Thursday 8.45am to 5:00pm, Friday 8:45am to 4:30pm, phone 01353 665555. The dog warden will aim to collect the dog from you or will advise on alternative actions you can take. 

Out of council opening hours 

Outside the council opening times, bank holidays and weekends, please call 07710 978900 and the officer on call will give you instructions to take the dog to our designated kennels, or ask you to hold the dog until the next working day when the dog warden may be able to collect. 

The dog owner then has seven days to reclaim their dog, Any dogs unclaimed after the seventh day will be re-homed, and the original owner will no longer have any claim to the dog.

Lost dogs

Ring the council offices to see if your dog has been handed in, or complete our report a lost or found dog form (external link). The council will require a good description of your dog and your name and address. Details will then be matched with reported strays.

It is also worth ringing around local vets and animal shelters, to see if your dog has been handed directly to them. You can contact Wood Green Animal Shelter on 0300 303 9333.

Check your local area, including the route you normally walk your dog along.

If you live near the East Cambridgeshire border, ring the neighbouring council’s dog wardens in case your dog has been picked up in a different district.

Call the micro chipping company to report the dog as lost or stolen,  do not forget to update them if or when you find your dog.

Stray dog fines

The council is entitled to charge all expenses reasonably incurred, which includes one or more of the following:

  • Statutory fee: £25.00
  • Administration fee: £10.40
  • Kennelling charge: £16.80
  • Transfer to Wood Green: £42.00
  • Stray dog collection: £52.00

You will not be entitled to get your dog back unless you pay the appropriate charge first and you will be expected to collect your dog from the kennels. Details and directions of the holding kennels will be given once full payment has been made.

Contact numbers

Dog Warden (inside normal office hours): 01353 665555
Council Offices (outside normal office hours): 07710 978900