Report a lost or found dog

If your dog is lost or you’ve found a missing dog, report it to the animal wardens and find out how to reclaim a lost dog.

Report a lost dog

If you've lost your dog, phone 01273 294 266 and select option 4 to report this to our Animal Wardens.

If someone then finds your dog, we’ll contact you.

If your dog goes missing after 4pm, phone 07827 967 088 to report it to our out-of-hours company, K9.

When you report a lost dog you need to tell us:

  • its colour
  • breed
  • name
  • where it was lost
  • if it had a collar
  • if it's tagged or micro-chipped

Report a found dog

To report a dog you’ve found, phone 01273 294 266 to let us know. If you find a dog after 4pm, phone 07827 967 088 to report it to our out-of-hours company, K9.

Please give us as much information as possible about the dog. An Animal Warden or K9 officer will contact you and arrange to collect the dog.

If you have any concerns about neglected, mistreated or abused pets or animals, contact the RSPCA. Phone 0300 1234 999 or use the RSPCA cruelty report form.

Reclaim your dog

The Environmental Protection Act 1990 gives us the power to seize and hold any dog that seems to be a stray. We can hold the dog until you pay the charge.

The charge for us to return your dog is £109 for the first day. The charge is still £109 even if we have only held your dog for part of the day.

This increases by £33 per day. We’re unable to return your dog until you’ve paid the charges by debit or credit card.

We can stop holding the dog after 7 days if you don’t claim it. We usually do this by re-homing the dog.

Microchip your dog

By law, dogs have to be microchipped by the time they’re 8 weeks old. 

You must register your pet’s microchip details on one of the authorised databases. You have to keep your pet’s details up to date with the database.

A trained professional, like a vet, must implant your dog’s microchip. The Dogs Trust and RSPCA can also microchip dogs.

When in a public place, your dog must wear a collar and tag with your name and address on it.

Find out more about how to microchip your dog from GOV.UK.