Stray Dogs

The Council's stray dog kennels are based at Ninestones, Wishaw Lane, Curdworth B76 9EA - telephone 01675 470274. 

• See our Stray Dog Register - this is updated regularly, but please ring if you have lost a dog as it may take 24-48 hrs to be updated if its the weekend.

Stray dog release charges are £46.00 plus £11.00 per day in addition to any necessary veterinary fees.  Charges are non negotiable and must be paid in full and up front before the dog's release.  

If you have lost a dog and think it might be in our kennels, please contact the dog warden via the Council's switchboard (office hours 01827 715341, out of hours 01827 718086) - or the kennels directly**but not after 7pm please.  The kennels close by 7pm and will be unable to accept or release dogs after that time until 9am the next morning.  This is not an 'emergency service' and does not operate 24 hours a day, all year round.

Stray dogs are kennelled for up to 7 days, unless reclaimed, and are then normally rehoused through an animal welfare agency.  In exceptional cases such as injury or sickness or if a dog cannot be rehomed safely, a very small number of stray dogs have to be destroyed. 

Contact:

• Dog Warden 01827 715341 and out of hours EMERGENCIES ONLY 01827 718086
• Complaint about Noisy Dog/s 01827 715341

Dog warden services are provided by North Warwickshire Borough Council via an in house dog warden service. The Council is required by law [sections 149-151 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990] to appoint an Officer to deal with stray dogs.

The dog warden patrols the whole Borough responding to complaints and service requests as quickly as possible. Each month, new patrol areas are assigned and visits are undertaken including weekends. The geography of the Borough and nature of the job sometimes make an immediate response impossible, however, urgent calls are given priority.

Please ALWAYS SCOOP THE POOP

Dog owners should ensure that their pets wear an appropriate collar and identifying tag at all times. Dogs should not be let out unaccompanied, as they may;

• foul indiscriminately
• attack other animals / people or be attacked
• be stolen
• cause road accidents
• be caught by or given to the dog warden, or Police

The owners of a dog which causes or inflicts damage may be liable for a claim for compensation in respect of it.

If you have a complaint about a noisy dog please fill in our Pollution Control - Noise Online Form.

If you have welfare concerns about a pet shop, dog boarding or breeding establishment visit our Pet Shop Licensing page for more information.

If you have other welfare or cruelty concerns about a dog, contact the RSPCA on tel. 0870 444 3127.

Please, please, please ALWAYS SCOOP THE POOP. If you train your dog to go to the loo at home, well done. However, even a well trained dog can need a pit-stop whilst out exercising. Always carry poop-scoops.

What do we do?

Capturing and transporting stray and un-wanted dogs to kennels returning dogs not previously captured to their owners, where they can be identified (by collar and tag information, microchip implant or asking locally) advising on and enforcing dog related byelaws (e.g. no fouling, poop-scoop, dog ban and dogs on leads areas) and issuing £80 fixed penalty tickets to the owners of offending dogs giving talks to groups, including schools, on dog welfare and the work of the dog warden by law, the Council has to maintain a register of the stray dogs it takes to kennels and must inform owners where they can be identified as to the location of their dog.

What are the objectives of this service and its standards?
The Council has set as one of its objectives 'to operate a comprehensive pest control and stray dog service'. Performance standards have been set and are;

• to patrol the identified action areas during the times specified each month
• to respond to complaints of straying dogs within 4 hours [secured dogs] or same day [roaming dogs]
• to respond to complaints of fouling dogs within 5 days
• to respond to requests for signage within 10 days
• to respond to reports of dangerous dogs WITH THE POLICE within 1 hour

Some people ask if you can 'appeal' a fixed penalty notice (fine) for dog fouling or litter etc.. - the answer is "A fixed penalty notice (NOT a fine) for littering, or dog fouling, or many other things is like speeding. The recipient can choose to contest it (appeal if you like) by refusing the FPN or not paying it and then presenting their case in a Magistrates Court, with all the costs and risks associated with it. Paying the FPN is not an admission of guilt, but it offers an alternative to summons for prosecution, and avoids a criminal record or conviction. So there isn't an appeal as such, but if people wish to informally question the circumstances of the issue of the fixed penalty notice, they may do so to myself as service manager, preferably in writing or by Email but can speak with us first if appropriate. We can explain the evidence and have authority to discontinue action or recovery of that sum. Unpaid FPNs will usually result in a request for interview under caution or by post, when the alleged offender can offer their explanation from which a decision to summons or not will be made. That, effectively, gives two opportunities to 'appeal' before the case gets to Court."

Links to other information and resources/organisations

• For general advice on being a responsible dog owner, poop-scooping and barking dogs, try; www.defra.gov.uk/environment
• For more specialist and detailed information on dog care, breeding and showing, visit; www.the-kennel-club.org.uk/
• For animal welfare information, take a look at the RSPCA site ; http://www.rspca.org.uk/
• For specific information on dog welfare, try the National Canine Defence League at; http://www.ncdl.org.uk/

Request this service- or give us your feedback

Requests for this service can be made by telephone on 01827 715341, or fax on 01827 717914. You can also visit or write to this office or can request the service by Email, also, at environmentalhealth@northwarks.gov.uk

Comments on the service or complaints about it can be made by telephone to David Baxendale on (01827 719322), fax 01827 719225 or Email davidbaxendale@northwarks.gov.uk, or by writing to: The Housing Division , Council House, South Street, Atherstone, Warks, CV9 1AB.

If you could give a stray dog a home, tell the dog warden or contact this office. If you find a stray dog, look first if it has the owners details on a tag & if it doesn't, contact the dog warden / Council.  You may be able to take a found dog directly to the kennels - but ring them first.