Stray dogs

What do I do if I find a stray dog?

If it is safe to do so and you are confident, check to see if the dog is wearing any form of identification, if so return them directly to their owner.

If you can't reunite the dog with its owner, then you must contact Sunderland City Council straight away to arrange collection of the dog. You can do this by ringing the City and neighbourhood team and we will arrange for our dog warden to collect the dog as soon as we can and try to reunite it with its owner.

Our dog warden service operates between 9.00am - 10.00pm, Monday - Friday only.

Please remember that rehoming organisations cannot take strays directly off the street or from well-meaning members of the public except under certain emergency situations.

After a stray dog is reported

The Council has a duty to collect and impound dogs that are found straying in a public place and are not accompanied by their owner or a person in charge.

No other organisation or charity can collect a stray dog and you should not hand a stray dog over to anyone but the owner or the dog warden.

Once reported, the dog warden will collect the dog and will check to see if it has a microchip, or any collar/tag identification, required by law.

If the dog is microchipped it will hopefully be possible to establish ownership and to contact the owner to let them know their dog has been found.

If it is not possible to contact the owner or the dog has no accurate means of identification, the dog warden will take the dog to West Hall Kennels, Cleadon Lane, Whitburn.

After a stray dog is taken to the kennels

If a dog has not been claimed within 7 days of entering the kennels, it will be transferred to the ownership of West Hall Kennels who offer a re-homing service as part of their care programme.

Dangerous dogs

If you think the dog is dangerous, it should be dealt with directly by the Police.

It can be hard to define a dangerous dog, as it may simply be scared, hungry or feel under threat.

A dangerous dog is one that has already attacked, or puts a person in genuine fear for their safety, or the safety of others.

What should you do

If a dog has bitten somebody, attacked another dog or seems likely to attack, you should report it immediately to the Police on 101, only use 999 in an emergency (for example if the dog is actively attacking someone).

Why you shouldn't look after the dog in your own home

It may not be advisable to take a stray dog into your own home.

No assessment has been made of the dog's health or temperament and you could put yourself or your family at risk of injury or disease.

If you do take a stray dog into your home, then the law requires you to tell Sunderland City Council immediately. If you don't, you could be accused of theft.

What if I would like to adopt the dog?

Even if you are keen to adopt the dog, you will have to contact Sunderland City Council and wait the statutory 7 days period.

Sunderland City Council can then pass on your details to the kennels. If the owner is not found, you will be expected to go through the kennels normal adoption/rehoming process to assess your suitability.

If you wish to keep the dog in your home, you must inform Sunderland City Council.

You are legally obliged to provide certain information about the dog, with your name and address to Sunderland City Council and to keep the dog in your care for 28 days. You must not hand the dog over to any other person, organisation or charity during this period without informing the Council.

After this period you can keep the dog until such time that a person with proof of ownership claims them - this means legal ownership is not transferred to you and the original owner may demand the dog back at any time, no matter how long you have kept them or how much money you have spent on them

I have lost my dog

We recognise that losing your dog can be a traumatic experience, the dog warden may have picked up your dog and taken it to West Hall Kennels.

If you have lost your dog you should call West Hall Kennels to see if your dog has been taken there on 0191 5292369. Please call during these times Monday - Saturday 9am - 6pm, Sunday 9am - 12noon.

Any dog that's unsupervised in a public place may be taken by us. If your dog has a tag with contact details, or is microchipped, we will try to contact you. If your dog can't be taken straight home it will be taken to West Hall Kennels.

If your dog has been taken to West Hall Kennels you will be able to collect it and you will have to pay a release fee. The amount of the release fee will vary depending on how much time your dog has been at the kennels.

If your dog cannot be found at West Hall Kennels, please contact other kennel providers in the area, as a member of the public may have taken your dog directly to an alternative local kennel provider.

How to prevent your dog from straying

Ensure your property and boundary are secure and that fences are high enough to stop your dog from jumping over them. Having your dog spayed or neutered can also reduce the risk of straying.

It's against the law to let a dog roam or be dangerously out of control anywhere, and this law applies to all dogs irrespective of breed.

UK law considers a dog as 'dangerously out of control' if it makes someone feel worried about getting injured, or it causes an actual injury.

Dogs should always be walked and exercised with a responsible person present. Never allow your dog to wander, roam or exercise on its own.

Collar / Identification tags and microchipping

Legally, all dogs must wear a collar and identification tag with the owner's contact details.

Dog owners are legally required to have their dogs' microchipped so that if they become lost they can safely be reunited.

A microchip is a small electronic chip, around the size of a grain of rice, which is implanted under the dog's skin and contains a unique number that can be read by a scanner.

The dog owner's contact details relating to each number are logged on a central database, so should the dog ever go missing or be stolen it can be scanned by the authorities and returned to their owner swiftly and safely. It is vital that the owner takes responsibility for updating their details with the database should their circumstances change.

If your dog is found by the police or local authorities not to have a microchip, they will explain the benefits to you and give you a short period to comply with the law. If you do not comply, you will face a fine of up to £500.