Page maintained by
Environmental Health
Last updated: 11/1/2012
Expires: 6/8/2012
The Council's Dog Warden Service aims to help prevent stray dogs from being a danger in traffic or a nuisance to people. The Council has a contract with Noah's Ark Environmental Services Ltd to provide this service for them.
I've found a stray dog and taken it home - what should I do now?
I've seen a stray dog - what should I do?
I have lost my dog - what should I do?
What happens if I do not collect my dog within 8 days?
My dog got out of the house by accident - it wasn't straying!
Who do I report a dangerous dog to?
What can I do about Dog Fouling?
In particular, the service aims to deal with problems caused by the stray dogs and problems associated with dog fouling.
The first time a dog is caught straying, the dog warden will try to trace the owners and return it.
Where it is not possible to find the owner of the dog the animal will be taken to the Kennels used by the council where it will be kept safely for up to eight days.
Any complaint regarding dogs straying on school premises or interfering with the flow of traffic will be dealt with urgently.
Any complaints about a stray dog will be responded to as quickly as possible; the collection service will generally be asked to deal with the complaint within one hour of the complaint being received.
The Dog Warden will act in the strictest confidentiality and keep you informed about what they are doing.
In hours - 01785 619402
Out of hours - 01785 619170
For more information on stray animals please see the following page. You can also download the Stray Dogs Leaflet (pdf 14kb).
I've found a stray dog and taken it home - what should I do now ?
If the dog is wearing a collar and tag giving details of the owner's name and address, if possible, you should return it to that person otherwise you can contact Environmental & Health Services on 01785 619402 or by email at info@staffordbc.gov.uk.
The dog warden will arrange to collect the stray dog at a time which is convenient to you. After 5pm you can leave a message with the Council's Contact Centre giving your contact details and the Dog Warden will contact you early the next working day to arrange a convenient time for collection. Alternatively, Swan Pit Kennels is open 5.00 p.m. until 8.p.m. Monday to Friday and 9.00 a.m. until 12.00 p.m on Saturday and Sunday, and you can take a stray dog there yourself if you can't wait for the Dog Warden to pick it up.
If you wish to keep a stray dog you are legally required to notify the dog warden. You will be asked to sign a form agreeing to keep the dog for a minimum of 1 month unless claimed by the original owner. If, within this time you decide are you no longer able to keep the dog it must be handed over to the dog warden. You must not give the dog to family or friends because in the case of a dog being retained by the finder, the dog legally remains 'found property' and the original owner can reclaim it at any time. Therefore, the dog never truly becomes the property of the finder.
I've seen a stray dog - what should I do ?
Contact Environmental & Health Services on 01785 619402 or by email at info@staffordbc.gov.uk.
The more detail you can provide when reporting this will help us to successfully return the dog to its owner and hopefully prevent a reccurence. You will be asked for details such as:
If the dog is still straying the dog warden will attend between 9am and 5pm and attempt to seize the dog.
I have lost my dog - what should I do ?
You should contact Environmental Health on 01785 619402 as soon as possible to report that your dog is missing. You will need to give as many details as possible such as:
Dogs have been known to stray a considerable distance from home so we advise that you make enquiries in the surrounding areas or Boroughs.
If your dog has been seized by the Council's dog warden it will have been taken immediately to:
Swan Pit Boarding Kennels
Newport Road
Gnosall
Staffordshire
ST20 0EE
Tel: 01785 822221
You will need to collect it from the kennels within 8 days from the date it was seized by the dog warden. Before your dog leaves the kennels, you will be required to pay an administration fine of £25.00 plus any kennelling and/or veterinary charges that have been incurred.
What happens if I do not collect my dog within 8 days?
Seized dogs are taken to the kennels immediately and are kept for 8 days, after which time the former owner no longer has any ownership rights to the dog and attempts will be made to re-home stray dogs wherever possible, otherwise it may be destroyed.
My dog got out of the house by accident - it wasn't straying!
Any dog found wandering unaccompanied in a public place is classed as a stray and will be dealt with by the dog warden.
Who do I report a dangerous dog to?
All dogs which are dangerously out of control, or have attacked people or animals may be classified as dangerous dogs and must be reported to the Police.
If it is a dog which is straying in a public place or on a highway that is out of control, and is not accompanied by a responsible person, it should be reported to Environmental and Health Services on 01785 619402, who will advise on appropriate further action.
Notice is hereby given that Stafford Borough Council has made a Dog Control Order under Section 55 of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005. The order came into force on 11th February 2008.
The effect of the Order is to make it an offence for a person, who is in charge of a dog when it fouls on relevant land, to fail to remove the faeces from the land forthwith, unless that person has a reasonable excuse for failing to do so, or if the owner, occupier or other person having control of the land, has consented to that person failing to do so.
The Order does not apply to a person registered as blind under section 29 of the National Assistance Act 1948, or in respect of a dog provided by a prescribed charity and upon which a person relies for assistance due to a disability which affects his mobility, manual dexterity, physical co-ordination or ability to lift, carry or otherwise move everyday objects.
This Order will apply to all land, within the Borough of Stafford, which is open to the air and to which the public are entitled or permitted to have access (with or without payment).
Copies of the Order are available for inspection at the Council Offices, Civic Centre, Riverside, Stafford. Alternatively you can download it online (pdf 12kb).
What can I do about Dog Fouling?
Problems with dog fouling should be reported to Environmental and Health Services on 01785 619402 or email us at info@staffordbc.gov.uk. Further information can be found on the Animal Fouling webpage.
