Stray Dogs

Stray dogs can cause a number of problems, they can be responsible for road traffic accidents, can be a nuisance and even bite people, worry animals, and defecate in public places.

Finding a Stray Dog

If you find a stray dog, the Environmental Protection Act 1990 requires that you do one of the following:

• Return the dog to the owner, or
• Request that the Council's Dog Warden collect it, or
• You can take the dog directly to Birmingham Dogs Home. You will need a Solihull Council stray dog reference number which can be obtained from the number below.  We will need to advise the dogs home of your intentions.  There is no out of hours collection service.

If you find a stray dog out of hours, you should do one of the following:

• Keep the animal until the next working day and request the Council's Dog Warden to collect it.
• If this is not possible, there is a facility to which dogs can be taken out of hours. (There is no out of hours collection service). For the out of hours facility telephone 0121 704 8000 and listen to the recorded message. This facility is open:
  Monday to Thursday  6.00am - 8.00am then 6.00pm - 11.00pm
  Friday 6.00am – 8.00am then 6.00pm – 11.00pm
  Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays 6.00am - 11.00pm

To report a stray dog, you can use our online report form (attached on the right) or telephone us on 0121 704 8000.

Losing a Dog

If you lose your dog, the Council may help you find it. Telephone Environmental Health with the details of the dog and its last location as soon as possible. We will then contact you if it is found. You may also wish to register is as lost with Petsearch (UK).

Dog Warden Service

The Council has a duty under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to seize and detain stray dogs. Outside of normal working hours, you will need to deliver the dog to the reception centre or keep the animal until the next working day. The Council has an officer within Environmental Health that will respond to reports of stray dogs, by attending the area, and once found, seizing the stray dog.

The stray dog is taken to Birmingham Dogs Home where it is checked for identification.  If possible the owner will be contacted and arrangements made for the aninmal to be collected. There is a statutory fine of £25 payable on claiming your dog. 

If the dog is not claimed after the seven days, the owner loses all rights to the dog, and if possible it will be rehomed. Solihull Council has a policy of not destroying dogs however destruction is only considered where the dog  is considered dangerous, or is being caused unnecessary suffering.

Identification

It is a criminal offence under the Animal Health Act 1981 to allow a dog to be in a public place without a collar and tag, and the maximum penalty is £5,000. The tag should contain the name of the dog, and details such as the address and telephone number of the owner.

Stray Dog Register

The Council maintains a public register of stray dogs. The register contains details of every dog seized and detained, and the fate of the dog. The register is available for inspection

Pet Search (UK)

Petsearch (UK) was founded in Solihull by Paula and Harry Greaves in 1990. They set the charity up because in some parts of the country, dogs were being destroyed, as their owners were unable to locate them within the seven days following the dog being seized and detained.

They felt that a central register was required to hold information about lost and found pets in order to reunite them with their owners. They undertook to provide this valuable service, for free, seven days a week. Since then, the demand for the service has escalated that volunteers were sought from around the UK. There is now a national network of people involved in Petsearch (UK).

There are two Petsearch (UK) volunteers in Solihull, and they can be contacted at:

Solihull Area 0121 743 4133

Balsall Common Area 01676 540341

Or you can visit their website at http://www.ukpetsearch.freeuk.com/