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 to 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.
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 4.00pm - 11.00pm
Friday 6.00am – 8.00am then 3.30pm – 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.
If the dog is wearing a collar and tag, or it is chipped, it will be returned to the owner. If the owner is not at home, or the Dog Warden is unable to identify the address of the owner, the dog will be taken to the Council's pound.
The dog will be detained at the pound for a period of seven days. If the owner claims the dog within that period, they are required to pay a fine of £30.
If the dog is not claimed after the seven days, the owner loses all rights to the dog, and it will be found another home. Solihull Council has a policy of not destroying dogs, and the only time that this option is considered is if it is the opinion of a veterinary surgeon that the dog is dangerous, or 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/