Lost or stray dogs

Find out how to report a lost or stray dog to us and how to reclaim your dog if it has gone missing.

Reporting a stray dog

It is a legal requirement for all dogs in England to be micro-chipped. This ensures that the owner’s contact details can easily be traced if a pet is lost or stolen by scanning the small chip inserted under the dog’s skin.  

Dogs on a highway or in a public place must also wear a collar and an inscribed tag with the name and address of the owner on it. A dog owner can be fined up to £5,000 if their dog is not wearing any identification. 

Any dog found wandering alone in a public place can be classed as a stray. A stray dog may: 

  • foul on public land 
  • be aggressive and in some circumstances attack other dogs/animals or people 

If you find a stray dog or have lost your dog you can contact our dog warden service:

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