Under the provisions of section 149 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 any dog found in a public place or on any other land or premises within the district may be seized and detained by an authorised officer of the council where there is reason to believe that the dog is a stray. The council’s dog wardens are authorised to discharge this function on behalf of the council.
To make enquiries about stray dogs during normal office hours please contact Environmental and Community Health Services on 01480 388302. The office is open Monday to Thursday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and Friday 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. The owner of a stray dog that has been detained by the council will have to pay the £25 statutory charge plus the council’s administrative and kennelling costs before the dog is released from detention. If a stray dog is ill or injured when seized or handed to the council and requires emergency veterinary treatment such costs will also be reclaimed from the owner.
Our administrative staff will advise on outstanding charges, how the debt can be settled and how to reclaim a stray dog after payment has been made. The details of all dogs seized or handed to the council are entered into a register that is held at the council offices during normal office hours. At weekends the register is held at Huntingdon leisure centre, St Peter’s Road, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, PE29 7DA, Tel: 01480 388600 (for leisure centre opening hours see link to the right of this text). The duty leisure centre staff will advise if the details of a particular dog have been entered in the register. They will also advise on outstanding charges, accept payments and provide instructions as to how to reclaim a stray dog when payment has been made.
If a stray dog is unclaimed after seven clear days the owner loses legal claim to the dog and it will either be re-homed or passed to an establishment for the reception and care of stray dogs.
New Arrangements from April 2008
The law regarding stray dogs changed on 6 April 2008 when section 68 of the 'Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005' came into force. This removed the duty of the police to seize stray dogs or to accept stray dogs brought to them. From that date local authorities are solely reponsible for discharging all stray dog functions while the police retain their duties with regard to dangerous dogs and dogs found to be worrying livestock.
Under the new arrangements the council must provide a service for dealing with stray dogs during normal office hours and an acceptance point where stray dogs can be taken outside normal office hours. This is the extent of the new duty on the council, it does not have to provide a round-the-clock call out service.
From 1 August 2009 the new arrangements will be in place for dealing with stray dogs out of normal hours as follows:
If you have found a stray dog outside normal office hours you may hold the dog in your possession overnight and contact the Council the next working day on 01480 388302. Alternatively, you may call Wood Green Animal Shelters at Godmanchester on (0844 248 8181) and make arrangements to take the dog to them for overnight safe keeping.
If you wish to enquire about a stray dog that may have been handed in to Wood Green Animal Shelters when the council offices are closed and therefore not entered in the stray dog register you should call Wood Green on (0844 248 8181). Please note that you will not be able to reclaim a stray dog from Wood Green Animal Shelters when they are closed to the public. Anyone who claims ownership of a stray dog will require evidence of ownership and proof that all outstanding fees and charges have been paid in full.