K9 Search UK

       Advice - follow these instructions, they may just help you


 FOR LOST DOGS

  • Dont panic!  Yes, its hard not to, but its important that you remain focused if you want to successfully find your dog.
  • If your dog is a certain breed its fairly easy to identify, however, problems can occur when you have a crossbreed. When making contact with people, rather than giving it a breed - describe the dog, specific markings or scars that makes your dog unique.  Eg: You know your dog as a German Shepherd Cross, but your dog actually looks like a black and tan collie cross - dont be tempted to label it with a specific breed.
  • Call your local authority dog warden (see our contact information page)
  • If your local authority uses a sub contractor to collect out of hours strays, ask your council for their contact details and call.  Some councils may not give out their details, in cases like this, ask the council to pursue on your behalf. But check back to ensure it has actually been done.
  • Even though the police are no longer responsible for stray dogs, contact your local station - they may still have a lost and found register.  If your dog is stolen, insist on a crime reference number.
  • Contact your local stray dog kennels.  (Contact information can be obtained from your local authority.
  • Contact your local RSPCA centre, if you dont have one contact the national number on 0300 1234999
  • Is your dog microchipped or tattooed?
    Find the paperwork and contact them as soon as possible.  Ensure that your details are upto date and add an emergency number (preferably a mobile or a number that will ALWAYS be answered).
  • Now get creative - POSTERS!  No need for it to be fancy, your time is better spent putting up posters rather than creating them.  All you need is A4 paper, a good photo of your dog, a large black marker (dont be tempted to use other colours as they fade in the sun) some cheap clear wallets, sellotape/bluetac

         MISSING   

      07123 123456

    Make up your poster, you can either print them yourself or take the original to your local library or copy shop for larger quantities. For outdoor posters, place each poster in a plastic wallet, seal the open end with sellotape.

    Now - where to poster?
  • Always observe local byelaws on fly postering, do not use nails or staples to attach posters to trees, be good to your environment.
  • Local shops, specifically pet shops, fast food shops, supermarkets etc.
  • Vets, you can take local ones by hand. Vets further away you can send by post.
  • Ensure your local stray kennels have one.
  • Local rescues and animal welfare organisations.
  • Local schools - children are always the first to spot a cute dog.
  • Hand to postmen, binmen, taxi drivers, all local door to door delivery persons.
  • Display in your own and other family members cars.
  • Dog grooming businesses.
  • Local pubs, clubs and recreational sports centres etc.
  • Place a lost advert in your local newspapers, there is normally a charge for this.
  • You MUST visit the stray kennels routinely
  • Stray dogs are killed on roads, on railway lines and in rivers/canals.  So check with your local Highways Agency, Network Rail and British Waterways.

     

 
FOR FOUND DOGS

  • Your own safety is paramount, do NOT attempt to mess around with any dog that is showing signs of aggression or is fearful.
  • If you have children please do NOT allow them to play with a found dog, its from an unknown background and may not like children.
  • If your found dog appears friendly towards other animals still be observant.  And remember the found dog may have an underlying illness so unless your pets are fully vaccinated, please keep them apart.
  • If the found dog is wearing a collar, check for a tag with owners details.  Also check for handwritten contact details on the actual collar inside and out.  If you are fortunate enough to find contact info, please call the owners a.s.a.p.
  • Carefully check for tattoo markings on the inside and outside of the dogs ears.  Maybe worth checking the inner rear thighs too.
  • You have done everything physically possible to find the owner yourself now you have to seek the help of a vet.  Take the found dog to any vet to check for a microchip.  This should be free of charge.  If a chip is found the vet will contact Petlog for owners details, either Petlog or vet will contact the owners.
  • No chip, no tattoo, no collar/tag - time to call the dog warden!  Please contact the local council offices for the area in which the dog was found.
  • Contact local stray kennels and ask them to check their register for any possible matches.
  • Look out in local shops and newspapers for missing dog posters. Place a found posters adverts in shops and newspapers.
  • Once you have exhausted all lines of enquiry, do not be tempted to keep the stray without consultation with the local area dog warden.  You could face prosecution and a hefty fine.
  • Many finders do not notify dog wardens because they fear a dog will be put to sleep once it goes into kennels.  All stray dogs are entitled to 7 clear waiting days before their future can be decided.  Remember if an owner is looking for their dog, the first place they will visit is their local stray kennels.  After the 7 waiting days, a dog maybe either rehomed or put to sleep. Most kennels in our region only put dogs to sleep for medical reasons and on a vets recommendation or a dog showing signs of severe aggression.  They maybe left with no alternative when they have attempted all avenues of rehoming, it really is not fair on a dog to be kennelled indefinitely.
  • If you wish to keep a found dog, you can do so with the consent of the dog warden.  You will be required by law to keep the dog for a period of one month.  However, after the one month passes, you will NOT become the legal owner.
    The true owner can request the return of their dog at any time, they only have to provide you with "reasonable costs".
  • If you want to keep the dog. but choose to allow the dog its 7 clear waiting days in kennels.  You can ask the dog warden to allow the dog to be returned to you.  Some councils will "gift" the dog to the finder (free from charge) however others may charge a minimal fee. Once the dog has cleared its 7 clear waiting day, the dog legally becomes yours.
  • Please do NOT assume that every stray is an abandoned dog.  Unlike the TV adverts, there may be an owner actually looking for the dog that you have found.  Also do not assume an owner is irresponsible, accidents do happen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stray Dog Law

Every found dog picked up by a local authority dogwarden and taken to kennels is given a minimum of 7 clear days before it can be rehomed or destroyed.

Stray dog fine - currently set at £25.00.  However, boarding costs, vaccinations and any necessary vets treatment will be an additional charge to the fine.  The longer a dog remains in kennels the higher the costs in reclaiming your dog.

If the 7 clear days pass, ownership of the dog transfers to the local authority or their kennels.

Finders wishing to keep a found stray rather than sending it to local kennels, must report it to their local authority dogwarden by law.  Finders doing this have to keep the dog at the registered address for a period of one month (28 day rule is incorrect).  During this period, the finder can only provide shelter, food and ONLY emergency vets treatment.  After the one month period has passed, ownership does NOT transfer to the finder.  An owner can come forward at a later date to reclaim their dog, the finder can only request reasonable costs and must return the dog to its rightful owner.

Rescues if you take in stray dogs as a finder and have notified your dogwarden.  Please discuss with your warden the implications of ownership (see above) after the waiting days have passed.

If a stray dog is found badly injured, upon a vets recommendation and consult with the local dog warden, it can be (without consent) humanely put to sleep to end further suffering.

Under the Control of Dogs Order 1992, all dogs must wearing a collar and identity tag.  The tag must show the owners contact information.  Failure to do so, could result in a prosecution and a fine of upto £5000.  A council can pursue a further prosecution if you allow your dog to repeatedly stray.

Local Dog Warden & Kennel Contact Information

Council Name

 Normal Contact No.

 Out of Hours No.

Kennels

 Birmingham 0121 303 9900 07500 553000 0121 643 5211
 Bromsgrove 07799 887536 01527 873232 or 01527 871565 not published
 Cannock 01543 462621

 01543 574480
 no calls after midnight

 01902 790618
 Coventry 0500  834333 02476 832208

 ring for more info

 Dudley 0300 5552345 0300 5552345 Ring Council
 Redditch 07799 887536 01527 67666 not published
 Sandwell 0845 3597501 0121 525 4688 not published
 Solihull

 0121 704 8369

 0121 704 6000 not published
 Telford 01952 384384 01952 541254 not published
 Walsall 01922 652210 01922 650000 01902 790618
 Wolverhampton 01902 551155 01902 552999 or 01902 425262 01902 790618

Local Rescue Centres Contact Information

Name

 Area

 Telephone Number

 Rover Rescue Bearwood 0121 420 1703
 SAD Rescue Oldbury 0121 423 1344
 Animal House Rescue Northfield 0121 475 8729
 RSPCA Shelter Barnes Hill 0300 123 0754
 RSPCA Hospital Barnes Hill 0300 123 0710
 PDSA Quinton Quinton 0121 422 2902
 PDSA Aston Aston 0121 328 1716
 Rosedene Animal Rescue Walsall 01922 627013
 Birmingham Dogs Home Birmingham 0121 643 5211
 Sunnyside Kennels Wolverhampton 01902 790618
 RSPCA Walsall Walsall 01543 454571
 Wythall Animal Sanctuary Wythall 01564 823288

Other Important Contact Information

 Name

 Telephone

 Email Address/Website

 Highways Agency 0121 335 8300 ha_info@highways.gsi.gov.uk
 Network Rail 08457 11 41 41 
 British Waterways 01827 252000  enquiries.westmidlands@britishwaterways
.co.uk
 Petlog 0844 770 5240 http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/petlog/

 National Tattoo Register

 01255 552455

 http://www.dog-register.co.uk

Other Local Lost and Found Listings

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