Stray Dogs
We collect stray dogs from the highway and other public places, and also from any local residents or the Police stations that are holding a stray dog.
We take any stray dogs to our kennels, where they can be cared for until they are reclaimed or re-homed.
We collect hundreds of stray dogs each year, and information about the dogs we collect and how we dispose of them can be found here. To see data collected by the RSPCA about the national stray dog picture, try the RSPCA| website .
What to do if you find a stray dog
If you find a dog, you are required by law to inform the council so that we can add the details of the dog to our Stray Dog Register (which we are required by law to keep). We can then collect the dog from you and take it to our kennels.
If you want to keep a stray dog that you have found, you can sign a "retained dog" agreement with us. However, all costs of caring for the dog then fall to you, and if the owner of the dog makes an enquiry and can prove that the dog is theirs, you must hand it over. If, however, the owner does not claim the dog within 28 days, you can rightfully claim the dog as your own if you wish.
Re-homing dogs
Unfortunately, we are unable to re-home dogs that can not be cared for by their owners.
We are sometimes asked to collect dogs as alleged strays that are obviously owned by the person asking us to collect the dog. We therefore ask everyone handing us a stray dog to sign a form confirming that they are not the owner, and we may also ask neighbours etc to see if they know the dog.
We may also consider cases where owners attempt to abandon their dog to see whether we should prosecute the dog owner for abandonment under animal welfare legislation.
Reporting lost dogs
If you have lost a dog, you should contact our dog warden as soon as possible.
We keep a record of dogs lost and found in the Torfaen area where these are reported to us, and our staff will be pleased to check this record for you if your dog has been lost.
If the dog is reported missing to the Animal Warden before it has been found, we will try to return it to you without any penalty providing it has not been returned to you before. If the dog is found and you cannot be contacted, then your dog will have to be taken to the kennels to be looked after, and all usual charges will be payable.
If a dog has been micro-chipped, our animal wardens can trace the owner of a dog if it is caught. Torfaen County Borough Council offer low cost events where Torfaen residents can get their dogs micro chipped – contact us for details or see your local press. Alternatively, many vets offer low cost micro-chipping when vaccinating or neutering dogs.
Claiming your lost dog
If the Animal Warden has picked up your dog and taken it to the kennels, we will normally try to contact you by letter and/or phone, providing your dog is micro-chipped or has a name tag. We do not re-home any dog until we have tried to identify and contact the owner, and until at least 7 days has passed.
If you reclaim your dog, you will be asked to pay our collection fee (which includes a fixed £25 fine, as laid down in the legislation), any veterinary bills and the kennelling fees for the days that your dog has been cared for. However, our collection fee/fine will be halved if you collect your dog on the first day or if you can prove that you are on certain benefits. (View details of our Fees|)
We will happily discuss payment by instalments for those people unable to pay the fees. However, this option is only available the first time a dog is impounded as a stray.
We are entitled to dispose of any dog that remains unclaimed after 7 days, whether or not we have been successful in contacting the owner. The owner remains liable for any outstanding fees, veterinary bills etc.
Wherever possible, dogs that are not claimed will be handed over to a re-homing charity, who work with us to make sure as many dogs as possible find good homes.
If a stray dog is ill or injured, we make sure that it is seen and treated by a vet. We try not to have any dogs put down, unless they are very ill, are deemed to be dangerous, or cannot be re-homed by our charity partners – and we always take the advice of a vet before we take this step.
A Summary of Stray Dog Figures| can be viewed here.
Contacting us
If you have lost or found a dog in the Torfaen area, you should contact our Animal and Pest Control Service on 01633 647621 / 647622, or alternatively visit the page for more information.
You can also contact our Kennels directly by telephoning 01495 244686 (daytime only).
Our Fees
We make a charge for impounded stray dogs – download a copy of the Fees| here.