New legislation means that responsibility for stray dogs, including out of hours stray dog duties, transferred from Thames Valley Police to South Bucks District Council from 6 April.

The change is not only happening in South Bucks, but it is a national change as part of an amendment to the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005, which passes the responsibility of all stray dogs to local authorities.

Residents will not be greatly affected by this change in the law. The number they need to remember to call after 6 April, is 01895 837524 (out of hours) if they find and can contain a stray dog in their area. Anyone finding a stray or wishing to enquire about a lost dog during normal office hours please telephone 01895 837264. Our Environmental Health team will attend to your call.

Injured dogs found outside office hours can be handled as strays but may also be reported to the RSPCA. The police will still be responsible for dangerous and out of control dogs or dogs worrying livestock, and will still maintain a record of missing, stolen and found dogs reported to them.

Councillor Jennifer Woolveridge, South Bucks District Council's Portfolio Holder for Health and Housing says: "When residents contact the dog warden service, we would ask them to provide as much detail as possible such as the location of the stray dog and a description. During normal working hours (Monday to Friday) the dog warden service will try to locate dogs that have been seen wandering the streets, however, outside of these times the dog warden service will only collect stray dogs that have been restrained (e.g. contained in a property or garden).

"We would like to reiterate to dog owners that we do not collect unwanted pets from properties; the dog warden service only collects stray dogs found roaming the district."

To help stop dogs becoming a statistic, owners are being encouraged to take steps to ensure that their pets do not escape from their homes and end up as a stray. In addition owners are being asked to consider the following additional precautions:

Dog owners are strongly advised to ensure that their dog wears a tag bearing its name and address and preferably a telephone number at all times. Owners can be prosecuted if their dog is not wearing a tag in public places. Dog tagging means the animals can be returned to owners directly by the finder without council involvement. This would avoid the owners having to pay kennel release fees.

Micro chipping: Micro chipping services are available via local vets and animal charities, often at subsidised charges for those on low incomes. This is a simple permanent chip, which is inserted under the dogs' skin. A microchip can help identify a dog so that lost dogs can be quickly reunited with their owner.

Neutering: Subsidised neutering is also available via local vets and animal charities. Neutering helps prevent unwanted litters, which add to the problem of unwanted or stray dogs. Neutering has health benefits for dogs by preventing a number of common illnesses in both male and female dogs such as certain types of cancer.

For any further information, please contact Environmental Health on 01895 837264

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Publication date: 14 April 2008