Stray dogs

A stray dog is defined as any unattended dog in a public place and a public place means on the highway and any other place to which the public are entitled or permitted to have access.

A dangerous dog is either a member of a breed that has been defined as a dangerous dog in legislation or it is a dog that is out of control and may have attacked someone causing physical injury. For more information read our Dangerous dogs leaflet. Dangerous dogs should be reported to the Police on 0845 125 22 22

If you have lost a dog

Please telephone Customer Services with a description of the dog, where it was lost, and the contact details of the owner.

If you have found a dog

Lost or Found Dog Reporting Form (This link will open in a new window)

The Council provides a service to collect stray dogs. As it is not a dog catching service, the dog must be tethered or otherwise confined so that the Dog Warden can collect it. If you have found a stray dog, please phone 01883 732841 during the hours of 8.30am to 3.00pm or fill in the form below.

Government guidelines on stray dogs say that the Council has to provide somewhere the public can take stray dogs out of normal office hours. For information on where a found dog can be taken to, please telephone 01883 722000.

What happens to the dogs we find

The Council will make reasonable attempts to notify the owner that they have seven days to claim the dog and pay any charges incurred. If the dog is claimed and the charges paid, the dog will be returned to the owner by arrangement with the Dog Warden during his working hours. If it is not claimed after seven days or the charges are unpaid, the Council may sell the dog, give it to a person who may care for it or to an establishment for the reception of stray dogs, or destroy the dog.

Dog owners need to bear in mind that microchips can only be read with a reader which people finding a stray are unlikely to have. It is, therefore, advisable to ensure that their dog(s) wear a collar and tag with their contact telephone number. If microchipped, the contact details need to be updated when the owner moves house or the keeper changes.

For further information please contact Customer Services on 01883 722000 or e-mail customerservices@tandridge.gov.uk

Or write to us at:
Tandridge District Council
8 Station Road East
Oxted RH8 0BT

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