If you let your dog out on its own onto public roads or a public place like a park, it is a stray. We have a duty to seize and detain any dog found without its owner that is considered to be a stray.

Dog owners have by law to ensure that whenever their dog goes out into a public place it must wear a collar, with the contact details of the owner clearly marked. Even if your dog carries an identi-chip or ear tattoo you are still required by law to provide your dog with a collar bearing the correct identification mark.

If we can identify the owner quickly we can contact them and tell them we have found their dog. If we are successful there is normally no charge for a first offence.  If we fail to contact the owner, or the dog carried no identification, then it will be taken to the kennels. If possible we will then contact the owner telling them where their pet is, they will then be able to pick it up once they have paid the fines and any other costs that are due.

What do I do if I find a Stray?

You can do one of two things:-

During working hours Torbay Council’s Dog Wardens will come out and pick up the dog from you. They can be contacted by telephone on (01803) 208025.  The Police no longer deal with stray dogs. Any dogs therefore found out of office hours are collected from a pre-designated location and taken to the kennels.

In the period between Christmas and New Year, the telephone lines will be answered from 9:00 to 14:00 (28-30 December 2011)

Contact the following to see if you dog has been found:

Details will be taken if your dog has not been found, so we can contact you if we receive any further reports.

Kennel staff will examine the dog and contact a vet if required and scan the dog to check if it has an identi-chip.  The dog will be held for eight clear days for the owner to claim it. After this time it is taken over by an animal charity who pays for it to be cared for at the kennel until a good home can be found for it. Sadly it may be necessary to put the dog to sleep but this is a very rare thing in Torbay, and almost all of the dogs that are not claimed are re-homed.  Unclaimed dogs are only put to sleep if they are too sick or too dangerous to be re-homed and this is only done on the advice of a vet.

Contact Foredowne Kennels  at Kingskerswell to check if your dog is with them.  The kennels are open every day except Christmas Day and Boxing Day from 9.00 am to 5.00 p.m.  Find out how much there is to pay to get the dog released. Check that the kennels will be open at the time you want to pick up the dog and take proof of your identity with you.

At the Kennels you will be asked to sign a release form stating that you own the dog, or that you have the owner’s consent to claim the animal. Details of the owner’s name and address must be given.  Pay the release fee to the kennels, either in cash or by cheque. This will cover the fine for the dog straying plus all costs involved with the pick-up and care of the dog.  The dog is the responsibility of Torbay Council and the kennels will not release it unless all of the above conditions are complied with.

If you can not pay the associated bill, please contact Community Protection on 01803 208025. A payment plan maybe established by Direct Debit, as long as 50% of the bill or £50 (which ever is the greater) is paid up front to release the dog.  All payment plans must be agreed with Torbay Council and signed in advance of collecting the dog from the Kennels.

Contact the Community Protection Team Community.protection@torbay.gov.uk