Strays
This page explains what you can do if you have found a stray dog.
The Council is responsible for stray dogs found within the Borough of Reigate and Banstead (not the police).
Once a dog restrained in some way by a member of the public, our Dog Warden will collect it and if the owner is not immediately identifiable (such as by collar tag or microchip) take it to one of our kennels. The dog will be kept safely kennelled for a minimum of seven days.
During this time we make every effort to reunite dogs with their owners. After this week we will seek to rehome the dog through a charity or with residents on our waiting list who are seeking a pet. Very occasionally, when a dog's behaviour is too unpredictable, we sadly have to ask a vet to euthanase it.
If you have lost or found a dog, we need the following information to help you:
- where the dog was lost or found
- the date and time
- description, such as colour or markings, approximate age
- breed of dog (or type if unsure e.g. terrier) and its sex
- whether it has a collar or tag and any other details e.g. ear tattoo.
Then please choose one of the following options
In-office hours: 9am to 5pm, Monday - Friday
Call the Help Line on 01737 276000 or email customer.services@reigate-banstead.gov.uk. They will contact our dog warden who will be in touch with you as soon as possible.
Out of office hours: 5pm to 8.30am, weekends and bank holidays
Our Out of Hours lost or found dog service is run on our behalf by Crawley Borough Council.
Their contact number (only during the above hours) is 07831 553906.
Please leave a message with the information listed above and a duty officer will contact you to explain the next steps. This may be asking:
- your permission for the owner to collect the dog from you if it has been reported lost
- if you are happy to keep the dog until the following working day when the Reigate & Banstead Dog Warden will collect it from you
- asking you to bring the dog to Crawley Town Hall to hand it over to a Crawley Dog Warden.
Please note we do not have a dog collection service out of hours.
Owners please note
- You will be invoiced for all the costs that the Council incurs whilst your dog is in our care, together with a statutory handling fee. This includes kennelling and any essential vet treatment.
- The kennels we use are fully licensed.
- The kennels do not allow owners to collect their pet themselves; the dog warden will collect and return your dog on the next working day. This may mean that if your dog is lost on a Friday evening, the Council (and so likewise, the owner) will be charged for four days stay, as the kennel is not available to be booked out on the Monday morning.
The current Dog Control Fees and Charges are shown here.
The council not the police
Legislation changes in 2008 (Section 68 of the Clean Neighbourhood and Environment Act 2005) mean that the police can no longer accept dogs at police stations.
Related websites
Contact
Last updated : 30/11/2011
