Efforts to return strays to their owners dogged by lack of identification
The Council’s stray dog service has been inundated with calls from the public finding stray dogs over the last few weeks. In the month of March alone, 25 stray dogs were taken to the Council's Contract kennels, many with no forms of identification.
Sadly, many of the dogs could have been returned to their owners if their owners had just taken the time to either put a name and address on their pets collar or had their animals given a micro-chip identification.
The lack of any identification has meant that the council has only been able to reunite 50 per cent of the stray dogs with their anxious owners. As a result, there are many dogs currently in kennels that are desperate for a loving home.
Terry Ball, the council’s dog warden, has been extremely busy trying track down owners of stray dogs and it is proving a time-consuming and often fruitless task, because of the lack of identification.
If anyone is interested in giving a home to a dog from the kennels they can call the council on 01354 654321 for more details.
Peter Murphy, the Council’s Environmental Services Portfolio Holder said: “The Council is always looking at ways of educating
owners to ensure their dogs are micro-chipped, just in case they run off from their home. Unfortunately the recent high number
of stray dogs with no identification has resulted in our kennels having many dogs who need re-homing”.
“The Council’s contract kennels is now swamped with dogs who need a loving home so if you have been thinking of getting
a dog, then now is a good time to get one.”