What to do if you find a stray dog
We will collect stray dogs that are confined and under your direct control and care.
To arrange a collection, call our contractor, SDK Environmental Ltd, on 03444 828320 24 hour a day, 7 days a week.
Collected stray dogs will be kennelled for seven clear days and if unclaimed will then be re-homed.
We operate a non-destruct policy and unclaimed dogs are only ever put to sleep if they have unacceptable aggressive behaviour or on veterinary advice are not suitable for re-homing.
A stray dog is a dog that is in a public place or a place it should not be without its owner. Merton Council has a duty to deal with stray dogs. The police have responsibility for dangerous dogs, which could be defined as a dog attacking another dog or other animal, or person.
What to do if you have lost your dog
If you think your dog may have been collected by the Dog Warden visit lostdogsuk.co.uk - this website has details of found dogs (click the Merton Council tab in the bottom right hand corner).
Details of dogs collected by our contractor are uploaded within 24 hours and if you do not have access to the internet you can call them between 08:30 – 17:00, and they will be able to check the website for you.
You can also contact the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home Lost Dogs and Cats Line
How to claim your dog
If we have your dog, you can reclaim it by calling our contractor, SDK Environmental Ltd on 03444 828300 between 08:30 – 17:00.
You will need to provide:
- proof of residential address (e.g. utility bill); and
- proof of ownership (e.g. kennel club registration, family pet photo, vet bill)
You will also be asked to pay a charge for the collection and kennelling of your dog as set out below.
Fees for claiming your dog
- Statutory Fee £25.00
- Collection Fee £120.00
- Returning your dog from kennels £30.00
- Daily kennelling fee £36.96 per day
SDK Environmental will collect fees due on behalf of Merton Council by debit or credit card.
If your dog has strayed and been involved in an accident or has been found to require veterinary attention, it may be taken to a vet. If this is the case, you will also be liable for the payment of the vet fees.
Preventing your dog from straying is the owner's responsibility. Remember it is a legal requirement that your dog wears a collar and tag bearing your name and address when in a public place. The penalty for non compliance is a fine up to £2000.
The law requires all dogs in England to be correctly microchipped; this will ensure that your contact details can be easily traced should your pet ever be lost or stolen. Remember to update your pet's microchip details when moving home or changing telephone numbers. Failure to correctly microchip your dog can result in criminal prosecution and a £500 fine.