The law requires local councils to treat unaccompanied dogs on public land as strays and to remove them because of the potential problems they can cause. 

Such problems include: 

Road traffic accidents. Straying dogs often wander onto roads putting pedestrians, drivers and the dog at risk of serious injury or even death. 

Aggression. An unaccompanied dog is an uncontrolled dog. It may be friendly but if it barks and jumps up, people can feel frightened and intimidated. 

Ill health. Dogs that are not wormed regularly may have organisms in their faeces or on their coats that can cause problems ranging from stomach upsets to blindness. 

Unwanted litters. Letting dogs roam around leads to unwanted puppies. 

Spoiling the local environment. Dog faeces on streets and grassed areas, especially where children play or people enjoy walking, is a cause of major complaint and is simply not acceptable. 

A dog owner who lets their dog out to roam must take responsibility for it and the Council has a strong enforcement policy for dealing with problems caused by irresponsible dog owners. 
 

Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 
A person in charge of a dog has a duty to remove faeces from public areas, including back lanes, grassed areas, parks, streets, cemeteries and play areas. 

If the faeces are not immediately cleared away, you will be issued with a £50 Fixed Penalty. If you don’t pay the £50 within 14 days, you may be prosecuted. If you are found guilty, the magistrates can fine you £1000 (plus costs) and you will have a criminal record. 

Dog owners who let their dogs out to roam are still responsible for it - so even if you are not with your dog at the time, you will receive a £50 Fixed Penalty Notice if it is seen fouling. 

Address details on dog collars 
The law also requires a dog to wear a collar with its owner’s name and address on it or on a plate or badge attached to the collar. Not doing so is an offence with a maximum penalty of £5,000. (Please note, micro chipping does not exclude a dog from this requirement). 

If a dog is wearing its address details on its collar, then on the 1st occasion that the dog is found straying, the Dog Warden will try to return it. 

If a dog is micro-chipped, the kennel staff will try to contact the owner within 24 hours of the dog being taken to the kennels. A £35 charge (+ VAT), daily kennelling fees and any veterinary fees must be paid before any dog that has been taken to the kennels can be reclaimed. 

Where is a stray dog taken to? 
Dogs found straying in Gateshead are taken to the Newcastle Dog and Cat Shelter. 

Dogs collected between 9:00am - 5:00pm go to Benton North Farm Kennels (Tel: 0191 215 0435) Dogs collected between 5:00pm – 9:00am go to Claremont Road Kennels (Tel: 0191 232 2878) 

How long is it kept there? 
The law requires that the Local Authority kennels the dog for seven days. 

What happens after the seven days are up? 
After seven days the dog legally becomes the property of the kennels. 

The kennels can then either: 
 

• Re-home the dog to a new owner. It is policy not to re-home the dog to the area where it was found straying. 
• Keep the dog at the kennels. 
• Further to veterinary advice, the dog may be put to sleep. 
• How can you find out if your lost dog has been found? 
• You can contact the Dog Control Service to see if we have picked up a dog that matches your dog’s description. However, don’t forget a member of the public might also have found your dog and handed it in. So, the best way to check if your dog has been found is to visit the kennels. Contact the kennels first (telephone numbers as above). The details of all stray dogs taken to the kennels are kept on a Stray Dog Register. 

How does the owner reclaim the dog? 
If someone loses a dog they have the responsibility of checking with the kennels. It is always best to visit the kennels to see the dogs, as verbal descriptions over the telephone may not be sufficient to identify the dog. Before a dog is reclaimed, a £35 charge (+ VAT), daily kennelling fees and any veterinary fees must be paid. 

Can a person who finds a stray dog keep it? 
The law requires that if a member of the public wants to keep a stray dog, then they must give the dog’s details to the Police. (It is an offence not to do this). The owner has 30 days in which to reclaim their dog from a member of the public. 

Please note that from 6 April 2008, the Police no longer have responsibility for stray dogs and will not accept them at Police stations