Stray Dogs

Stray dogs

All dogs must wear a collar and tag with the owner's name, address and telephone number when in a public place. A dog with an identity tag can be returned to its owner if it strays. Without it, it may be seized as a stray.
We also recommend micro-chipping - which involves implanting an identity microchip the size of a grain of rice under the dog's skin. Please speak to your vet about micro-chipping. All dogs picked up as strays will be automatically scanned for a chip. 

Dogs should be taken out for walks - not allowed out to roam the streets on their own.  It puts the animal and others at risk of accident and injury.  Owners who allow their dogs to roam can face prosecution and a fine of up to £5,000. 

Helping Rover's Return

Our Environmental Community Officers deal with stray, lost and found dogs. 

When they find a stray dog, their first step will be to try and trace the owner.  They will ask people in the area where the dog was found if they know it or its owner.  Valuable time could be saved - and less stress caused to the dog - if owners obeyed the law and made sure their dogs had ID tags on their collars!

If efforts to trace the owner fail, the dog will be taken to the safety of local kennels.  If an owner does come forward, they will be charged a standard government fee of £25, an additional £25 if the dog is taken to kennels at night, plus a daily kennelling fee, depending on how long the dog has been looked after, plus any vets fees.  If no owner comes forward after seven days, the kennel owners will do their very best to find the dog a new home.

What should I do if I find a dog?

Call the council on the numbers below.  Please provide as much information as possible and stay with the dog and secure it, if it is safe to do so.

During normal working hours (8.30am to 4.30pm) the Dog Warden will arrange to collect the dog from you.

As the finder, you may also ask to keep the dog.  If you do this and the council officer agrees, you will be asked to keep the dog for a month.  If the owner fails to come forward to claim it within this time, then you will become the owner of the dog.

Between 5.00pm and 8.30am during the week and at weekends and bank holidays you will be asked to bring the dog in to the council's drop off point at the Civic Centre, Castle Hill Avenue, Folkestone, CT20 2QY.

From Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5.00pm call 01303 858660.

At weekends (including bank holidays) and between 5.00pm and 8.30am call 01303 853000.

What should I do if my dog goes missing?

Call us straight away on the numbers below.  Please give a full description of your dog, including its breed, colour, name and sex.  Please also let us know if your dog has any distinguishing marks.  The time and location of where your dog went missing is also very important as it will enable us to identify your dog sooner if we find it.

From Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5.00pm call 01303 858660.

At weekends (including bank holidays) and between 5.00pm and 8:30am call 01303 853000.

For more infomation please visit our 'Dogs' section.