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Lost dogs

If you have lost your dog, you should notify your local vets and any local rescue groups. You should also use social media such as Facebook to share the details of your dog. You may also want to register your dog's details with DoglostUK.

It is a legal requirement for all dogs to be tagged, and microchipped too (this became law in 2016). This is in the best interests of the dog and its owner as straying dogs can then be returned straight home without involving our service.

If your dog has been found by the Council, it will be taken to our kennel provider and we will provide you with the details to collect your dog from the kennels following payment of any outstanding charges.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) would normally take in injured stray dogs. Please call the RSPCA Exeter on 01392 439898.

Found dogs

If you have found a dog, you should firstly ask locally if the dog is known and then notify your local vet and ask if they will scan the dog for a micro-chip. If the dog is micro-chipped, the vet will usually contact the owner and arrange for the dog to be reunited with the owner.

You may also contact local rescue groups and contact DogslostUK with the dog’s details.

The Council does not provide an out of hours stray dog service, so you will have to keep the dog confined in a safe area until normal Council opening hours and we will then arrange for our kennelling provider to contact the finder of the dog to arrange collection of the dog.

Every stray dog will be held in kennels for a minimum of seven days, including the weekend. If a dog is not claimed within this period, the dog will be re-homed. No dog will be destroyed unless a vet advises so.

An owner reclaiming a dog will be asked to provide both proof of identity (for example, a passport, driving licence or bank card) and proof of address (for example, a utility bill or bank statement) and will be required to pay all outstanding charges before collecting the dog.