Stray dogs

The police do not deal with stray dogs. Please report stray dogs to your local council.

New legislation came into force nationally in April 2008 that gave responsibility for stray dogs to the local authority.

If someone reports that they have either lost or found a dog, Thames Valley Police will pass on the phone number of the relevant local authority.

Inspector John Fox, from Thames Valley Police’s Local Policing department, said: “The Government has decided that local authorities are best placed to deal with stray dogs and hopefully reunite them with their owners.

“The legislation that came into force in April 2008 makes sure that dogs are provided with the best possible care, and also that dogs are reunited with their owners or re-homed with new owners.”