Report A Stray Dog - GOV.UK

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1. Home
2. Housing and local services
3. Noise, neighbours, pets and pests

Report a stray dog

If you find a stray dog and cannot contact the owner, you must report it to the council.

Enter a postcode For example SW1A 2AA Find your local council

Find a postcode on Royal Mail's postcode finder

What you need to know

• Available in England and Wales only

Keeping a stray dog

You must return a stray dog to its owner if you know who the owner is. Otherwise you must contact your local council.

Tell the council you want to keep the dog. If the council cannot find the owner you may be allowed to keep it. They’ll probably check you’re suitable as a dog owner before you can adopt it.

Related content

• Report a dog fouling problem
• Check if the council has your missing dog

Explore the topic

• Noise, neighbours, pets and pests

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