Norwich City Council

Council Services

Dogs

Stray dog management and recovery service

The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 the responsibility for stray dogs rests with Norwich City Council.

A stray dog is a dog unsupervised in a public place regardless of whether it is wearing a collar and tag.

The council employs a contractor to collect stray dogs within the city council boundary. If a dog collected by our contractor can be identified (by the collar and tag which owners are legally obliged to provide) the owner will be notified as soon as possible. The dog will only be released when payment has been made which includes a daily charge and any additional fees (such as veterinary fees).

Dogs are held for seven days after which, if the owner has not reclaimed them, they will be re-homed.

The stray dog service operates during normal office hours – Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm (except Bank and other Public Holidays). Stray dogs cannot be collected or returned outside of these times.

Daily charges are as follows:
  • If a dog is reclaimed on day 1 - £71.70 plus variable veterinary and kennel fees and mileage
  • If a dog is reclaimed on day 2 - £82.70 plus variable veterinary and kennel fees and mileage
  • If a dog is reclaimed on day 3 - £93.70 plus variable veterinary and kennel fees and mileage
  • For each additional day an extra £11 is charged.

Charges if the dog has not been taken to kennels:

  • Dog reclaimed on day 1 (out of office hours) - £82.70 plus any additional fees (such as veterinary fees).

Other Charges

  • For a second offence within 6 months there will be an additional £27.50 charge.
  • For a third offence within 6 months there will be an additional £55.15 charge.

Should an owner decide not to collect their pet then the council will make every effort to re-home the dog. In these circumstances the appropriate charges as detailed above will still apply.

Claiming a stray dog

Stray dogs need to be reported immediately. The owner of a dog who can be traced will be sent a Stray Dog Notice and will need to bring this when claiming the dog.

An owner who has lost a dog but not been sent a Stray Dog Notice would need to give a detailed description of the dog to prove ownership. A photograph, a pedigree history or proof of ownership (such as a purchase receipt) are helpful when claiming a dog.

After the fee has been paid, details about where to collect the dog are given. This information is not given to the public.

Reporting lost or stray dogs

Lost or stray dogs in the Norwich area need to be reported to Norwich City Council. If you need to report a stray dog between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday, please call the customer contact team on
0344 980 3333. Outside of these times there is no service to collect or return stray dogs. However, if a member of the public finds and holds a stray dog outside of these times, please call our Norwich Community Alarm Service on 01603 412180. They will check on the availability of a suitable holding kennel and may be able to provide a location to which the stray can be taken.

Alternatively, you can let us know by using our online reporting form.

Re-homing a stray dog

All stray dogs collected by our contractor are held in kennels for seven days waiting to be claimed by the owners. After the seven days has expired the kennels will then try to re-home them.

Collar and tag

Under the Control of Dogs Order 1992 every dog, while on a highway or public place must wear a collar with it's owner's name and address inscribed on it or on a plate or badge attached to it.

The council often attends or organises events to provide free ID tags for dogs. Keep an eye out in the local media, Citizen and this website for information about when the next one is being held in your area.

Dog micro-chipping

For additional security, dogs can be fitted with a microchip that registers details on a national database. If a dog is lost while away from home it can be returned. Our contractor has a device to read information from the chip. The chip can be inserted by a vet for a fee.

  • Norwich City Council sometimes runs free micro-chipping events. Keep an eye out in the local media, Citizen and this website for information about when the next one is being held in your area.


Neutering

It is important to get your dog spayed or castrated to avoid unwanted puppies. Puppies are very difficult to take care of, and need a lot of your time.

Your vet will be able to advise you of the procedure and there will probably be a fee.

The council recently ran an event where it offered free ID tags, micro-chipping, and neutering. We are planning to hold something like this again, so please keep an eye out in the local media, Citizen and this website for information about when the next one is being held in your area.


Parvovirus

We have had incidents of Parvovirus in Norwich, so it is important you have you dog vaccinated. For more information please contact your vet or visit www.workingdogs.com/parvofaq.htm

Dog fouling

Dog fouling should be reported to the council so that our street cleansing contractor can clear it away – please call 0344 980 3333

Officers from the council’s neighbourhood teams can issue fixed penalty tickets to people who don’t clear up their dogs’ mess. The fixed penalty is currently £50. Magistrates can impose a fine of up to £1000 if a case is referred to them. Dog owners should place dog mess in a plastic bag and put it into any of the 748 litter bins in the city.

Noisy dogs

If dogs that constantly bark are a nusience, please call 0344 980 3333. The owner will be contacted and, if necessary, action will be taken.

Dangerous dogs

If a dog is thought to be dangerous, or there is concern about the way in which it is behaving, please contact the Police.

Cruelty to dogs

For concerns about cruelty and welfare of dogs please contact the RSPCA on 0870 55 55 999.

For more information about animal welfare generally, please visit: www.rspca.org.uk

It is important to understand your duty of care as a pet owner. The Animal Welfare Act 2006 states that 'the owner of a pet is legally obliged to care for their pet properly, by providing:

  • a proper diet, including fresh water
  • somewhere suitable to live
  • for any need to be housed with or apart from, other animals
  • the ability to express normal behaviour
  • protection from and treatment of, illness and injury'.

To see the Act in full, please visit the RSPCA website