Watford Borough Council

Watford Borough Council has a duty under the Environmental Protection Act 1990  to collect stray dogs. 

Reporting a stray dog

If you have found a dog, please contact us on tel: 01923 226400. The council operates an out of hours service and we will collect any contained stray dogs. We will not collect loose stray animals.

Lost dogs

We maintain a register of lost dogs. If you have lost your dog, contact us during office hours on tel: 01923 278503 and we will check the register for you. You are also advised to contact the police and surrounding local authorities as appropriate. 

Tag your dog!

Your dog must wear a tag by law when out in a public place. Tagging your dog is also an essential way of tracing you should your dog become lost.

The first time we seize your dog straying we will return it to you, free of charge, but we can only do this if it is wearing a tag, or is microchipped.

If we collect a stray dog, and we can't trace the owner, we will keep it in boarding kennels at the owner's expense. If  the dog is not claimed within seven days, the owner will lose the right to reclaim it  and we will try to re-home it.

For an information sheet with suggestions on how to stop your dog straying and advice on microchipping please follow link at the end of this page.

Aggressive dogs

The responsibility to deal with dogs acting aggressively towards humans or animals lies with the Police.

Dog fouling

You are breaking the law if you don't clean up after your dog if it fouls any land which is open to the air and to which the public have access. Offenders will be given an on the spot fine of £40. The maximum fine under the Dog (Fouling of Land) Act 1996 is £1000.