Stray animals

Stockton Council's Animal Welfare Service is now responsible for the management of stray dogs, previously the responsibility of the Police (Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005).

The Council is responsible for all issues relating to stray dogs. This includes providing a place where they can be taken by members of the public, outside of office hours.

There will be no search and collection service available outside of office hours. If you find a stray dog please follow the relevant information below:

During office hours (Monday - Friday 9am to 5pm) - please contact us to report a stray or roaming dog. You can also bring a stray or roaming dog to us.
Outside of the office hours and at weekends - we do not provide a collection service. A stray dog can reported lost or brought to our stray dog reception point. Our out of hours contact details are Security and Surveillance Centre, The Square, Stockton (opposite Stockton Baptist Tabernacle), telephone (01642) 618946. To ensure that staff will be able to help you please telephone us before bringing stray dogs to Stockton Council.

Owners should claim lost dogs within 7 days. A dog will not be released for collection until relevant fees have been paid. We do not operate a payment scheme.

If you lose your dog it is important that you let us know quickly, please telephone (01642) 526575 or complete the online form which is available at the end of this page. We always try to return stray animals to their owners. This can be achieved by ensuring that your pet wears an identification disc (with up-to-date contact details) or that it has been microchipped.

Lost animals are often taken to local animal welfare centres, kennels and vets (contact details for vets can be found in the Yellow Pages telephone book).

The Dogs Trust (Sadberge) Tel: (01325) 333114
Waterfall Kennels (Guisborough) Tel: (01287) 634240
RSPCA (Great Ayton) Tel: (01642) 724016
National Pet Watch Tel: (01642) 556700

Sometimes stray animals are fatally injured in road traffic accidents. Please contact the Council's Care For Your Area and ask if they might have information about your lost pet (01642) 391959 or email careforyourarea@stockton.gov.uk.

Before your dog can be reclaimed from kennels all the necessary fees will have to be paid in full. We do not operate a payment scheme.