Stray dog reports rise over two years

Stray dogs that are taken in are available for rehoming after seven days

Numbers of stray dogs reported to and taken in by Herefordshire Council have seen a jump in the past two years.

In 2023, the authority took in 81 stray dogs, up from 68 in 2022, and just 21 in 2021.

Of those taken in, only five were claimed by their owners last year, compared with the 19 claimed the previous year.

Owners who come forward must pay collection and administration fees, as well as kennel and veterinary bills.

The figures were provided in a council response to a freedom of information request, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

The request also sought numbers of XL Bully and other dangerous dogs which the council had taken in, but there were not any over the three-year period.

Herefordshire Council operates a weekday hotline for reporting stray dogs.

Residents have been reminded not to simply keep apparent strays.

Those taken in are kept at Hereford and Worcester Animal Rescue (HWAR) in Madley near Hereford until the owner comes forward.

The owners must then pay a collection and administration fee of £55 plus a kennelling fee of £13.50 per day after the first 24 hours, and any costs of veterinary treatment.

After seven days, the dog is made available to the public for rehoming, for which the rescue centre asks a donation of £200.

HWAR was asked about the likely causes of the increasing numbers of strays.

However, a representative was unable to respond because they said: “Our phone is ringing constantly, [we have] dogs coming out of our ears to sort, as well as looking after all our current dogs.”