Fewer stray dogs reunited with owners, charity says

The Dogs Trust said it was "heartbreaking" to find contact details were out of date after microchips were scanned (stock photo)

Fewer stray dogs are being reunited with their owners, a charity survey has revealed.

The Dogs Trust, which has a rehoming centre in Newbury, Berkshire, said owners needed to make sure their contact details were up to date to ensure they could be traced.

Figures from the Stray Dog Survey revealed that 39% of strays were reunited with their owners in the past year - down from over 50% two years ago.

Dogs Trust director Maria Murray said: "We have a crisis on our hands across the animal welfare industry and we are absolutely full to the brim with dogs coming into our rehoming centre."

She said the dog population "exploded" during Covid and with "more dogs there is likely to be more strays".

The survey revealed that about 60% of stray dogs were microchipped but 47% of those had incorrect details.

"We've done a really good job of educating owners on the importance of getting their pets microchipped," said Ms Murray.

"But they are forgetting when they move, or change their mobile number, to update those details for their pet."

She said it was frustrating when microchips were scanned and the phone numbers did not work.

"It is heartbreaking not being able to reunite them with their owner," she added.