Dogs Straying
The Law
The Environmental Protection Act 1990, Section 149 (3) is a part of the UK legislation that deals with the control of stray dogs1. It states that:
"Where the officer has reason to believe that any dog found in a public place or on any other land or premises is a stray dog, he shall (if practicable) seize the dog and detain it, but, where he finds it on land or premises which is not a public place, only with the consent of the owner or occupier of the land or premises."
This applies to any dog that is found wandering without and owner or person in charge. It gives authority ot the local officer to seize and detain the dog.
Since April 2016 it has been compulsory for all dogs over eight weeks old in Scotland to be microchipped. The Microchipping of Dogs (Scotland) Regulations 2016 requires your dog to be implanted with a microchip and their details registered and kept up to date on a compliant database.
For more information about microchipping regulations and how they are enforced visit mygov.scot.
If unsure on whether a dog is chipped or not or how to update the chip details please take it to a vet to scan the chip. Its the law that all dogs must be chipped and details kept up to date. A dog must wear a collar with a name tag and contact number when in public unless exempt. So if this is not the case please remidy this promptly.
Owners
If a dog has a collar with the owners address or if the owner is known we will do our best to return the dog.
The same applies if the dog has a microchip that we are able to read or if we are informed that your dog is missing.
If a dog has been lifted there will be an admin & release fee and a kenneling fee for each night the dog has stayed with us.
The dog must be claimed within seven days or by law it becomes property of the Local Authority to dispose of. This can be by sale, gift or in very rare circumstances putting it to sleep.
If you have lost your dog please contact Environmental Health (01595 745250) & Police Scotland (101).
Council officers deal with enquiries or information relating to stray dogs during office hours. Out of hours this service is provided by Police Scotland.
Police Officers have powers to lift any dog in a public area, which they believe to be a stray.Therefore, it is important for dog owners to ensure that their dogs are microchipped, wear a collar with their details, and are not left unattended in public places or other lands or premises. This will help prevent their dogs from being seized as stray dogs and avoid the risk of losing them or paying fines.
Finders
Contact Environmental Health or the Police and we will arrange to pick it up. Alternatively if you want to keep the dog you must inform Environmental Health of all the details. If after two months the dog has not been claimed you will become it's owner. A suitability check may be carried out.