Stray Dog UK. Dogs and cats found on the street, you can keep them? If you are faced with a lonely animal, what do you do? It is not unusual to see a dog or cat that seems to roam freely in the streets. What is the best behaviour to adopt in such cases? Let’s see each together in this article.
Dogs and cats were found on the street. What should be done?
If there are cases where intervening is an obligation, such as in the case of an accident involving animals. In the UK, it is a reportable offence to hit a dog with a car and should be reported to the police (unfortunately, the same thing does not apply if you hit a cat instead).
Is it an offence not to report hitting a dog with a vehicle?
Under the Road Traffic Act 1988, the penalty for failing to stop and report hitting an animal falls into the same category as dying in a typical road traffic accident, which carries a maximum fine of £5,000.
You may see a stray dog or cat more frequently, which is essential to assess the context. For example, if the animal seems confused and frightened, it is probably a lost or abandoned domestic dog or cat.
If possible, try to get close to it, without scaring it further, to see if it has any identifying marks, such as a collar or tag, that would allow you to trace its owners. Remember that by law, this is compulsory for dogs but not cats.
Yes. The dog tag law UK states that all dogs (with some working dog exemptions – see below) must wear a dog identity tag or another form of clear identification by law.
In the UK, there is no legal obligation to include an ID tag on your cat’s collar like there is for a dog, which we have written about here. However, we recommend personalised cat ID tags for indoor and outdoor cats, so we will outline some of the benefits and what details you should and can include.
In all cases where you cannot approach or contact the owners, contact the local authorities, who will intervene to recover the animal and secure it by conducting further searches.
Dogs and cats were found on the street. How to report an injured animal
Report an injured animal to the RSPCA in England or Wales or its equivalent in Scotland or Northern Ireland.
RSPCA
Telephone: 0300 1234 999
Find out about call charges
Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA)
Telephone: 03000 999 999
Find out about call charges
Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (USPCA)
Telephone: 028 3025 1000
Find out about call charges
In residential areas, wandering animals may be found but completely quiet. However, especially in low-traffic neighbourhoods, it may not be unusual to see cats walking from house to house or dogs escaping from open gates.
In such cases, it is essential first to alert the inhabitants of the area or neighbourhood, who probably know the animals and their owners and can bring them home without further stress.
Social media can be helpful, especially in these cases. For example, on Meta, numerous groups are dedicated to lost animals in the area. Those who find or have lost them can use these channels to ask for help.
Most active groups of lost dogs in the Manchester area:
- Lost Dogs Manchester
- Lost Animals Manchester Area
- Salford, Manchester and the North West lost and found dogs in the UK.
These neighbourhood or city social groups can be just as helpful: often just by posting a photo of the dog or cat, animals and owners can be brought together,r or at least the neighbourhood can be alerted, who will know who to contact in the event of a find.
Microchip, who can read it?
The microchip makes it possible to recognise the animal registered in the dog registry immediately and trace it back to its owners in the event of loss or to pursue its owners legally in the event of abandonment.
All dogs must, by law, be fitted with a subcutaneous microchip. In addition, some older dogs may have an identification tattoo, although this is no longer used as a method because of the various problems it causes. However, the situation is different for cats because microchipping is not compulsory but only recommended.
Currently, cats do not have to be microchipped by law in the UK, but that’s about to change. Cat microchipping is set to become compulsory in 2022, with new legislation due to be passed in the coming months.
Cat microchipping to be made mandatory
In the case of loss, reuniting a lost cat with its family can be more complex. Veterinary surgeons can read microchips (or any tattoos), a dog warden, or a rescue centre. Alternatively, if you have your scanner, Although they are not considered essential, having your scanner can be very useful. The pet chip scanner can find the unique pet ID code that will match the database with which the dog or cat is registered. The halo scanner is one of the best options for any pet owner. Always contact these figures in the event of finding lost or abandoned animals.
Dogs and cats were found on the street. Can a rescued or lost animal be kept at home?
When a lost dog or cat is found, the competent authorities must be notified:
- Report the dog – report the stray dog to the Council and ring local vets and rescue centres.
Taking home an animal found on the street is an offence of undue appropriation with legal consequences. You may offer to take in the animal while searching for its owner, but you must be authorised.
Tell the Council you want to keep the dog. If the Council cannot find the owner, you may be allowed to keep it. However, before you can adopt a dog, the Council will check that you are a suitable owner to adopt the dog.
But what do you do if you are abroad?
The rules for international animal adoption are stringent because the aim is to combat the illegal trade of dogs and cats as much as possible. Furthermore, depending on the country of origin and the country of destination, additional documents and health checks may be required to avoid carrying diseases, such as rabies, which is eradicated in some countries but present in others.
If you find a stray or abandoned animal abroad and would like to adopt it to take it home, the best thing to do is to contact a local Lost Animal Association or a local vet; they can provide you with the proper support.
A website dedicated to dog rehoming:
- https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/
- https://www.bluecross.org.uk/rehome/dog
- https://dogs4rescue.co.uk/dogs-available-for-adoption/
Meta groups dedicated to dog rehoming:
- Rehoming – Rescue a dog in the UK.
- Rescue Dogs Needing UK Homes
- DOGS THAT NEED RESCUE / HOMES / FOSTER
- French Bulldog Saviours
- Bull Terrier Puppies for Adoption/Rehoming
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