Stray dogs

Our stray dogs service is contracted out to London Borough of Waltham Forest.

When a lost or stray dog is picked up by the dog warden, all reasonable steps are taken to contact the dog owner. They will scan the dog for a microchip and owner details.

If the owner cannot be found, the dog is kept for 7 days. After 7 days, the dog is transferred to a suitable rehoming centre or humanely euthanised. Our aim is to return the dog to the owner or rehome.

Fees

Where a dog is returned to the owner, we aim to recover 100% of the costs. There is a £175 fee for stray dogs that are picked up and taken to kennels. Stray dogs are cared for in kennels are charged at £17.50 per day. Any vet costs, vaccinations and microchipping (if applicable), will also be payable. There is a statutory fee of £25 that will be charged as well

The dog will not be returned to its owner until all the fees are paid.

Report a stray dog

To report a stray dog, call the Animal Welfare Officer. The officer will only attend if the dog has been contained, for example, in a location where it cannot escape or held on a lead.

Do not call London Borough of Enfield to report a stray dog.

If your dog is lost

If your dog is lost, call the Animal Welfare Officer. We also suggest registering your dog as missing on Dog Lost, and informing your chip provider who will record this on the chip record.

A register is kept of all stray and lost dogs picked up or reported.

Contact

You can contact the Animal Welfare Officer on 07815 512833 during the following times:

Outside of opening times

Take the dog to a vet or rehoming centre where they can check the dog's chip and try to contact the owner. If you can, keep the dog safe. Call 07815 512833 and leave a message giving your details and the location of the dog. An Animal Welfare Officer will arrange to collect the dog during the above times.

Your Information

Our stray dogs service is provided by another council, your personnel details will be used and stored by that council and shared with the London Borough of Enfield. This information will only be used in relation to the stray dogs service.

XL Bully dogs - update

Amendment to the Dangerous Dogs Act

From 31 December 2023 it will be unlawful to breed, sell, gift or allow such a dog to stray. These dogs will also be required to be kept on a lead and muzzled when outside.

From 1 February 2024 it will be a criminal offence to be in possession of an XL Bully dog unless the dog has been certified as exempt on the Index of Exempted dogs.

The Index is maintained by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and may be accessed by the police. The burden is on the owner to prove a dog is not a prohibited dog.

There is a standard published for the breed - visit GOV.UK - Official definition of an XL Bully dog.

Timeline of actions:

To secure a certificate of exemption the dog must be:

Once a certificate of exemption has been obtained, the dog must always be kept on a lead and muzzled when in a public place.

The dog’s certificate of exemption can last throughout its lifetime. However, to keep the exemption in place, the owner must fulfil all ongoing requirements as stated by the Dangerous Dogs Exemption Schemes (England and Wales) Order 2015:

The government will pay a contribution towards the costs associated with euthanasia that takes place before 31 January 2024. This contribution will be a total of £200 per dog. Owners and their vet will need to complete a form in order to make a claim.

Council news directly to you

The latest news in your inbox every week. Council news, community updates, local events and more.

Sign up Sign up