What to do if you have found a stray dog

If you have found a stray dog and feel safe to approach the dog, check to see if they’re wearing a tag with the owners detail on.

If you are unable to locate it’s owner, you will need to report the dog to your local authority who have legal responsibility for stray dogs.

If you are unsure about who your local authority is or who to contact please visit the UK Gov website 

Stray dogs and Hope Rescue

Hope Rescue has the stray dog contracts for RCT, Bridgend and the West side of the Vale of Glamorgan.

Hope Rescue is able to take in stray dogs found in the above areas 365 days a year, 8am until 8pm. Please call the relevant local authority first to obtain a reference number using the contact details below.

During normal working hours, the dog warden may be able to arrange collection.

In the case of a genuine emergency outside of the above hours, such as an injured dog, please ring the out of hours number below.

If you have found a stray dog but the dog is displaying aggressive behaviour and you do not feel safe to approach, please call the relevant numbers below.

Reporting a stray dog found in RCT

Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm, 01443 425001

Out of hours 01443 425011

Reporting a stray dog found in Bridgend or the Vale of Glamorgan

Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm 0300 123 6696

Out of hours 03001236696

Hope Rescue can be contacted on 01443 225569 between the hours of 8am and 8pm.

Once reported to the local authority you can also,

• Take the dog to your nearest vet or rescue centre to be scanned for a microchip.
• Spread the word via social media.
• Register the dog as ‘found’ on DogLost (link to website) which is a national online lost and found website.

Although it may be tempting to keep the dog, it is important to remember that you are legally required to report a found dog to the local authority.

When a stray dog is bought to Hope Rescue we will try to reunite with an owner via the dog’s microchip.

If this is not up to date or the dog is not microchipped then we will post on our social media pages. We also hold a lost dog register and will cross reference with this.

If a dog is not claimed after 7 full days then they will move into our ownership and we will look to find them a new home, either ourselves or via one of our rescue partners in line with our standard operation procedures.

Finders are welcome to call the centre between the hours of 8am and 5pm, on 01443 226659, if they wish to have an update on a stray dog that was found.