How to reclaim your found dog

How do I get my dog back if it has been picked up by the dog wardens?

We will always try to find the owners of any stay dogs before they are taken to our nominated kennels. We also publicise dogs that have been found on our Dogs in Salford Facebook page and via our Dogs in Salford Twitter account.

In most cases we keep hold of the dogs for 24 hours before taking the dogs to our nominated kennels from where it can be collected.

You only have seven days to reclaim your dog from Manchester and Cheshire Dogs home, after this point your dog will be put up for rehoming. To collect your dog you are required to provide valid ID and proof of ownership of the dog. The Environmental Protection (Stray Dogs) Regulations 1992 outlines the amount to be paid by the owner of a stray dog seized by an authorised officer before the dog can be returned to the owner. Regulation 2 makes provision for certain charges to be imposed in respect of seized stray dogs.

Amount to be paid by the owner of seized dog

For the purposes of section 149(5) of the act, the sum of £40 is hereby prescribed as the further amount (additional to all expenses) to be paid by a person claiming to be the owner of a seized dog before he is entitled to have the dog returned to him.

Applicable charges

If the dog is retrieved from Turnpike Depot:

The amount of £40 will be charged. This will cover the prescribed amount only. If your dog is not microchipped you can ask for the dog wardens to microchip your dog free of charge at the time of collection. However if you do not want your dog microchipped or the details are not up to date on an approved database then you could be served with a notice when you collect your dog, ordering you to microchip them. You’ll have 21 days to do so or you may be liable to pay a £500 fine and could face criminal prosecution. 

In most cases dogs are kept at Turnpike Depot for a minimum 24 hour period, after which time they will be transferred to Manchester and Cheshire home.

If the dog is retrieved from Manchester and Cheshire Dogs home:

In these circumstances, a fee of £90 will be charged, which will be collected by the home. This covers the prescribed amount plus additional costs of transport but please note additional fees may be levied by the home.

Payment must be made in full before the dog can be released back to the owner.

This page was last updated on 26 April 2019