Stray Dogs

Straying dogs can cause a number of problems including road accidents, attacks (on people or other animals), fouling of public areas or private gardens, and property damage.

Report it to the Comhairle or the Police who will advise you on course of action.

The Comhairle is normally available between the hours of 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

If you have taken possession of a dog out with office hours then you may have to detain it until the next working day unless you can take it to the nearest manned Police Station.

What do I do if I’ve lost a dog?

Call the Comhairle in the first instance as we may already know where your dog is.  Always leave your contact details so that you can be contacted if your dog is found.  Also check out the Consumer and Environmental Services Facebook page (Opens in a new window or downloads a file) as we often post details of any stray dogs. 

If out-with office hours it may also be worthwhile contacting Police Scotland by calling their non-emergency number 101. 

The Law

The Environmental Protection Act 1990 (Opens in a new window or downloads a file) places a duty on Councils to collect stray dogs.  There is no statutory definition of a stray dog, however in most cases it should be evident whether or not there is a person in charge of the dog.

The Comhairle will try to return a dog if its owner can be identified, otherwise it will be taken to kennels.  If a dog is a persistent stray and the owner has previously been warned then the dog will normally be taken straight to kennels.

A set fee is payable to reclaim a dog, plus an additional sum for every day or part of a day if the dog has had to be kennelled.  The current rates are on our fees and charges (Opens in a new window or downloads a file) webpage. All monies must normally be paid before the dog is returned. 

Unclaimed dogs must be kept by the Comhairle for seven clear days after which time the dog may be re-homed, given to a dog rescue society or destroyed. The Comhairle tries to ensure that healthy dogs are not destroyed, but this is not always possible.