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Dog warden service

The Dog warden service will help you if you lose your dog, and aims to help prevent stray dogs from being a danger in traffic or a nuisance to people.

Dog warden service

The dog warden is based within Environmental Protection at Belle Vue Square, Skipton and carries out patrols, picks up strays, investigates complaints and gives advice.

Lost Dogs

If your dog goes missing, if you find a dog you suspect is lost, or you have any other kind of query, you can reach our dog warden service during office hours on 01756 700600. Please leave all your details and the dog warden will get back to you as soon as possible.

Out of office hours a reception point is provided where stray dogs can be taken. Please contact the out of hours number: 03004 564594 for details.

Strays are kept for up to 7 days. Stray dogs that are not claimed after 7 days are available for re-homing. Please contact us if you can offer one a good home. There are often a number of dogs of different ages and breeds available for adoption and the situation changes on a regular basis. For further information please see Dogs for re-homing.

Any complaints about dogs will be responded to as quickly as possible. The Dog Warden will act in the strictest confidentiality and keep you informed about what they are doing.

Some complaints cannot be dealt with by the Dog Warden. Dangerous dogs should be reported to the Police on 0845 6060247. Further information can be found on the DEFRA website.

The Dog Warden will ensure the Council's legal duties are met, so far as dogs are concerned. They will also regularly patrol areas covered by dog related by-laws, and put up anti-dog fouling notices where needed.

If you have any questions or complaints, please contact the Dog Warden Service.

In particular, the service aims to deal with problems caused by the four main symptoms of irresponsible dog ownership:-

  • noisy dogs
  • aggressive dogs
  • dog fouling
  • straying dogs

Seizure of Stray Dogs

The Dog Warden makes regular visits throughout the area.  Any dog found in a public place and unsupervised can be seized and transferred to Council approved kennels.  Owners will be liable for the cost of kennelling fees and any other costs incurred including a £25 charge payable to the Council. 

How Can I Avoid Having My Dog Seized?

Your dog must wear a tag by law when out in a public place.

The first time we catch your dog straying we will return it to you, free of charge providing: 

  • The dog is wearing a tag, or is micro chipped and allows us to read this
  • The owner is resident within the Craven District Council boundary
  • The owner is available when the dog is returned to the address

Responsible and caring dog owners understand the importance of keeping their dogs under proper control and correctly identified through a collar and tag or preferably a micro chip.

What Happens To Stray Dogs If They Are Not Collected?

Dogs in kennels after 7 days will be either sold or donated to an individual or organisation willing to care for the dog

In some cases, after 7 days, dogs can be destroyed in a humane manner by a qualified veterinary surgeon

School Talks

Part of our job is educational. Primary Schools in the Craven area can arrange for a Dog Warden to visit and talk to pupils about all aspects of responsible dog ownership.

If you are a teacher at a school in the Craven area, you can e-mail us for further details.

Contacts