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Dog Warden Services

Stratford-on-Avon District Council employs an Animal Welfare Officer from Monday to Thursday to deliver a professional service to promote responsible dog ownership and enforce existing legislation.

We currently deliver the following services:

Response to all complaints as soon as possible but always within 5 working days.
Urgent response to sightings of stray dogs on school premises or that are interfering with traffic.
Collection and return of your stray dog if it is possible, otherwise collect all strays and keep them safely for a maximum of seven days for collection by the owner (subject to the payment of a fee, which is currently £50, plus kennelling costs). If the dog is unclaimed after seven days every effort is taken to re-home it, but this is not always possible and some dogs are put to sleep.
Promoting of responsible dog ownership through talks to primary schools and other groups.
Enforcement of dog-related by-laws and The Fouling of Land by Dogs (District of Stratford-on-Avon) Order 2009. This may result in the issuing of Fixed Penalty Notices.

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. These will be passed quickly to the appropriate agency (e.g. the RSPCA).

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

Stray dogs can be a danger for many reasons, not least of which being that they could cause a serious road accident or bite a child.

For more information about stray dogs please visit our stray dogs page.

How to contact a Dog Warden

Our Dog Warden is able to respond to reports of stray dogs between Monday and Thursday, and deal with them accordingly.

The online dog warden form makes it quick and easy to get in touch with a dog warden.

Visit Dog Warden Form

Alternatively you can telephone 01789 260839 between 8:45am and 5:15pm (Monday - Wednesday) and between 8:45 and 5pm (Thursday - Friday).

Dog Owners

Your dog must wear a tag, inscribed with the owner's address, by law when it is out in a public place. The first time we catch your dog straying we will return it to you, free of charge, but we can only do this if it is wearing a tag or is microchipped. There are circumstances where it is not possible to check for a microchip, but we will endeavour to do this whenever we can. If the owner is not known then the dog will be taken to our holding kennels where it will be kept for a period of seven days. If in the meantime the owner of the dog wishes to reclaim their dog they are obliged to pay a charge to the Council and kennelling fees to the Kennels. If the dog is unclaimed after seven days, then every attempt is made to re-home it, but this is not always possible and some dogs are put to sleep. Please remember to make provisions for your dog in the event of your sudden death or incapacitation.

We all share an interest in public health since these matters affect many of us. We consequently aim to respond effectively to all enquiries, requests for advice or investigations within 5 working days of receipt.

Fouling Legislation

The Fouling of Land by Dogs (District of Stratford-on-Avon) Order 2009.

The Fouling of Land by Dogs (District of Stratford-on-Avon) Order 2009 is in force from 1 April 2009. This Act means that it is illegal to fail to clear up after your dog if it fouls any land which is open to the air and to which the public have access. The penalty for contravening the Act is an Fixed Penalty Notice of £75 or prosecution in the magistrates' court.

See also:
Dog Warden Form | Stray Dogs

Contact us
Stratford-on-Avon District Council
Elizabeth House,
Church Street,
Stratford-upon-Avon,
Warwickshire,
CV37 6HX

E: info@stratford-dc.gov.uk
Tel: 01789 267 575
Fax: 01789 260 007
Minicom: 01789 260 747
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