Find out what to do if you find a stray dog or how to report your dog as lost.
Stray dogs
If you find a stray dog, you can report it using the dog issues form. Use this form during working hours (8:45am - 5:15pm Monday to Thursday and 8:45am – 4:45pm Friday, excluding bank holidays) and we will arrange to collect the dog from you.
We work with Noah’s Ark Environmental Services to collect any stray dogs in the borough.
For any emergency report outside of working hours please call 01234 267422.
If the dog is microchipped and/or is wearing an ID tag we will try to contact the registered owner to return the dog. If there is no microchip or we cannot contact the owner, the dog will be taken to our kennels where it will be housed for a period of eight days.
The owner or person with responsibility for the dog will need to pay all stray dog fees, statutory fees and any vets fees that may have been incurred. If the dog is not claimed within these eight days and fees paid in full, the dog will be re-homed.
If your dog is not microchipped or if the registered keeper details are not up to date further action may be taken against you and a fine can be imposed. The kennels can provide microchipping for a fee.
Lost dogs
If you have lost your dog, you can report it using the dog issues form:
We will check the description of your dog against our records and contact you if we locate your dog. DogLost publish photos of lost dogs which you can also check.
Collecting your dog
Stray dogs collected from within Bedford Borough will be taken to:
Appledown Kennels
Harling Road
Eaton Bray
Dunstable
Bedfordshire
LU6 1QY
Email: enquiries@appledown.co.uk
Phone: 01525 302288
If you are the owner or have responsibility for a dog that has been picked up as a stray you are liable to pay:
- £25 statutory straying fee imposed by law
- all collection and kennelling costs incurred by your dog
- the costs of any vet treatment that has been necessary for your dog, for example, where it may have been sick or injured
The current Council fees are listed below and are displayed at Appledown Kennels.
The kennels are instructed by us to not return your dog to you until full payment of the Council fees has been made.
You must take your identification with you to show you are the owner of the dog.
Dogs can only be collected from the kennels during working hours.
| Days in kennel | Cost of kennelling | Council charge | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | £16.50 | £159 | £175.50 |
| 2 | £33 | £159 | £192 |
| 3 | £49.50 | £159 | £208.50 |
| 4 | £66 | £159 | £225 |
| 5 | £82.50 | £159 | £241.50 |
| 6 | £99 | £159 | £258 |
| 7 | £115.50 | £159 | £274.50 |
Microchipping
All dogs are required by law to be microchipped and their ownership details kept in an approved database. This includes puppies who must be microchipped before you take them with you as the new owner.
It’s the most effective way of permanently identifying a pet to ensure its safe return.
When a missing pet is found, a vet or dog warden will scan the pet revealing the microchip’s unique 15 digit code, enabling the owner to be located.
See more information on how to get your dog microchipped.
