Lost pets
If your dog, cat or other pet is lost, we suggest registering it as missing on Dog Lost and/or PawBoost, posting messages on social media community groups, notifying local vets and informing your microchip provider who will record this on their records.
The council does not offer a lost pet service, but you can email a photo and details to pest.control@brent.gov.uk and we will let you know if any sightings are reported to us.
Abandoned dogs and other pets
All dogs and pets deserve a loving home, but there are many reasons why owners are not always able to provide the care they need. There are various rehoming centres or animal charities who can help with advice, training and behaviour issues, offer support with homelessness or other emergencies to enable you provide the care your animal needs or if necessary, will rehome them.
Stray dogs
If you find a stray dog, take steps to check that there isn’t an owner in the vicinity looking for it. Remember that it may not be a stray at all, but a much-loved pet who has wandered away from their family. If it is safe to take hold of it, check to see if the dog is wearing a collar or tag with the contact details of the owner.
If the owner cannot be found, contact us and if you have hold of the dog and can keep it secure, we will ask our contractor to collect it from you. This will not be immediate if they are not local to you at the time of your call. The contractor will only attend if the dog has been contained, for example, in a location where it cannot escape or is held on a lead. Take care and do not approach an aggressive dog. Alternatively, see if a local vet will scan the dog as it a legal requirement for all dogs to be microchipped and for the owner’s details to be recorded.
Our contractor will ensure reasonable steps are taken to contact the dog owner and it will be held in kennels for 7 days before being transferred to a suitable rehoming centre if it is not claimed, or in exceptional circumstances, euthanised.
Tell us if you find a stray dog that you wish to keep. If we are unable to find the owner, you may be allowed to keep it subject to some checks to ensure you and your home are suitable.
It is a legal requirement for a register to be kept of all stray dogs. A copy of the register is available on request.
Fees
There is a fee to pay if your dog has been collected by us as a stray. Stray dogs are cared for in kennels and further charges apply each night the dog remains. Additional vet fees may also be chargeable at cost and a charge applied if it is necessary to transport the dog anywhere.
The dog will not be returned to its owner until all the fees are paid.
Report a stray dog
You can report a stray dog to us on 020 8937 1234, collections are usually available between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday and from 10am to 5pm Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays.
Outside of our opening times.
Take the dog to a vet or rehoming centre where they can check the dog's microchip and try to contact the owner. If you can, keep the dog safe and contact us the next day.
Privacy notice
If you are providing your information to Brent Council regarding a lost pet or stray dog, it will be collected for the purpose of responding to your request and if applicable, keeping a record of any advice or service provided to you. Stray dog enquiries will be shared with our contractor so they can contact you, so they know where to go if collecting or returning a dog, to help verifying the ownership or to assist with the prevention or detection of crime in relation to dog microchipping requirements.
The information shall be retained for a minimum of seven years and shall be processed in adherence to your legal rights, including but not limited to, the right to withdraw consent, the right to copies of your information and your right to be forgotten. You have a right to lodge any complaint you may have about us and the use of your data with the Information Commissioner’s Office (www.ico.org.uk).
Further information can be found at www.brent.gov.uk/privacy. You can contact the council’s Data Protection Officer via dpo@brent.gov.uk or 020 937 1402.