DOGS – The council have a dog warden service for these cases and are legally responsible for stray dogs that are not injured.

We  cannot accept stray dogs, we are a Hospital & do not have the facilities to keep a stray dog alongside all of our patients.  Our kennels are full with our inpatients and are not large enough to accommodate a healthy dog requiring stimulation and exercise.   Doing so would pose a risk in transmission of diseases to our hospitalised patients.

The finder of a stray may bring the dog along to a branch in order for us to scan for a microchip.  This will be carried out outside the practice and if the dog is microchipped we can then call the microchip company in order to gain the owner’s details.  We are then happy to call the owner & IF the owner agrees to come straight down then we can keep the dog until they arrive.

If the dog isn’t microchipped or the owner’s do not answer the phone then it is then the responsibility of the finder and dog warden to take the dog somewhere safe until the owner can be located.

The dog warden’s phone number is 01474 564422, in the event of a dog being found out of hours please call this number & the operator will direct you to the emergency contact.  The dog warden will collect the dog from the finder during day time hours.

The RSPCA have a useful information section for those that have lost a dog as well as those that may find a healthy dog, please click on the button to access.

RSPCA lost & stray dog information

For sick/injured stray dogs then the finder must call the RSPCA & obtain a log number before we can accept the patient.  Please call RSPCA on 0300 123 0346 and ask for a log number for veterinary treatment.  We cannot see a patient without this as we are not a re-homing centre.  For every patient we treat we need to know there is a pathway for it’s aftercare and we are unable to do this without a log number.

CATS –

Initially, you should try to find the owner. Cats roam over a wide area and sometimes they can be mistaken for strays even when they have owners. Ask around to see if anyone knows who the cat belongs to. If it’s possible to transport the cat, you may bring the cat along to a branch in order for us to scan for a microchip.  If the cat is microchipped we can then call the microchip company in order to gain the owner’s details.  We are then happy to call the owner & IF the owner agrees to come straight down then we can keep the cat until they arrive.

If the cat isn’t microchipped or the owner’s do not answer the phone then we are unable to keep the cat due to the reasons mentioned above.  We will not risk transmission of diseases to our inpatients by boarding a stray animal.

 You can create posters and advertise on social media and other online resources such as Animal Search UK.

If you’re not able to find the owner and want to take temporary responsibility for vaccinating and neutering the cat, then you may do.  If you’re willing to help, but worried you can’t afford it, you can contact your local RSPCA branch to see if they can help or try other animal charities such as Cats Protection.

If the cat is poorly then we cannot see the cat without a log number provided by the RSPCA.  The finder must call the RSPCA before we see the animal & they will provide you with the log number.  Please call RSPCA on 0300 123 0346 and ask for a log number for veterinary treatment.  This is so there is re homing pathway at the end of treatment.

ALL OTHER SPECIES –

The above policies apply to all species e.g. tortoises/rabbits etc.  We cannot accept an injured/unwell stray animal without the finder obtaining a log number from the RSPCA PRIOR to us accepting the animal, this is so that it can successfully find a new home after treatment.

If there is no clinical indication for veterinary treatment then the finder needs to take the animal to a rescue/boarding facility.  We are not a re-homing facility and do not have the resources in order to do this effectively.

WILDLIFE –

We will see wildlife and treat accordingly.  We will request full details of where it was found in case the animal can be released.