Lost and stray animals
Hackney Council can help you with retrieving a lost dog, or reporting a stray one.
For help retrieving other lost pets, you should contact the RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals).
What to do if you have lost your dog
If you have lost your dog, you can call Hackney Council on 020 8356 6688 (9am-5pm ) or 020 8356 2500 (5pm-9am) to see if it has been picked up as a stray.
It is also advisable to contact surrounding local authorities in case your pet strays into another borough. The numbers are as follows:
- Waltham Forest: 020 8496 3000
- Islington: 020 7974 5976 (out of hours: 07825 098947)
- Tower Hamlets: 020 7364 5008
- Newham: 020 8586 9739
Is your pet microchipped?
If your pet is microchipped, we would also advise you to alert PetLog of your missing pet on 0870 60 66 751.
It may also be advisable to contact your veterinary practice.
To help prevent your pet becoming permanently lost we recommend that you get it microchipped. If your pet is already microchipped, please ensure your contact details on the microchip database are kept up to date (you can talk to your vet for more information about this).
How to report a stray dog
To report a stray dog in your area, please contact our Animal Welfare team using the details at the top-right corner of this page.
What does Hackney Council do when a stray dog is reported?
Hackney Council is required under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to pick up stray dogs reported to us. We will respond by visiting the location where the dog is being sighted and attempting to locate the owner by checking for dog tags, microchips etc.
If an owner is found, they will be contacted as soon as possible. If an owner cannot be found, the stray dogs will be kept in our kennels or rehomed. Dogs not claimed within 7 days will be transferred to Battersea Dogs Home.
The Environmental Protection Act 1990 s. 149(6). states ''If not claimed within 7 days of seizure or, if a notice has been served, within 7 days of its service, the dog warden may sell or give the dog to a suitable person or to a dogs' home (who in either case will become its owner), or may have it destroyed.''
Cost to reclaim a stray dog
Dogs can be claimed by their owners but there is a release fee of £30 and a boarding fee of £15 per night.
Rehoming enquiries
For re-homing enquiries, please contact Battersea Dogs and Cats Line on 020 7627 9234 or email rehoming@battersea.org.uk.
Page updated: 30 Apr 2012
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