Finding a dog but failing to report it then keeping it as your own is THEFT and as such is a CRIMINAL OFFENCE.

If you come across a stray dog that you are unable to get under control the only real option is to call the local Dog Warden. The number can be found listed in Environmental Services under your local council listing in the phone book.

If you find and catch a stray dog, you have 2 choices in terms of how you proceed:

Choice 1: Visit your local police station with the dog. Explain you've found it and hand it over to them. From there, the dogs will be sent to the nearest SPCA or Council Welfare Shelter. After 7 days in their care, if no owner is forthcoming the dog would be made available for rehoming.

PROS: The dog is officially 'in the system'. Most owners will call or visit the local SPCA or Council Welfare Centre. The dog is therefore visible and reunion is a very good possibility.

CONS: (sorry just being honest here) Some Welfare Shelters do have a PTS policy. If the dog is not reclaimed by it's owner after the 7 days it will be made available for adoption. Some of these shelters will only then give the dog a limited time to be adopted before pressures of other homeless dogs requiring kennel space may force them to euthanise the dog.

Choice 2: Report the dog to a police station. Give them your details but say you are happy to retain the dog. The police will give you a form to fill in ("Retained by Finder") and you will have to keep the dogs for a set period of time. (Depending on where you live this will likely be between 4 - 8 weeks.) After that time, if no owner is forthcoming, you become the legal owner of the dog and can proceed as you choose.

PROS: You at least know the dog is safe and well with you until such a time as you decide it's future.

CONS: Taking this course of action means the dog is 'in the system'. HOWEVER, the police are obviously VERY busy with other more important things and such a report is easily forgotten. In addition, it's unlikely that the police would contact the local SPCA or Council Welfare Centres to inform them you have reported finding a dog. If taking this course of action YOU MUST take it upon yourself to call these centres AND the other police stations in your area to inform them you have the dog. Postering the local area is also a very good idea. There are also several online sites where found dogs may be reported.

Please be advised that by taking the 2nd course of action you are legally responsible for the welfare of the dogs and you are legally responsible to keep the dogs for the time specified by the police.

It's always GAL's advice to got with the FIRST course of action. Despite the cons, the dog is properly in the system and has a greatly improved chance of being reunited with it's owner. If no owner is forthcoming the dog is then able to be rehomed quickly.

GAL cannot rehome a found dog until all legal obligations have been satisfied.

-- Edited by glendy at 19:24, 2006-05-10