Report a stray dog

We run a lost and found dog service which handles the recovery and kennelling of stray dogs found within the Horsham District boundary. Horsham District Council does not have a dog warden.

We work with an approved kennels to provide a place to which a stray dog can be taken, and run a collection service 24 hours a day where a report of a stray dog is made to the council provided the dog is contained.

If a stray dog has an identity chip or tag, attempts will be made to return the dog to its home. If a stray dog has no identity chip or tag, it will be seized, kennelled and the owner has to pay the release fee before the dog is returned.

What to do if you find a stray dog

If you find a stray dog, please report it to our kennels on 07512 089777 so we can help:

You will be asked to provide the following information:

Your name and contact details
A description of the dog, for example its type, colour, size, age
The time and date when you found the dog
Where you found the dog
Where the dog should be collected from (provided the dog is contained.)

Please note: If a stray dog is loose, the kennels will not be able to come and collect the dog. They are only able to collect found dogs that are restrained/contained.

What to do if you have lost your dog

If you have lost your dog, please report it to Horsham District Council:

During office hours Call us on 01403 215641 or email ehl@horsham.gov.uk

Claiming back a stray dog

Once a dog has been impounded as a stray at the kennels used by the Council, by law an owner has to pay the release fee before the dog is returned. Once you have identified your dog, payment can then be made at the Council offices or at the kennels. On payment of the fee, the dog will then be released to you. Please note, if your dog is kept in the kennels overnight this will be charged as an additional day fee.

Fee charges for stray dogs

Number of days	Fee for one dog	Fee for each additional dog
1	£119	£72
2	£138	£91
3	£156	£109
4	£175	£128
5	£194	£141
6	£214	£165
7	£231	£184

If a dog is unclaimed after seven clear days it is re-homed, having first been micro-chipped and the dog is no longer the responsibility of the Council. In the event that the dog is kept in excess of seven days, the above fees and charges will not apply. A charge will be made in line with costs incurred by Horsham District Council.

XL Bully Dogs

As of 1^st February 2024, it’s a criminal offence to own or possess an XL Bully dog in England and Wales unless you have a valid Certificate of Exemption.

It’s also an offence to:

sell an XL Bully dog.
abandon an XL Bully dog or let it stray.
give away an XL Bully dog.
breed or breed from an XL Bully dog.
have an XL Bully in public without a lead and muzzle (including exempt dogs)

XL Bully’s may still be collected as strays by our approved kennels who provide a place to which a stray dog can be taken, and run a collection service 24 hours a day, provided the dog is contained, however, these dogs cannot be rehomed.

If you think you have an XL Bully dog in your care that is not exempt, you should contact your local police force on police non-emergency 101. Horsham district council cannot confirm that a dog is an XL Bully, we advise that you contact the police if you require confirmation.

You can find more information on the XL Bully Dog ban on the Gov.uk website.