Norwich Best for Pets

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Dogs Lost & Found

BE PREPARED

Being prepared for losing/finding an animal may not only help you in a crisis but may assist you in helping someone else.

If you own a pet:

Make sure you have a recent photo and a note of any distinguishing marks and their microchip number. The more details you give your microchip provider the better (as with Doglost below).
Pre-register them with Doglost www.doglost.co.uk, Helpline: 0844 800 3220, [email protected]
As well as your pets’ details being pre-registered, you can also opt to receive text/email alerts re lost animals in your area. With a lost animal time is always critical so this can be a real help. Animals other than dogs can be registered.
Make sure the local council/Dog Warden’s telephone number is saved into your phone. If you are going on holiday it might be useful to check and add other areas too. Please see the interactive map for council contact details.

LOST

Acting quickly is key so if you are ‘prepared’ (see BE PREPARED) this will help enormously. Social media is a wonderful tool in these situations and many groups will share your post nationwide to help.

Check with your local council and neighbouring councils too as your pet may have strayed into another area (see interactive map). The council should have a stray dog register and will be able to inform you as to whether they have collected your pet.
Inform Doglost www.doglost.co.uk, Helpline: 0844 800 3220, [email protected]
Although stray dogs are no longer their responsibility, many people still contact the police if they lose/find an animal so it is always worth checking with your local force.
Contact local vets – stray animals are often take to surgeries to be scanned if found outside the council operating hours.
Facebook can be really useful in helping raise awareness. There are several local and national groups dedicated to reuniting pets and their owners but also ask your friends to share the information everywhere they can.
Contact neighbours, local shops, local radio, local rescues (see list). Awareness is 90% of the solution so the more people aware that your dog is missing the better.

FOUND

A stray dog is a dog unsupervised in a public place regardless of whether it is wearing a collar and tag. If you find a dog it is a legal requirement that you report this to the council.

Take care when approaching any lost/stray animal – always put personal safety first. If the dog appears to be dangerously out of control, please contact the Police on 999. If you are happy to approach the dog and have a spare collar/lead with you this may be useful to restrain the dog. A cage is also useful if you need to contain the animal until collection.
Check to see if the dog is wearing a collar and tag – there maybe contact information. It is still a legal requirement for dogs to wear a collar and tag in public but if the animal has escaped from home or been stolen then this may be missing.
Check for injuries.
If there is no identification and you are able, you can take the dog to a vet and ask for it to be scanned. It is now a legal requirement for a dog to be microchipped and the details kept up-to-date.
Report to the council (see interactive map).
Register with Doglost www.doglost.co.uk, Helpline: 0844 800 3220, [email protected] They will then share the information throughout their networks and hopefully facilitate a swift reunion.
If you are able/decide to take the dog home with you until the owner is contacted please make sure that the relevant agencies are aware of your location and have your contact details . Also, please consider any safety/disease implications particularly if you have children/other pets. As before, a cage may be useful if taking the dog home.

If a dog is collected by the council contractor and can be identified (by the collar and tag or microchip) the owner will be notified as soon as possible. The dog will only be released when proof of identification is shown and payment is made (which includes a daily charge and any additional fees eg vet fees). Dogs will only be retained in kennels for seven days, after which they will be rehomed. Legally after seven days they may be put-to-sleep. Details are on the council websites.

If you find any other pet/animal the council is not responsible so you can either call the RSPCA, take the animal to a vet or use one of the websites like animalsearchuk.co.uk, petslocated.com or Lost & Found Cats in Norwich.

CLAIMING A LOST DOG

If your dog is found and collected by the local council you will be contacted straight away, the dog will be held in kennels and you will be sent a stray dog notice stating where the dog can be collected and any charges that need to be paid. To claim your dog you will need to provide proof of ownership: a photograph, a pedigree history or proof of ownership (such as a purchase receipt).
If you cannot be traced, the dog will be taken to kennels and held for up to 7 days. After this time the dog will be re-homed and legally could be put-to-sleep. The implications of not micro-chipping and keeping the information up-to-date regarding your pet are obvious so if you are going on holiday/leaving your animal with friends/relatives make sure that in the event of the animal escaping/getting lost that everything is in place to facilitate a swift reunion.
Should an owner decide not to collect their pet, the council will seek to recover any outstanding charges from the owner regardless of whether or not the dog is subsequently re-homed.
The councils all operate differing services – it is wise to see what is available in your area so that you are informed in the event of an emergency (see interactive map).

ACCIDENT

If you are involved in an RTA with a dog the incident must be reported to the police within 24 hrs if the owner if not in attendance. It would also be useful to report this to the council and Doglost www.doglost.co.uk, Helpline: 0844 800 3220, [email protected] . If requested the council can collect the body (which should be scanned) but on main trunk roads, like the A47, A11 etc contact Highways England.

Dog Rescue Centres

Below is a list of rescue organisations that rehome dogs in the Norfolk area. There are more charities further afield which can be found on the internet or yellow pages. Please note, we do not have any associations with the below organisations and do not endorse them in any way. We do not guarantee that any of them will be able to help if they have no space.

Care Dog Rescue

Gorleston, Norfolk

Tel: 01493 653955

Web Site: www.care-uk.com

Dogs Trust

North Farm Kennels,North End Road,Snetterton,Norfolk, NR16 2LD

Open Hours: 12.00pm – 4.00pm except Mondays closed.

Tel: 01953 498377

Web Site: www.dogstrust.org/rehoming/our_centres/snetterton/

Faith Animal Rescue

Stubb Road, Hickling, Norwich, Norfolk NR12 0BW

Open Hours: 10.00am – 3.00pm (except Thursday and Bank Holidays)