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Paying to get your lost dog back can be costly

Thu, 28 Jun 2007

In the UK a number of city councils demand a fee of £90 to release dogs captured by dog wardens to their owners.

In Norwich it was the police who used to round up stray dogs this role has now been taken over by the City Council. They charge £30 plus vet’s bills, and an additional £10 daily fee to hold the dog.

Similar charges are imposed by South Norfolk Council. They charge £32 plus vets bills, but if the dog is known to them this charge is increased. However, Broadland District Council charges £62.90, whereas Great Yarmouth District Council charges between £70 and £90. However, this council takes the added step of putting the dog to sleep if it is not collected in seven days or it cannot be re-homed.

In one incident, dog owner, Philipa Sykes, 27, had to pay £62.90 to have her one year old Staffordshire bull terrier kennelled by Broadland District Council, released.

Philipa from Wroxham was appalled as the dog was only there for two hours.

She said, "We had visitors and they left the door open - in 10 or 20 minutes she was gone."

"Lucy is deaf so we were worried she wouldn't hear if anyone called her but luckily the vets took her in. They kept her overnight and then rang the council the next morning, who were going to take her over to Reepham to kennels there."

Because Lucy wasn’t wearing a collar with a tag, the council could not contact the owner to reunite her with dog. It is every dog owners’ legal responsibility to ensure their dog has a collar with a tag.

Philippa said, "We had to pay Broadland District Council £62.90 and they had literally had her for two hours - the vets had had her overnight and charged nothing."

Broadland District Council said the fee was a standard charge for one day, even if the animal has been with them for a couple of hours as the dog needs to be cleaned. The local authority added that the fee is make up from the following fees: a statutory release fee of £25, a kennel fee of £22.50 and a £15.40 admin fee. An additional day is charged at £14.35.

A spokeswoman from the council said, "We have to charge the £25 release fee by law and the kennel charges us £22.50."

"If the dog has a microchip or a collar and tag then the dog is returned directly back to the owner without charge."

"A collar and tag is actually required by law - charges are also prescribed by law. If we find out it's not the right dog and we've charged someone we give the money straight back."
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