Wardens rounded up 47 dogs in Hartlepool in April, up from 35 in March and 25 in February.

Kennel chiefs, wardens and finance experts say rising living costs is a cause for the increase.



THE Mail has launched its bid to halt the stray dogs problem by asking our readers to Give a Dog a Home.

Council dog wardens have handed over 1,500 stray dogs to Fallowfield Farm Re-homing Kennels, in South Hetton, in the last five years.

In the past, the police have accepted strays out-of-hours – but that has now changed under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act.

This, and the rising numbers due to rising costs could mean the hundreds of dogs collected by council officials is set to soar.

And you can help keep those numbers down – but more importantly offer the hundreds of stranded pets a new home.

Today we feature four dogs looking for new homes - and we will feature one each week in a bid to help the cause.

Carol Wager, re-homing officer for the kennels, said: "We have 10 dogs in at the moment. Five are waiting to see if their owners will turn up.
Unfortunately we do rehome a lot more than we return to the owners.

"I hope the Mail will be able to bring more interest to rehoming dogs, I think it is a very good thing to make people more aware.

"The centre has a non-destruction policy meaning no dogs are put down. Each dog is kept for as long as possible at the centre before being moved on to centres outside the area."

Carol added: "We get people coming in and saying they want a certain type of dog and it is up to us to try and match up dog and owner.

"Sometimes dogs are here months so they are moved on to another area where they might have more look or a centre where someone has asked for a dog matching one of our dog's description."

Dogs which are taken to the centre are held for up to nine days unless they are reclaimed by their owner.

After that nine days, they are made available to anyone willing to offer them a new home.

The kennels try and match the type and temperament of dogs with potential new owners. For example, the dog's temperament could affect whether a canine is given to a new owner with children.

Would-be pet owners also get the chance to take a dog for a walk before they make their decision on whether the pooch is right for them.

And the service does not end there. A free microchip is fitted to every dog re-homed by the centre.

New owners also get a discount voucher for spaying and neutering and four weeks of free pet insurance.

Craig Thelwell, Hartlepool Council's neighbourhood action manager, said: "We hope to make more people aware of animals that are available for adoption.

"Local authorities have historically offered stray dog collection services and places where stray dogs could be taken by members of the public during 'normal office hours'. Outside those hours, the police have accepted stray dogs brought to them.

"Under the new rules, councils will be expected to continue providing their office hours service, but they will also need to provide, where practicable, a place where a stray dog can be taken and accepted into local authority care out of hours.

"We always make every effort to re-home stray dogs that go unclaimed after being picked up by our dog warden."

The council also has an on-line dog re-homing service. Photographs of dogs needing a home are posted on its website and potential new owners can view them at the click of a button.

HELPLINE CONTACTS

IF you are having problems looking after your dog, worried you can't handle the upkeep, then here are someone useful numbers:

• RSPCA Great Ayton Animal Centre, Yarm Lane. 0870 0101843.



• Low Fallowfield Farm Re-homing Centre, South Hetton. (0191) 5261829 or 07932 039647.



• Dogs Trust, Hillhouse Lane, Sadberge, Darlington. (01325) l To report a stray dog to the council ring (01429) 523333 during office hours or 07733 325322 out of hours.