26/10/2026
🐾 Please check gates are securely closed and your fencing intact before letting your dogs out 🐾
We have had a lot of calls over the last couple of days about loose dogs all over North Wales.
With the 3rd storm in the space of a week on the horizon, this is your friendly public service announcement to ALWAYS check your gates and fencing, EVERY SINGLE TIME YOU LET YOUR DOGS OUT.
We get it's tedious to do it every time, but the one time you don't may be the time your gate has blown open, or something has broken your fence panel, and your dog escapes your garden.
And once they're out, anything can happen... a car accident, dog attack, they're stolen, or the lucky ones find their way to us. It can happen to anyone, so don't let it be your dog that goes missing.
If you find a loose or stray dog:
🐾 Stay calm and firstly assess the situation - is the dog safe to approach, both in behaviour and environment
🐾 Do not chase - the likelihood is the dog is already frightened, so running after them will only make them panic more. Instead follow calmly and from a distance
🐾 Let them come to you, or approach slowly - ideally, turn side on and try and get the dog come to you. But if they are tied up or are hiding, turn sideways, avoid direct eye contact, crouch low (if safe to do so) and slowly and calmly approach. If you are not sure, keep a distance
🐾 Check for dog tags - tags should have the owners phone number and address on, this is the quickest and easiest way to get the dog back to their owner
🐾 Check for a Microchip - take them to the nearest vet to scan for a chip or contact the dog warden
🐾 Contact the Dog Warden - ALL stray dogs must be reported to the dog warden unless you were able to locate the owner through the details on their tag. You cannot just keep the dog. The contact details for your local dog warden can be found on the council website
