County Hall Considering New Policy To Deal With Isle Of Wight's Stray Dogs

A new policy to manage stray dogs on the Isle of Wight, aiming for public safety and animal welfare, will be voted on at County Hall this week.

The environment and community protection committee (ECPC) is set to consider the Isle of Wight Council’s Stray Dog Policy 2025 – 2028, which lays out how the authority will meet its legal obligations on the issue.

County Hall’s Dog Service is provided by the Public Realm Officers Team whose responsibilities include responding to reports of stray dogs, trying to deal with loose strays where feasible, and collecting stray dogs during designated hours, according to an officer report.

The new policy says:

“Stray dogs are housed in contracted kennels that meet welfare standards under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’s (DEFRA) model licence conditions.

“The council ensures: adequate food, shelter, and emergency veterinary care is provided and compliance with animal welfare legislation and standards.

“Following the formal serving of a Section 149 Notice to a dog’s owner, after seven days unclaimed dogs are forfeited to the council and may be: rehomed by direct adoption from the council, ownership passed to an Animal Welfare Charity for rehoming, sold at auction or euthanised (only as a last resort and in accordance with welfare guidelines, legal status or on the advice of a veterinarian.)”

A Section 149 notice tells the owner of a stray dog that it has been seized and detained by a local authority officer.

Fees charged to owners collecting stray dogs include a statutory stray dog fee at £25, an out-of-hours collection fee of £60 and a £60 per night kennelling fee.

The policy also says members of the public should get in touch with the local police for advice if they think a stray dog is a prohibited type under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 – for example a pit bull or XL Bully.

ECPC will meet at County Hall at 5pm on Thursday.