New Stray Dog Policy Agreed For Isle Of Wight

A new policy to manage stray dogs on the Isle of Wight, aiming for public safety and animal welfare, has been agreed by county councillors.

The environment and community protection committee (ECPC) last Thursday (December 4) passed County Hall’s Stray Dog Policy 2025 – 2028, which sets out how the council will meet its legal requirements on the matter.

Provided by the Public Realm Officers Team, the local authority’s dog service has responsibilities which 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.

Natasha Dix, the Isle of Wight Council’s service director for environment waste and planning, said that between 2021 and 2023, 35 stray dogs were reported.

However, she added that in the last six months, 10 strays were collected by officers.

“Six were reunited with their owners, three were successfully rehomed and one still remains in our care awaiting rehoming,” Ms Dix told the committee.

“They may not be high numbers but it is important for each and every one of those animals to ensure it is being looked after, that their welfare is held as paramount and that rehoming and reuniting with their owners is an absolute priority.”

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.