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If it is safe to do so and you are confident, check to see if the dog is wearing any form of identification, if so return them directly to their owner.

The Council's priority is to offer a centralised and co-ordinated service for the collection of stray dogs with the aim of reuniting dogs with their owners as quickly as possible. 

If you aren't able to reunite the dog with its owner, then you must contact Â鶹ÊÓƵ's Animal Welfare Officer straight away and arrange collection of the dog. You can do this by ringing the Council's Contact Centre on 0191 427 7000. The Animal Welfare Officer will collect the dog as soon as possible.

This service is available between the hours of 8.30am - 5pm, Monday - Friday. An out-of-hours dog collection service is available until 10pm on weekdays and at weekends, however there is no collection service outside of these hours.

You may wish to keep the dog with you until such time as arrangements can be made for its collection.

Please remember that rehoming organisations cannot take strays directly off the street or from well-meaning members of the public except under certain emergency situations.

If you think the dog is dangerous, it should be dealt with directly by the Police.

A dangerous dog is one that has already attacked, or puts a person in genuine fear for their safety, or the safety or others. It can be hard to define a vicious dog as it may simply be scared, hungry, or feels under threat.

If a dog has bitten somebody, attacked another dog or seems likely to attack, you should report it immediately to the Police on 101.

Why you shouldn't look after the dog in your own home

It may not be advisable to take a stray dog into your own home.

No assessment has been made of the dog's health or temperament and you could put yourself or your family at risk of injury or disease.

If you do take a stray dog in to your home, then the law requires you to tell the Council's Animal Welfare Officer. If you don't, you could be accused of theft.