Dog wardens at Blaby District Council have been shocked by a recent surge in owners handing in their own pets as strays.

Local authorities have a duty to deal with stray dogs within their districts however this service appears to be becoming abused by irresponsible owners who want to get rid of their dogs.

Michelle Ikin, senior dog warden at Blaby District Council, said:

“We have been inundated recently with owners lying about “finding” the dog within our district to get it collected by us. As a result the Council now has a policy where all stray dogs are investigated and where a “finder” is found to have handed in their own pet we will take action against them.

Ms. Ikin went on to say:

“Within the last two weeks we have been handed a 13 year old dog with cancer that the owner didn’t want anymore and a heavily pregnant bitch that has subsequently given birth to four puppies within 48 hours of being handed over. These dogs are placed under huge amounts of stress when they come into kennels and the owners are clearly heartless to put their pet through that kind of situation when they are ill or pregnant. It is completely irresponsible and barbaric.”

Blaby District Council is appealing for anyone that may recognise little “Mamma Tubbs” as she has been nicknamed, so that the dog wardens can speak to the owner who abandoned her.

And don’t forget ‘Missy’…

Missy, (photo: right) the 13 year old dog, is currently in a foster home but the dog wardens are hoping that someone will be kind enough to offer her a peaceful retirement home for the last few months of her life.

Anyone who could offer a home to Missy or provide any information in confidence relating to the pregnant terrier, please contact Blaby District Council on 0116 272 7555 or email env.health@blaby.gov.uk

Around 160 strays are picked up each year by the local authority’s dog wardens and about half of these are left homeless.

Photos and descriptions of all available dogs are available at www.blaby.gov.uk/dogs