Dogs Trust is warning of a “worrying shift” in the fate of the UK’s stray dogs, with new data from the charity revealing that the number of dogs handled by local authorities is increasing year on year.
According to the Dogs Trust Stray Dog Survey, more than 36,000 dogs were handled by local authorities across the UK between April 2023 and March 2024. While there has seen an overall decline in the number of stray dogs reported by local authorities since 1997, the number of stray dogs handled by local authorities has started to increase again during the past three years.
In addition, more dogs are ending up in the care of welfare organisations than are being reunited with their owners for the first time ever. The survey found that only 39% of dogs taken in by local authority dog wardens between April 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024, were reunited with their owners compared to 43% in 2022-2023 and 54% in 2021-2022.
Staffordshire Bull Terriers, or their crosses, were reported to be the most likely to be found as stray dogs, with 45% of local authorities stating Staffies made up one of the top three breeds found as strays in their area. Lurchers, crossbreeds and Jack Russells also featuring high in the top three breeds reported as strays.
The Stray Dog Survey also revealed that approximately 60% of stray dogs were microchipped before coming into the care of the local authority. However, just 38% of those microchipped dogs had correct owner details on their chip.
Maria Murray, director of behaviour and community services, at Dogs Trust said: “After several years of steady progress in reuniting stray dogs with their owners, we’re now seeing a sharp and worrying reversal. For the first time since our Stray Dog Survey began back in 1997, the data shows more dogs are now being passed to welfare organisations than reunited with their owners. This coincides with a concerning rise in the number of dogs being put to sleep if they are unable to be reunited with their owners.
“While the exact causes are unclear, financial pressures on local authorities may be limiting their ability to trace and return dogs, pushing more into the care of charities. At the same time, rising numbers of stray and unwanted dogs appear to reflect the ongoing cost of living crisis, which we know is hitting dog owners particularly hard. Our own research shows dog-related costs have soared, putting many owners in the heartbreaking position of no longer being able to care for their pets.”
