Dogs

Dog Fouling

You can report dog fouling issues to us. It is an offence to not clean up after your dog if it fouls in an open space. 

We appreciate that it is often difficult to witness the actual fouling taking place, however we need as much information about the person responsible as possible, such as:

• Anything you know about the owner – name, address, description, etc.
• Anything you know about the dog – fur colour, breed, name, etc
• Where the fouling took place (and when, if known)
• The time of day that they walk their dog and the route they take
• An associated vehicle registration number

Without any of this information our officers are unlikely to identify the irresponsible owner. The more information, the more likely it is they will be able to identify them.

Report Dog Fouling »

Bins are provided in many parks and public spaces for the disposal of litter and bagged dog waste, and you can also put bagged dog waste in your household bin.

If you do not pick up after your dog has fouled and dispose of this waste in the correct way and are caught in the act, you could receive a fixed penalty notice of £100 or be prosecuted and receive a fine of up to £1,000 if you do not pay the initial fixed penalty.

The Council also has in place a Dog Control Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) to help stop problems caused by irresponsible dog ownership in public places.  The PSPO makes it an offence for dogs to be off a lead in specified areas, highlights public spaces in which dogs are not permitted (dog exclusion zones) and also makes provisions for authorised officers to direct a person in charge of a dog to put and keep the dog on a lead.  For full details of the Councils PSPO, dogs on leads and dog exclusion zones, please click on the link provided.

Should you witness any persistent breaches of the Councils PSPO and wish to bring this to the attention of the Council, then please use the ‘Report Dog Fouling’ link above providing as much information as possible.

Stray Dogs

Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 local Councils must make arrangements for the collection of stray dogs.

Halton council now has a new partnership with Acorn Kennels for the collection, kennelling and rehoming of stray dogs.

The council are only required to collect stray dogs i.e. dogs that are found roaming without their owner being present.

The council are not responsible for collecting dogs that are no longer wanted by their owners.

Reporting a Stray Dog

If you have found a stray dog then this should be reported to Acorn Kennels who will arrange for collection of the dog. We will only collect stray dogs that have been contained i.e. they have been taken in by the finder or handed in to a vets or someone who can look after the dog while awaiting collection. If a finder takes a dog to a vet they will be required to provide their name, address and phone number verified from their photo ID so the council can ensure the dog is a genuine stray and not a dog no longer wanted by its owner.

Stray dog reports can be made online at:

Report a Lost or Found Dog | Acorn Kennels »

You will be contacted straight back by Acorn Kennels to arrange collection. Dogs will be collected within 4 hours of the call being received. Stray dogs can be reported between 9am to 10pm 7 days a week including bank holidays, except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day.

Lost Dogs

To check whether your dog has been found and reported as a stray in Halton please complete a lost dog report online at:

Report a Lost or Found Dog | Acorn Kennels »

You will be asked to provide a description of the dog, including breed, colour, sex and any distinguishing features. They will also need to know where the dog was last seen and your name, address and phone number. They will then be able to check whether those details match any dogs found. If the details provided match a dog that has been found they will explain how you can reclaim your dog.

Social Media

Due to the impact of social media many lost dogs are now reunited with their owners without the dog being reported to the council as a stray. If you have lost a dog you should also alert local social media groups and check local social media pages for any reports of dogs being found.

The national dogs lost website also has details of dogs that have been found DogLost - Reuniting Lost Dogs With Their Owners

Dangerous Dogs

If any dog, including a stray dog, is dangerous and out of control in a public place this should be reported to the police on either 101 or 999 depending on the severity or urgency of the incident.

A dog is dangerous and out of control if it is behaving aggressively towards the public or other animals and causes members of the public to fear for their safety.

Reclaiming a stray dog

If your dog is microchipped and the details are up to date then Acorn Kennels will contact you to arrange the return of your dog.

We will endeavour to return the dog to the owner from the point of collection without the need to take the dog to kennels.

To facilitate the efficient return of lost dogs to their owners the council will no longer charge a fee for dogs that can be returned straight to the owner and are not taken into kennels.

If a dog cannot be returned straight to its owner then the dog will be taken to kennels whilst further attempts are made to locate the owner.

By law you must reclaim your dog within 7 days of it being collected.

You will be required to provide proof of address / identify so we are sure we are returning the dog to its owner.

Kennel location

Acorn Kennels are located at:
Heath Road
Whitchurch
Shropshire
SY13 2AA

The kennels are licensed by Shropshire County Council with a 5 star rating License Ref. 24/00038/AIAL

In recognition that the kennels are not within the Halton Council area the council will no longer charge a fee for owners who are able to collect their dogs direct from the kennels. To confirm collection contact Acorn Kennels on 01948 662931. Kennels are open from 8am to 6pm 7 days a week.

Home Delivery

If an owner is unable to collect a dog from the kennels then Acorn Kennels can transport the dog back home for a fee of £20. This fee is payable direct to Acorn Kennels and is to cover the costs of transport. No other fees will be charged to reclaim a dog. To arrange for a reclaimed dog to be transported home contact Acorn Kennels on 01948 662931

Microchipping

It is a legal requirement that all dogs are microchipped. The microchip should include contact details for the owner. It is also a legal requirement that these details are kept up to date.

Since compulsory microchipping was introduced in 2016 the number of stray dogs that are taken into kennels has fallen significantly.

Most dogs that are microchipped can be returned to the owner without the need for them to be taken to kennels. In many cases they can be reunited with the owner by local animal welfare groups and through social media without any involvement from the council.

If you seek to reclaim a dog that is not microchipped Acorn Kennels will offer to do this for you for a small fee. I you agree to have your dog microchipped then no further action will be taken. If you choose not to get your dog chipped your details will be passed to Halton Council so we can ensure compliance with the microchipping requirement.

Rehoming

Any dogs that remain unclaimed after 7 days will be transferred to Acorn Kennels for rehoming.

If you are interested in giving a dog a new home please visit

Acorn Kennels Whitchurch Re-Homing Page | Whitchurch | Facebook

In addition Cheshire Dogs Home Manchester & Cheshire Dogs Home also have a number of dogs in need of a new home.