Warning over dumped dogs

More dogs will be dumped on the streets of the West Midlands when new rules mean police will no longer be able to take in stray animals, a charity has claimed.

Although the police will still be responsible for dealing with dangerous dogs, they will not accept strays at police stations from April.

At the moment Sandwell Council has a dog warden who works office hours but after normal working hours strays are taken to police stations. But from April councils will be expected to provide a more cost effective service to care for the animals outside working hours.

The plans have been met with concern by animal fostering charity, Animal House Rescue, which fears it will lead to an increase in strays.

The charity wants to set up its own venue in Sandwell to house problem stray dogs and is desperate to find premises to buy or rent, as currently strays are taken to Wolverhampton.

Lin Reeves, who runs the group, said: "If people have nowhere to take problem dogs they will just let them go and they will be running in the street."

Sandwell Council's cabinet member for neighbourhoods and housing, Councillor Mahboob Hussain, said that the authority will continue with its existing service provided by its dog warden during office hours.

He said: "We are in discussions with the kennels who take dogs collected by the warden regarding the provision of the out of hours service in preparation for April."

Across the border in Staffordshire, a spokesman for Lichfield District Council said although plans were not yet definite, it was proposed they will take in strays until 10pm after police stations stop accepting them.

A West Midlands Police spokeswoman said: "A number of West Midlands Police stations no longer have kennel facilities.

"If a stray dog is brought into a police station that does not have a kennel, an animal centre or vet would be contacted.

"Some operational command units have arrangements with local animal centres for strays to be taken there and housed temporarily.

"Legislation is due to be introduced in April which will transfer responsibility for stray dogs to local authorities."