A stray dog is any dog, which is running free in a public place without its owner being present. Legally it makes no difference if the dog is loose accidentally, has been released without authority of the owner, or has been deliberately allowed to roam.
Reporting a stray dog
During office hours
Monday to Friday - 9:00am to 5:00pm
Out of hours
If you find a dog outwith office hours call Police Scotland:
Please note: Stray dogs will not be uplifted/collected by the police unless the dog is demonstrating threatening or erratic behaviour, or is posing a danger.
You could either keep the dog (if it is safe to do so) until office hours, then telephone 01324 506070 and report it. Or take the dog to Falkirk Police Office, Stirling Police Office or Alloa Police Office (if it is safe to do so). View Police station opening hours.
Lost dogs
If you have lost your dog please contact us as we may have been made aware of sightings of a dog and we have the powers to uplift a dog if found in a public place.
If your dog has strayed, we will collect it and take it to Bandeath Stray Dog Shelter.
If your dog is taken to Bandeath Stray Dog Shelter, you will be charged a fee when you collect it. See Stirling Councils Re-claiming dogs page for more information.
The opening hours for Bandeath Stray Dog Shelter are:
- Monday to Friday: 9am-12pm and 1pm-4pm
- Saturday and Sunday: 9am-12pm
Your responsibilities
- Your dog must be microchipped (since 01 April 2016).
- It is an offence to allow your dog to stray.
- It is also an offence under the Control of Dogs Order 1992 for a dog to be in a public place without a collar and tag with the owner's name and address on it, even when the owner is in charge of the dog.
- If your dog does not have a collar and tag, you can be prosecuted and fined up to £5,000. The owner commits this offence even if a dog has been microchipped.
See our Dog owner responsibilities page for more information.
Other animals
The only animals we collect are stray dogs. Other stray animals should be reported to the SSPCA.
If you are concerned about cruelty to a dog (or any other animal), you can get advice from the Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA).