Barking Mad? Council set to axe out of hours stray dog collections.

Flintshire County Council’s out of hours stray dog service is set to come to an end on 1 April 2015 with residents being asked to take up the ‘slack’ and look after dogs until wardens are back on duty.

The cost saving exercise will see warden services axed after 5pm, the council will no longer pick up stray dogs or any other animal after 5pm, instead householders who find a stray animal will have to keep hold of them overnight, dog wardens will then pick up stray dogs the next ‘working day’

Alternatively those finding a stray dog have the option to drive up to the council’s reception point at North Clwyd Animal Rescue in Trelogan, a 50 mile round trip from Deeside, where they will take in stray dogs until 10pm seven days a week.

Further changes to the Council’s Stray Dog Service will see the introduction of a £20 fee applied during the day for any stray dog returned to its owner.

Alternatively the dog could be taken to North Clwyd Animal Rescue for the owner to collect, where it will incur the statutory fine and associated kennelling charges, the minimum being one day.

Cllr Kevin Jones, Cabinet Member for Waste Strategy, Public Protection and Leisure, said:

“Flintshire County Council remains committed to providing a comprehensive Pest Control Service and these changes ensure that it continues to be an efficient and cost effective service valued by residents. The changes to the Out of Hours service are being introduced as part of our challenge to find efficiencies in the order of £18m in the coming financial year, and the revisions were agreed as part of the budget setting proposals.”

Full details of the service provided by the County Council can be found on www.flintshire.gov.uk/streetscene or by contacting 01352 701234.’