I found a middle-aged friendly Cocker Spaniel, sniffing around my front garden this morning obviously looking for Benson. We had not seen this dog before and being on a busy road we felt responsible so put it on a lead and attached it to our gate post. The dog had a collar but surprisingly no name tag so there was little we could do other than hope the owner would appear looking for the dog. We waited for 2 hours and then had to leave for a prearranged appointment so handed over the dog to our neighbours. Two hours later we returned to find the neighbour had called the dog warden and the Spaniel was carted off to the dog pond with all the added expense and heart ache. It's a shame that some dog-owners don't use common sense?
I've come across a couple before and each time I take them round to the vets who check for microchips. Each time they've been chipped thankfully so they can contact the owners.
Yes I've found dogs before now, in the woods or in our neighborhood, luckily they've always have a name tag and/or were microchipped, so easy to find the owners.
Microchips are fine for positively identifying an animal but only vets, dog wardens, police have electronic devices capable of reading the chip. I still think the name tag with a telephone number is essential?
I believe the name tags are required by law - A dog is required to have a tag with an address and telephone number.
Tags are required by law, there is a fine of upto £5,000 for not displaying one too. I have found 5 dogs this year on my walks and only one Lab had a tag so she was quickly reunited with her owner who cam to meet me. Last week David found a tiny puppy Cocker Spaniel about 5 months old running around a crop, no collar nothing. Luckily Tim's daughter recognised it so good news for that little pup it was reunited with it's irresponsible owner. I find it astonishing that people feel the need to be so irresponsible with their dogs especially with all the dog thefts happening in Hampshire where I live. You can buy tags on line so easily and cheaply and I always have a few spare in the draw.
