Further to your information request FOI 12/13-631 please find your question and our response below.

1. The name/s and address/es of the establishment/s to which dogs are taken when found to be straying in your area.
Response:
Mr Ben Furness, Mitchells Farm Boarding Kennels, Mitchells Farm, Millfield Lane, Wilburton, Ely Cambs CB6 3SD – responsible for stray dog collection out of hours and during certain daytime hours, temporary kennelling and transport to Woodgreen Animal Shelter.
Woodgreen Animal Shelter, Kings Bush Farm, London Road, Godmanchester, Huntingdon, Cambs PE29 2LJ – responsible for longer term care, kennelling and re-homing.
2. Who makes the decisions about what will happen to stray dogs when the statutory 7 days for them to be held has expired and the Council is no longer financially responsible for them - the kennels owner/management, the Council's Dog Warden or another person? And if another person, who would that be?
Response: Woodgreen Animal Shelter is a re-homing charity who has control of where the stray dogs are re-homed. If euthanasia has to be considered at any point then Woodgreen will discuss the matter with the Dog Warden or a Principal Officer within the relevant Department at the District Council, and will require agreement in each case.
3. Is there a cut-off point at which stray dogs are no longer the property of the Council but become the property of the establishment in which they are being held? If so, what is that cut-off point.
Response: After 7 days they become the property of Woodgreen.
4. Is there any directive, either written or verbal, formal or informal, from the Council or any of its employees on what should happen to stray dogs handed in to the pound once those dogs have reached or gone past the 7 days in which the Council must by law arrange and provide for their care?
Response: There are cases where the finder of a stray dog may wish to keep it and this is allowed if, after 7 days, the dog is not claimed and the Local Authority Dog Warden is satisfied with the level of care being offered, then a written agreement with the Local Authority is signed to hand over the dog to the new owner. There are sometimes cases of the Local Authority formally handing the dog over to specific Breeder Rescue Organisations. However most are transferred to Woodgreen with which we have a formal written contract.

This concludes your request FOI 12/13-631

If you disagree with our decision or are otherwise unhappy with how we have dealt with your request in the first instance you may approach . and request a review.

Should you remain dissatisfied with the outcome you have a right under s50 of the Freedom of Information Act to appeal against the decision by contacting the Information Commissioner, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow SK9 5AF.

Yours sincerely

Karen See

Principal Environmental Health Officer

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