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Herefordshire has seen a jump in the number of stray dogs reported and taken in over the last two years.

In 2023 Herefordshire Council took in 81 stray dogs, up from 68 the year before and just 21 in 2021.

Of these just five were claimed by their owners last year, down sharply from the 19 claimed the previous year.

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The figures came in a council response to a freedom of information request, which also sought numbers of XL Bully and other dangerous dogs which the council had taken in – but there were none of these over the three-year period.

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Herefordshire Council operates a hotline for reporting stray dogs (01432 261761) on weekdays from 9am to 3pm, and will collect apparent strays within these hours.

Residents are reminded not to simply keep apparent stray dogs.

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Those taken in are kept in holding kennels at Hereford and Worcester Animal Rescue (HWAR) in Madley near Hereford until the owner comes forward – who must then pay a collection and administration fee of £55 plus a kennelling fee of £13.50 per day after the first 24 hours, as well as any costs of veterinary treatment.

After seven days, the dog is made available to the public for re-homing, for which the rescue centre asks a donation of £200.

HWAR was asked about the likely causes of the increasing numbers of strays. But its representative was unable to give a full reply as “our phone is ringing constantly, [we have] dogs coming out of our ears to sort, as well as looking after all our current dogs”.