FOI Request - Stray Dogs
Request 101003947522
Please provide the following information for the period 1 January 2020 to 25 February 2026:
1. The total number of stray dogs reported to and handled by the council each year
2. The number of these dogs that were injured each year
3. The number of these dogs that were microchipped
4. How many of these were microchipped with owners details up to date?
5. A breakdown of the outcome for these dogs each year:
a) Number returned to owners
b) Number rehomed
c) Number transferred to rescue organisations
d) Number euthanised
6. If recorded, the reasons for euthanasia (e.g., medical, behavioural, unclaimed)
7. The total annual cost to the council of managing stray dogs
Response 24-03-2026
| Question/Year | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 (to 25/02) |
| 1. | 91 | 51 | 52 | 28 | 36 | 50 | 7 |
| 2. | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 3. | 30(57) | 17(29) | 14(18) | 9(11) | 13(12) | 16(17) | 6(11) |
| 4. | 24 | 11 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 11 | 3 |
| 5.a) | 20* | 12* | 14* | 6* | 9* | 11* | 2* |
| b) | * | * | * | * | * | * | * |
| c) | * | * | * | * | * | * | * |
| d) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6. | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | It was an XL bully that could not be rehomed. | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| 7. | The total annual cost of managing stray dogs is not calculated as a separate amount and forms part of the annual cost to the larger Environmental Health section. | ||||||
* Not held. Information that is not held falls under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Information not held.
Notes: Q3 – The first number is the actual number of scans for microchips and number in brackets is the number of dogs that it is not known is the dog was or was not microchipped.
Q5 – a) is the total number of dogs reunited directly by the dog warden.
b) & c): Stray dogs are taken to the local dog kennel. From there the dogs can be returned to owners, rehomed or sent on to other rescue organisations. The Council does not hold figures for these.