Seeing a dog wandering on its own can tug at the heartstrings - but its also a safety issue for the dog, drivers, and anyone out walking. If you spot a stray in or around Gnosall, here is the quickest, most practical way to help.

First things first - stay safe

• Do not put yourself at risk. A frightened dog can bolt or bite, even if it looks friendly.
• If the dog will come to you calmly, keep it secure (a lead is best). Avoid chasing.
• Keep children and other dogs back, and do not attempt to handle an aggressive or injured dog.

Who to contact in Stafford Borough

In our area, stray dog collection is handled by Stafford Borough Council. Their dog collection service page explains what to do, including how to report a stray and what information helps (location, time seen, description, collar tags, and whether the dog is safely contained).

Stafford Borough Council - Dog collection service

If you can safely contain the dog

If the dog is in your garden, a secure yard, or you can keep it safely on a lead, that can really speed things up - but only if you are confident its safe to do so.

• Keep the dog somewhere secure with water (and away from other pets).
• Do not feed it unless you have to - some dogs have medical or dietary issues.
• When reporting, tell the council the dog is contained and give the exact location and contact details.

What not to do (well-meaning, but unhelpful)

• Do not assume its fine because it has a collar - lost dogs often do.
• Do not transport the dog around the county looking for an owner. Report it and let the official process work.
• Do not rely only on social media posts - always report via the council route as well.

Local links that may help

• Stafford Borough Council - Dog collection service
• Gnosall Parish Council