Dogs Abandoned in Hartley Wintney

A CALL to  Hart District Council’s out of hours Stray Dog Service to collect two dogs that had been left in a communal hallway in Hartley Wintney swiftly turned from a routine stray dog request into an animal welfare issue.

The two dogs, a female Saluki cross and a female Lurcher cross Whippet were in an awful condition and as soon as was practically possible both were examined by a vet.

Iris Thompson, Residential Environmental Health Manager responsible for the Dog Warden Service said: “It has been confirmed by the vet that both these dogs are emaciated and that they are both suffering from severe flea allergies.

“These are conditions that were completely avoidable had their owners behaved responsibly and shown a duty of care towards them.”

The RSPCA  is working in partnership with the council to try to find the owner or keeper of the dogs.

Councillor Susan Band, Portfolio Holder for Health & Housing said: “As a dog owner myself I am shocked that anybody can let dogs get into such an appalling condition. If anyone knows anything about who owns these dogs, please contact the Dog Warden Service confidentially.”

The dogs have received treatment for their ailments and have been placed on a specialised food diet.

Dogs seized by Hart District Council as stray dogs are held for seven days in accordance with the Environmental Protection Act 1990. If still unclaimed after that they are re-homed through a variety of partner agencies and animal welfare organisations.  

Anyone with information on the ownership of the dogs should contact the Dog Warden Service at Hart on 01252 774420