Advice and welfare

Baby birds are often better off being left alone. Please don't touch a baby bird unless you are sure it genuinely needs help. Our advice on fledglings and nestlings gives guidance on how to decide if it does.

What to do if you've found a baby bird.

Our limited number of officers mean we can only attend when a stray animal is in imminent danger, such as serious injury or illness.

Stray dogs are the responsibility of local authorities, who must provide a dog warden service.

Report a stray dog to your local authority.

Check out our top tips on what to do if you've found a lost, stray or abandoned dog,

Our limited number of officers mean we can only attend when a stray animal is in imminent danger, such as serious injury or illness.

Stray cats can be hard to identify, they can often be owned or living as a feral. We don't collect healthy stray cats and ask instead that you read our advice:

How to help stray cats.

Dogs bark for many reasons and may not necessarily be in distress. In the first instance, please contact your local authority and make a noise complaint. They will contact us if they have further welfare concerns.

Report a barking dog to your local authority

Separation-related behaviour

It's possible the owner isn't aware that their dog is barking while they're away. Please let the neighbour know what's going on while they're out. They might find this guide helpful:

Separation-related behaviour

It isn't illegal to keep a dog outside, but they must have access to adequate shelter, food and water. It can be frustrating but we're only able to act when there is a concern about the dog's health and welfare.

Find out more about dogs being kept outside

Tethering compromises a horse's well-being and is not a practice we recommend, however tethering itself is not illegal in the UK. Our officers must work within the law, so we cannot send them out to tethered horses unless the horse's welfare is affected (e.g. an injury caused by improper tethering equipment).

Find out more about tethering horses

Injured wildlife often needs help quickly and our officers are limited in number. 

If the animal is a wild bird or mammal smaller than the size of a rabbit, the quickest way to get help is to contact a local vet or rehabilitation centre as they will not usually charge for treating wildlife.

Find your local wildlife rehabilitation centre

Healthy animal in the road

If there is a healthy animal on a motorway or major 'A' road in England or Wales please call the Highways Agency (for England) on 0300 123 5000 or Traffic Wales on 0845 602 6020 so arrangements can be made for the animal to be removed. 

Any healthy stray animals found on minor roads in England and Wales should be reported to the police so they can decide on the actions necessary to ensure the safety of road users and the animal. 

In the case of a stray dog on the road, we suggest you also call your local council's dog warden service as they are legally responsible for stray dogs. 

Find your local council

Injured animal in the road

We can only attend an animal that is highly likely to be at the scene once we arrive. If there is an injured domestic animal on the road and it is still mobile and in and out of traffic, please contact the local police on 101.

If the animal is badly injured, please call the police. If there is no imminent danger to life please chat to us online

Dead animal in the road

If there are no suspicious circumstances and the animal is found on a motorway or major 'A' road in England or Wales please call the Highways Agency (for England) on 0300 123 5000 or Traffic Wales on 0845 602 6020 so arrangements can be made for the animal to be removed. 

For any minor or side roads then local councils are obliged to pick up dead animals but please note this does not include private or residential property. 

Find your local council

Swan in the road

If you find an injured swan or see a swan crash land, please contact us.

If you find a healthy swan on a road please ring the police on 101. This is to help avoid the situation from becoming dangerous for both the animal and other road users. Don't try to rescue, handle or transport swans yourself, as they can be aggressive to people when stressed or injured.