Strayaid - Dedicated to the welfare of stray dogs

Who are Stray-aid?

Stray-aid is an animal-based organization whose primary aim is to stop homeable stray dogs and cats from being put down. By increasing public awareness to the plight of unwanted animals, providing information on what to do if you lose or find a dog or cat, who to contact and how to get help. We are creating a network to facilitate the exchange of dogs around the country. In addition, Stray-aid subsidises a veterinary surgeon to provide necessary veterinary treatment for un-owned animals.

The founder members of Stray-aid were appalled by the fact that healthy dogs were being put to sleep every week. In a Council Dog Pound, if a dog is not returned to its original owner or a new home can't be found, the dog may have to be put down to make room for the next batch of strays.

Stray-aid is dedicated to providing health checks, vaccination, flea and roundworm treatment, neutering and shelter for stray dogs and cats until such time as they can be re-homed. Northern Stray-care Veterinary Centre have pledged their help and support, as have Dogs Trust. We also need your help.

Current Situations

Dogs Trust statistics for 2007

105,068 stray dogs were picked up in the UK in 2007 and 7,892 were destroyed unnecessarily. This is a tragic situation, we must all WORK TOGETHER to try and help. If you can give a dog a good home, please consider a rescue dog. They often make very loving and loyal friends.

Stray-aid is working hard in this area. There are many ways you can help us, by donating cash, dog food, bedding, old towels etc., or by talking to your friends about Stray-aid. Together we CAN make a difference! We need volunteers who can spare just a few hours a month to help with fundraising, fun events, admin, re-homing and looking after our dogs whilst in the kennels.

Press release from when Stray-aid started:

Every year, Dogs Trust, the UK's largest dog welfare charity, commissions a report on the stray dog situation across the UK. This year's report, carried out by GFK NOP for the period 31st March 2005 to the 1st April 2006 shows that 101,586 stray dogs were found in the UK.

Of these dogs 7,743 were destroyed (some due to injury or ill health) and although these national figures are down on last year, if the current trend continues it will take 350 years until the stray dog problem is a thing of the past. This represents 149 dogs needlessly destroyed every week, or 21 dogs per day.

Every 5 minutes, somewhere in the UK, a dog is collected by a local council and is classed as a stray. The Environmental Protection Act of 1990 allows for stray dogs to be seized by the councils and taken to council stray pounds, where they are held for a mandatory period of 7 days.

If the dog is not reclaimed by its owner within that period it will then be sold or, if it cannot be rescued for re-homing, it may be destroyed. In the North East alone, the total number of stray dogs which went through council care in the year to April 2006 was 6,222 and although every effort was made to re-unite them with their owners or to re-home them through rescue shelters 616 were put to sleep. This represents an increase of 17% from last year. These figures do not include dogs which do not go through this system.

All dog owners should take responsibility for their pets. The Control of Dogs Order 1992 states that every dog, while in a public place, must wear a collar stating the name and address of its owner. If a dog is found without means of identification it will be seized and treated as a stray. Last year micro-chipping helped reunite 24% of stray dogs with their owners.

Our Aims and Objectives

To promote humane behaviour towards stray animals by providing appropiate care, protection, treatment, ands security for animals which are in need of care and attention by reason of sickness, maltreatment, poor circumstances or ill usage and to educate the public in matters pertaining to animal welfare in general and the prevention of cruelty and suffering among animals.

To reduce the number of stray dogs and cats put to sleep and re-home them, as well as taking care of the dogs and cats welfare by providing a secure and safe environment until such times as they can be re-homed.