Black and white Collie found near Boscastle looking for his owner

Somewhere in north Cornwall there is a family with an empty dog bed and a lead still hanging by the door. Their black and white Collie has turned up safe. He was found in the Boscastle area and is now being looked after by Cornwall Council’s animal welfare team, who are trying to work out where he belongs.

The dog waiting in Boscastle

The Collie is described simply as black and white, and he was found wandering in and around Boscastle. The council’s animal welfare team has him in its care while the owner is traced.

If he is yours, or you think you know whose he is, the number to call is 0300 1234 212. That line is used to report a dog as missing, and it is the same team that would reunite the two of you.

What to do if you have lost your dog

A lost dog is one of those things that feels enormous the moment it happens and completely helpless the moment after. Cornwall Council runs the stray dog service for the county, and there is a set of steps worth knowing before you ever need them.

Start by reporting the dog missing on 0300 1234 212, or through the council’s online stray dogs page. You will be asked for your contact details, a description of the dog covering type, colour and size, the time, date and place you last had them, and whether they are microchipped. The council keeps a register of reported losses and will get in touch if a dog matching yours is handed in. They also suggest ringing round local vets and registering the dog with DogLost on Facebook, as found dogs often surface there first.

What to do if you find one

If you come across a stray with a tag or a collar, the quickest route is to contact the owner directly. If there is no identification, call the same number, 0300 1234 212, and a Dog Welfare and Enforcement Officer will collect the dog as soon as they are able.

Collection runs Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, with extended cover from 5pm to 10pm on weekdays and 9am to 10pm at weekends and on bank holidays. At busy times you may be asked to hold on to the dog, or take it somewhere safe, until the next working day.

The seven day clock

There is a rule that catches a lot of owners off guard. An owner has seven full days from the date the dog was found to claim it. After that, the council will look to rehome any stray suitable for a new home.

Reclaiming a dog is not free either. There is a release and admin fee of £100 as a minimum, kennelling at £20 per day or part day, and a £55 charge for any out-of-hours collection or return. Any vet bills fall to the owner too, and no dog is released until the fees are paid in full. The council does not take payment in instalments.

Dogs that go unclaimed and on to be rehomed are given a vet check, microchipped, vaccinated and neutered before they are placed, with home visits to check the fit. The microchip is the detail that changes everything. It is the difference between a phone call and a seven day countdown.

For now, there is one black and white Collie in Boscastle whose owner may not yet know he has been found. The animal welfare team can be reached on 0300 1234 212 or at [email protected].