Our response to dead animals varies depending on the type of animal it is and where the dead animal is located.
Types of animals that you can report online:
- Small domestic animals (such as a dog or cat)
- Large domestic animals (such as a horse or sheep)
- Wild animals (such as badgers or foxes)
- Rodents (rats or squirrels)
- Birds
Before you start
To report a dead animal online you will need to provide:
- The kind of animal
- The location of the animal
- Any additional information that may help your report
How do we deal with dead animals?
We respond to dead animals within two working days unless there is a health and safety hazard in which case we will deal with the issue immediately.
We do not deal with dead animals that are on private land. In these instances, we recommend you contact the landowner if you are concerned.
If we come across a pet with a tag then we will be in touch with the owners immediately to arrange for the deceased animal to be retrieved.
Domestic animals are typically kept for one week to allow for pets with unidentified owners to come forward.
Domestic Pets
Deceased domestic pets are reported to our office and picked up by specialist teams with access to a scanner and database to determine whether the owners can be identified.
Deceased domestic animals are stored securely for one week before being cremated in the event that no owner is identified.
If you want to check if your dog has been picked up by our wardens, please visit our lost dogs page
You can contact us using the form below to see if your pet has been found.
Special arrangements can be made so that the animals can be returned to their owners.
Enquire about a lost domestic animal
Large domestic and wild animals
Large domestic animals such as horses, sheep and cattle are reported to our specialist team who record what details are available before clearing the animal.
Rodents
Rodents may be picked up by local street cleaning crews and therefore should not be reported online. Nearby fly tip crews may also pick up the animal and dispose of them safely.
Birds and other animals
Birds and animals that are hard to identify may be picked up by local street cleaning crews and therefore should not be reported online. Nearby fly tip crews may pick up the animal and dispose of them safely.