FOI release

Local Authority lost or stray dogs

Case reference FOI2025/00074

Received 17 April 2025

Published 19 May 2025

Request

  1. Do you have a locally run authority pound?

  2. Is the pound run by the local authority or a contractor?

  3. Name of contractor if applicable.

  4. Total number of dogs acquired in 2024 (1st January to 31st December)? -

  5. Number of those dogs reunited with owner?

  6. Number of those dogs surrendered to a rescue or animal welfare organisation?

  7. Number of those dogs euthanised?

  8. If no pound, what happens to lost and stray dogs collected by the local dog warden?

Response

  1. No

  2. Contractor

  3. This information is considered exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The exemption applied is Section 31(1)(a) ‘Law Enforcement. Section 31(1) (a) (Law Enforcement) is a qualified exemption, therefore it must be considered in view of the public interest test. In determining public interest we must consider whether applying the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information. The public interest test has been considered in view of your request.

    In favour of disclosure: Disclosure of information would promote the transparency of the Council and the records it holds in respect of our responsibilities for stray dogs.

    Against disclosure: Information disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act is considered released into the public domain and not just to the individual making the request. We consider that disclosing the name of the contractor would enable the identification of the location/s and has the potential to lead to the location/s being targeted either with criminal intent or with the aim of creating disorder by those who dispute the law.

    In considering the public interest test, we consider that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information

  4. -7 see attached

    1. n/a

Documents

This is Tunbridge Wells Borough Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.