Centre’s the place for strays

After a change in the law, the police are no longer responsible for stray dogs.

As a result councils have to provide out-of-hours provision and in Newark and Sherwood that is being done through a dog rescue centre at Collingham.

Mrs Val Hosegood (55) runs Halfway Home Dog Rescue from her home, at High Park Farm, Swinderby Road.

She has been rehoming dogs for two years and since April 6 has become the district council’s approved kennels.

Previously, anyone who found a stray dog could take it to a police station.

Now, if a stray is found in Newark and Sherwood between 8am and 5pm, Monday to Friday, the district council will arrange for a dog warden to collect it.

Outside these hours, the public can either keep the dog until they can contact a warden or take it to Halfway Home Dog Rescue.

Mrs Hosegood said: “I keep the dogs overnight then the next day the warden collects them and they go to the council’s pound.”

She receives £5 per dog per night and has been given £1,000 towards six new kennels.

Mrs Hosegood said two dogs had been brought to her since the law changed.

“Literally I’m just a drop-off point. I don’t have to collect the dog. The difficulty is going to be getting the dogs to me,” she said.

“Two 12-year-old girls brought one dog into Ollerton Police Station but how can they walk up here? I could have gone and picked it up but then you are setting a precedent.

“I don’t know where this is going to go. It’s very early days. I think it’s going to cause a lot of problems.”

There will be an open day at the centre on Sunday to help raise money to cover the remaining £5,000 Mrs Hosegood paid for the new kennels.

She also rehomes dogs that have come from pounds across the country.

Dogs are kept at pounds for a week to give owners a chance to reclaim them.

After that some go to rehoming centres, such as the one run by Mrs Hosegood, or they can be destroyed.

Dogs she takes in are vaccinated and microchipped before being found new homes.

Sunday’s open day will feature dog displays with several classes.

There will also be a cake stall, a raffle, a tombola and refreshments.

Mrs Hosegood can be contacted on 07808003152.