Dogs that are dangerous or vicious

Dangerous dogs

A dangerous dog is one that has already attacked, or puts a person in genuine fear for their safety, or the safety of others.

For the latest Information on the ban on XL Bully type dogs that came into force on 31 December 2023 click here
 

Vicious dogs

It can be hard to define a vicious dog, as it may simply be scared or hungry, or feels under threat.
 

What you can do

If a dog has bitten somebody, attacked another dog or seems likely to attack, you should report it immediately to the Police on 101.

They will need to know or find out who owns the dog that is believed to be dangerous before they can take action. 

If you're unsure about whether a dog is dangerous or vicious, please report it anyway.
 

What can we do

Any dog that's unsupervised in a public place may be seized by us.

If the dog has a tag with contact details, or is microchipped, we will try to contact the owner. If the dog can't be taken straight home it will be taken to our kennels Stray Aid Rescue Centre, Coxhoe, Co Durham.
 

To reclaim your dog

Please contact Customer Services to arrange to reclaim your dog - 01429 523333.