Solihull Council has spent thousands of pounds caring for a rising number of stray and abandoned dogs in the borough, according to new figures obtained through a Freedom of Information request. The data, covering the period from 2020 to 2025, reveals that the number of stray or abandoned dogs reached a five-year high of 85 last year.
Sharp Increase in Recent Years
The figures show a dramatic rise in stray dogs: 13 in 2020, 14 in 2021, 16 in 2022, 48 in 2023, 76 in 2024, and 85 in 2025. The number of dogs seized by the council also increased, with 29 seized in 2020, 36 in 2021, 23 in 2022, 64 in 2023, 93 in 2024, and 105 in 2025. However, the proportion returned to owners declined, with only 16 returned in 2020, 22 in 2021, 7 in 2022, 16 in 2023, 17 in 2024, and 20 in 2025.
Council's Legal Duty and Costs
The council has a legal obligation to keep stray dogs for seven days and cover the associated costs. To meet this duty, Solihull Council has a contract with Birmingham Dogs Home, which began in March 2025 and ends in August 2026. The contract details, published on the council's website, show that the authority spent £50,000 on the 18-month agreement.
National trends indicate that cost-of-living pressures, rising veterinary costs, and increased pet insurance premiums have contributed to the rise in stray dogs across the country. Owners who can no longer care for their dogs are urged to contact animal rescue charities for assistance in finding new homes.
All dogs must be microchipped and registered by the age of eight weeks, and failure to do so can result in a fine of up to £500 for owners.
