Dogs bark for many different reasons and barking doesn’t mean that a dog is in any distress.

If the barking is causing a nuisance, please contact your local council to make a compliant about the noise.

Stray dog

If you find a stray dog and it is not obviously injured, please contact your local council. Outside of working hours please call your local police station on 101.

If you find a stray dog that is injured and needs veterinary attention, please call us on 03000 999 999. We are now using what3words. Download the app to get the unique three word code for your location and make it easier for our team to respond to your call.

Stray cat

If you find an uninjured cat that you suspect is a stray, please contact Cats Protection on 03000 12 12 12 or another local cat rescue organisation. Unlike dogs, cats are free to roam and will often spend periods of time away from their home, especially if they are being fed by different people. If you are able to post on local social media groups, this can often help reunite stray animals with their owners.

If you find an injured cat that you suspect is a stray, please call us on 03000 999 999. We are now using what3words. Download the app to get the unique three word code for your location and make it easier for our team to respond to your call.

All other stray animals

All other types of stray pets (uninjured or in need of veterinary attention) should be reported to us on 03000 999 999. We are now using what3words. Download the app to get the unique three word code for your location and make it easier for our team to respond to your call.

If it is safe to do so, please contain the animal to prevent them wandering off or becoming injured. You could use an animal carrier if you have one, or try to keep them in a shed/garage or in your house.

Looking for posts or sharing a photo in local social media groups or on lost and found pet sites can help you find their owner.

More info about stray animals.

If you are worried about a dog that is being kept outside, we understand your concerns. However, if the animal has access to appropriate shelter, food and water, then welfare laws in Scotland state that if the animal is healthy then this is allowed, and so we have no legal power to intervene.

If you have concerns about a dog in a car on a hot day, please try and find the owner. If the dog is in a carpark, check local shops and businesses and ask if an announcement can be made.

If you can’t find the owner, please call us on 03000 999 999 and Police Scotland on 999. We need the police to be there as well so that we can force entry to the car if the animal needs to be rescued.

We are now using what3words. Download the app to get the unique three word code for your location and make it easier for our team to respond to your call.

Find out what to do whilst waiting for us and the police to arrive.

If a dog has access to an exercise area (such as a garden) there is no legal requirement that a dog must be walked. Whilst we understand your concern, we are unfortunately unable to intervene.

Although we advise against it, tethering a dog is legal if the tether is free-moving, lightweight and the dog can’t get tangled up in anything.  The dog must have access to shelter and water if tethered. We understand your concerns but unfortunately in the situation, we have no legal power to intervene.

If you are concerned about a dog that is tethered in a public area, or in an area that is not enclosed, and you have no welfare concerns about the animal, please contact your local authority.

Whilst it can be upsetting to know that a dog is being left alone for long periods of time, legally is allowed providing they have access to adequate food, water and shelter. We understand your concern, but unfortunately we have no legal power to intervene.

Horses and ponies can be housed outside all year round providing they have access to food, water and shelter. Shelter can take different forms and can be natural, such as trees and hedges, or man-made, such as a field shelter.  Horse breeds vary greatly and many horses will be able to live outdoors without a rug all year round, as long as they have a good natural coat and access to shelter. We understand your concern, but unfortunately we have no legal powers to intervene.

If your cat is stuck up a tree we would suggest giving your cat time to come down on its own. An attempt to rescue them might chase them up even higher or cause them to panic.

We know that it can be worrying when your cat runs up a tree but cats will often come down when they are hungry.

However if you have a very young kitten, or if your cat has been stuck for twenty four hours or more then please call our animal helpline on 03000 999 999 and someone will be able to advise.

You shouldn’t call the fire brigade before calling us. Our animal rescue officer will give them a call if they need help.

It is a legal requirement to stop and report the accident to Police Scotland when you hit a dog, goat, horse, cattle, donkey, mule, sheep or pig with your car.

Drivers are not required to report a cat or any other animals, however they may still wish to contact the police to inform them of any accidents.

If none of the above applies, please call us on 03000 999 999. Our helpline is open from 8am – 8pm every day. We are now using what3words. Download the app to get the unique three word code for your location and make it easier for our team to respond to your call. For most calls we will need your name and phone number and we won’t be able to accept an anonymous report. However, please be assured that all calls to our helpline are confidential.

It’s not uncommon for animals, particularly pigeons, to seek shelter in disused buildings. If they’ve found their way in, they can usually find their way back out.

However, if you’re concerned, you should contact the owner of the building. The local council may be able to help with this or, if the building is for sale or to let, contact the estate agent. It is the responsibility of the owner to ensure that animals are not trapped within the building.

By following this advice you are enabling our teams to rescue and rehabilitate the animals who need us the most.

Read more about trapped animals.

Thank you so much for caring about Scotland’s animals. We really appreciate your help.

If a wild animal, including a bird or bat, has found their way into your stairwell or room of your house or workplace, most of the time the animal will be able to get back out again of their own accord. If you can, remove any obstacles and leave an external window or door open. During the day, turning off lights can help guide the animal back outside. Leave the animal alone and give it time to find its way out. After a few hours if the animal has not left and it is safe to do so, you can try to carefully move the animal outside using a towel or blanket.

If you have an animal trapped in an inaccessible place such as a chimney, cavity wall, or under floorboards, please contact an appropriate professional such as a builder, or, you may need to ask your landlord, council or housing association to help with this. Our animal rescue officers do not have the equipment to remove walls or floorboards. Once you have removed the animal, if it appears healthy and alert, it can be released back outside, however, if it is injured, please call  us on 03000 999 999. We are now using what3words. Download the app to get the unique three word code for your location and make it easier for our team to respond to your call.

By following this advice you are enabling our teams to rescue and rehabilitate the animals who need us the most.

Read more about trapped animals.

Thank you so much for caring about Scotland’s animals. We really appreciate your help.

If you are concerned about a deer who might be trapped in an enclosed area such as a field, car park, cemetery, school grounds or similar, it is best leaving the deer alone and they will often find their own way back out. Trying to catch or intervening in this situation is very risky for the deer and could lead to the deer becoming seriously injured.

If you are concerned about an animal trapped in any other way, please call us on 03000 999 999. We are now using what3words. Download the app to get the unique three word code for your location and make it easier for our team to respond to your call.