Over half of strays returned home

More than half of stray dogs taken in by councils in the UK have been reunited with their owners, a survey found.

The Dogs Trust said it was only the second time the figure had gone through the 50% barrier since survey records began in 1997 - the last time was in 2007.

According to the charity's annual Stray Dog Survey, there were 121,693 instances of straying this year compared with 107,228 last year.

But the proportion of dogs reclaimed or returned to their owners rose from 42% (45,329) last year to 51% (61,908), the Dogs Trust said.

Where the method used to return stray dogs was identified, the proportion of animals reunited with owners through microchipping was 35% - up from 31% last year.

The survey also found a drop in the number of dogs being put down by local authorities due to ill health, aggression or for want of a home from 9,310 last year to 6,404 this year.

Dogs Trust chief executive Clarissa Baldwin said: "Dogs Trust is encouraged to see that although the instances of straying in the UK has increased in the last two years, the percentage of these dogs being reunited with their owners has increased and, more importantly, the numbers being put to sleep has fallen drastically.

"We are delighted to see that microchipping is having a serious impact on the stray dog situation in the UK.

"Dogs Trust runs subsidised microchipping campaigns across the country and in particular those areas with the biggest stray dog problems.

"A compulsory microchipping system would undoubtedly improve the situation further."