CRUELTY to dogs, highlighted in the Journal last week and immediately after Christmas, has revealed a certain amount of confusion regarding the procedure for dealing with abandoned animals.

Organisations like Dogs Trust, formerly the National Canine Defence League, and Wychavon District Council's dog wardens work hard all year to re-home stray and abandoned dogs. But, as one Vale resident discovered, getting in touch with the right people at the right time can be a confusing process.

Sally Cawdron, of Wickhamford, found two dogs tied to the railings of the Dogs Trust car park in the village on Saturday, December 27. Centre staff are not allowed to take them in until they had been with the council for seven days. Wychavon's dog warden was not on duty, so Ms Cawdron took the dogs to the police, who eventually accepted them.

Now she wants the procedure to be made clear to animal lovers to save them going through the same confusing process.

Ms Cawdron said: "I was totally bewildered by the experience. I think it would be a good idea to make public, a notice of procedure, should people ever come across stray or abandoned dogs over a weekend or holiday period."

Dogs Trust spokeswoman Kylie Klein Nixon said: "We are sorry for any distress the situation caused Ms Cawdron. However, we would like to reassure her that Dogs Trust always act in the best interests of the dogs themselves and within the remits of the law. Our actions would not have left the dogs in any danger."

Under the Environment Protection Act anyone finding a stray dog is required to report it to the local authority.

Press officer for Evesham police, Richard Bull said: "If the dog is found out of office hours it is the responsibility of local police to initially look after stray dogs and then place them in the care of the local authority at the earliest opportunity."

Press officer for Wychavon District Council, Anne-Marie Darroch, explained local authorities were legally obliged to look after the animals for the next seven days, allowing time for rightful owners to be reunited with their dogs. If no-one comes forward after that time, the council works to re-home the dog or destroy it.

Wychavon District Council operates a non-destructive policy and always tries to find stray dogs new homes.

Ms Klein Nixon added: "At Dogs Trust in Evesham our primary function is to find homes for dogs that would otherwise be homeless or destroyed. To us it is preferable to keep our kennels available to dogs that really need us."

"Last year our Evesham centre re-homed 960 dogs."