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Stray dogs are costing taxpayers over £66,000 a year in Bedford
258 stray pooches picked up by wardens in 12 months
Abandoned dogs across Bedford Borough cost the council a six-figure sum last year it emerged this week.
66,200 was spent by Bedford Borough Council on the dog warden service between 2009 and 2010, and 258 stray dogs were picked up.
The council has a duty to collect stray dogs and keep them in a kennelling facility for seven days.
After that efforts are made to re-home the dogs where possible or they are transferred to a rescue centre such as ARAS in Houghton Conquest.
A spokesman for the RSPCA advised people to think before they adopt a dog.
He said: "The problem is there are too many dogs for not enough owners.
"People think they will breed a litter of puppies to make a quick buck, and then have a shock when potential sales fall through. Before they know it they have five or six dogs to look after.
"We would advise people to think about it before you take on any animal in the first place. It is a serious commitment to look after any animal and you are signing up to care for it until the end of its days.
"However if people's circumstances do change there is help and advice available and we would always advise people to get pet insurance."
A Bedford Borough Council spokesman said: "The dog warden is employed by the council to deal with matters relating to dog ownership.
"This includes advice, assistance and enforcement surrounding the keeping of dogs."
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Weather for Bedford
Tuesday 14 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 5 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 4 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: North west
