A Man wrote a letter in our local free paper telling the story that a person collapsed outside his house. His wife called the ambulance they came and took this person off to hospital. The man who wrote the letter was left in the street holding this persons dog? So he rang the police for advice as to what to do with this dog..the police said contact the council so the man phoned them to be told they had to keep the dog until Monday! or take it up to a vets near by. Basically the poor man was told tough its your problem and no one was willing to help out. He did say to the council person ok I will leave the dog out on the street from where I found it as you don't care, only to be told he would be guilty of an offence if he did that!!Eventually a local animal rescue organisation came and collected the dog but it was with no aid or assistance from the council. Sad to think the police didn't give a hoot or as it was a Friday did the council.

Since April the responsibility for stray dogs is with the council, but they don't have to provide 24 hour cover.

My own council gives our dogs home as the reception point (not much good to em who doesn't drive and there is no bus that goes that way) and only between 8am and midnight.  The dog warden will deal in their operating hours 9.30 to 4pm, Monday - Friday.

I honestly think this is why many people do think twice about helping others in all kinds of situations, as you can be left to sort out the end results and no-one wants to be left with it.

Mind you I wouldn't have phoned the council at all, would never have even thought they would help.  Idealy he should have asked the police to find the next of kin to take the dog, or have called a rescue, dog warden or the RSPCA for advice.

I'm glad the man helped, but years ago when I was a child and even more so when my mother was, people did just help each other, authorities weren't called in so much, now no-one seems to have the time or inclination. :-(