Hastings dog warden: getting your dog back
If Hastings council's dog warden service picks up your dog, you pay its fees before you can take them home. Here's what it charges, from its own website (October 2026), and what to do if your dog goes missing in Hastings.
What Hastings charges
Not enough detail for a total
£25 legal fee plus a variable fee for kennels, care and transport of up to £35 a day
£30 extra if you want your dog returned outside 12 noon to 7pm.
Hastings council's stray dog page · no year given
How it compares
- The middle cost in the South East: £131.25.
- Across the UK: £100, from 186 councils. 13 charge £200 or more.
If your dog is missing in Hastings
- Call Hastings council's dog warden or stray dog service now (its number is on its stray dog page), and the neighbouring councils too: dogs travel. Give a description, a photo and the microchip number.
- Ask them to check their register of stray dogs, which councils must keep and anyone can see free. The council only has to keep a stray for seven clear days.
- Tell your microchip database your dog is missing. Not sure which one? Our microchip number checker shows you.
- Ring vets and rescues nearby, post in local groups, and put up posters: the free lost dog poster maker takes a minute.
- When you collect, bring proof your dog is yours (microchip paperwork, vet records, photos) and a way to pay.
The full steps are in our lost dog checklist and our guide to getting your dog back from the dog warden.
Questions
How much does Hastings charge to get a dog back from the dog warden?+
The council's website lists: £25 legal fee plus a variable fee for kennels, care and transport of up to £35 a day. That isn't enough to work out a one-night total, so ask when you call.
How long does Hastings keep a stray dog?+
By law (section 149 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990), seven clear days. After that the council can rehome your dog, so call as soon as your dog goes missing. Kennel costs go up each day.
I've found a dog in Hastings. What do I do?+
Check its tag first, and scan a QR tag if it has one: returning a dog to its owner costs them nothing. Otherwise the law (section 150 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990) says to take it to the council's dog warden service straight away and say where you found it.
Other councils in the South East
- Adur£105*
- Arun£153*
- Ashford£232*
- Basingstoke and Deane£74
- Bracknell Forestnot listed
- Brighton and Hove£117*
- Buckinghamshire£238*
- Canterburynot listed
- Cherwellnot listed
- Chichester£31.50*
- Crawley£192.80*
- Dartfordnot listed
- Dover£132.50
- East Hampshire£107*
- Eastbournenot listed
- Eastleigh£168.76
- Elmbridge£130
- Epsom and Ewellnot listed
- Fareham£169*
- Folkestone and Hythenot listed
- Gosport£180.70*
- Graveshamnot listed
- Guildford£144.50*
- Hart£128*
- Havant£185*
- Horsham£126
- Isle of Wight£85
- Lewesnot listed
- Maidstonenot listed
- Medway£117*
- Mid Sussex£105
- Milton Keynes£143
- Mole Valleynot listed
- New Forest£72
- Oxford£266.10*
- Portsmouth£58*
- Readingnot listed
- Reigate and Bansteadnot listed
- Rothernot listed
- Runnymedenot listed
- Rushmoornot listed
- Sevenoaksnot listed
- Slough£125*
- South Oxfordshire£229.50
- Southampton£83
- Spelthornenot listed
- Surrey Heathnot listed
- Swale£136
- Tandridgenot listed
- Test Valleynot listed
- Thanet£118
- Tonbridge and Mallingnot listed
- Tunbridge Wellsnot listed
- Vale of White Horse£229.50
- Waverley£139.80
- Wealdennot listed
- West Berkshirenot listed
- West Oxfordshire£144.05
- Winchester£119*
- Windsor and Maidenheadnot listed
- Wokingnot listed
- Wokingham£191.70*
- Worthing£105*