St. Helens dog warden: getting your dog back
If St. Helens 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 St. Helens.
What St. Helens charges
Not enough detail for a total
All-in release fee of £52 from temporary holding kennels, or £166.40 after admittance to boarding kennels
The council doesn't say which fee applies to an overnight stay; both include kennelling and the legal fee.
St. Helens council's stray dog page · fees for 2026/27
How it compares
- The middle cost in the North West: £95.
- Across the UK: £100, from 186 councils. 13 charge £200 or more.
If your dog is missing in St. Helens
- Call St. Helens 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 St. Helens charge to get a dog back from the dog warden?+
The council's website lists: All-in release fee of £52 from temporary holding kennels, or £166.40 after admittance to boarding kennels. That isn't enough to work out a one-night total, so ask when you call.
How long does St. Helens 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 St. Helens. 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 North West
- Blackburn with Darwennot listed
- Blackpool£82.39*
- Boltonnot listed
- Burnleynot listed
- Burynot listed
- Cheshire East£120*
- Cheshire West and Chester£95*
- Chorley£200*
- Cumberlandnot listed
- Fylde£100*
- Halton£0
- Hyndburn£100*
- Knowsley£94
- Lancaster£66.72*
- Liverpool£95
- Manchester£135*
- Oldhamnot listed
- Pendle£80
- Preston£126
- Ribble Valleynot listed
- Rochdalenot listed
- Rossendalenot listed
- Salford£42*
- Sefton£128
- South Ribble£200*
- Stockport£155*
- Tamesidenot listed
- Trafford£42*
- Warringtonnot listed
- West Lancashire£55*
- Westmorland and Furness£48*
- Wigan£68*
- Wirralnot listed
- Wyrenot listed