Concerned about the welfare of an animal or to report an injured animal / cruelty please telephone the RSPCA National Call Centre 0300 1234 999, this is a 24-hour line, calls are the same cost as to any UK landline number.
If you would like further details or to report your concerns online please click here.
For stray dogs or stray cats please see below.
If you have an emergency please contact the RSPCA National Call Centre 0300 1234 999
For enquiries regarding our assisted neutering scheme please contact the office during opening hours.
All pets need to be registered with a veterinary practice, where you can take your animal for routine health care and advice, as well as any emergency treatment.
Vet Help Direct is an online guide to help you to decide how quickly you should contact your vet.
Visit www.vethelpdirect.com.
If you can’t contact your own vet, find out how you can phone a vet 24 hours a day for advice.
Your local authority is the only body legally obliged to deal with stray dogs, please see our ‘lost and found’ section for further details.
If you find a stray dog, please contact your local dog wardens.
From 2015 dog wardens in County Durham now come under ‘Neighbourhood Wardens’ . For stray dogs found in the Chester le Street and Easington areas please contact Durham County Council and select option 3. Please check your local authorities websites for further information.
NB: the below telephone numbers were correct as at January 2015
| Area | Telephone number |
| Chester le Street – via Durham County Council |
03000 261 000 (option 3) |
| Easington – via Durham County Council |
03000 261 000 (option 3) |
| Hartlepool | 01429 523 333 |
| South Tyneside | 0191 427 7000 |
| Sunderland | 0191 553 1661 |
Please see our ‘lost and found’ section for further details.
![Lost and found contact list [PDF 20KB]](https://www.rspca.org.uk/ptlFatwireArticlePortlets/img/pdf.gif)
Lost and foundcontact list [PDF 20KB]
If you find an injured wild animal, watch it first to see how badly hurt it is. Then contact the RSPCA national centre 0300 1234 999, or take it to a nearby vet or wildlife rehabilitator. If possible, contain the animal before calling – see advice below.
Wild animals can scratch and bite when frightened, particularly if they are injured.
If in doubt, keep a safe distance and call the above number.
Apply common sense when approaching an injured animal:
If it’s safe to catch and handle the animal, then, wearing suitable gloves, quickly place it into a secure cardboard box with ventilation holes, lined with towel or newspaper. Keep the animal quiet and take it to a vet, RSPCA wildlife centre or local wildlife rehabilitator, (but note not all have been inspected by the RSPCA).
It’s often faster to take an animal to a vet yourself as your nearest RSPCA officer may be out of the area attending other calls. If you are unable to transport the animal, call 0300 1234 999.
