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Medway Council dog warden Russel Songhurst set up a Facebook page to tackle the swamped service and now every dog has a home

By: Jade Edwards

Published: 11:00, 04 September 2015

Updated: 11:21, 04 September 2015

Every dog in the council's care has been homed after a successful Facebook campaign.

After a community warden at Medway Council set up a stray dogs Facebook page 100% of dogs picked up by the team have been reunited with their owners, rehomed or fostered.

The good news comes two weeks after the dog warden service was temporarily suspended for a night as the kennels in Upchurch were full to bursting.

Jackson was delighted to be reunited with his owner

Senior community warden Russel Songhurst set up the Medway Council stray dog service Facebook page to combat the problem.

He said: “It’s been quite remarkable how much of a difference the Facebook page has made in a fortnight. It’s a good tool as it is immediate and the news of the dogs we’ve found spreads rapidly.

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“I’m pleased to say all the dogs we have picked up in the past two weeks are now either back home, in a foster home or with loving new owners, and we currently have no stray dogs needing rehoming, which is unprecedented.

Jacko found a new home through the Facebook page.

“A real positive that’s come from this is an increase in people rehoming Staffordshire bull terriers – they’ve been given a bad reputation, but they can be very friendly and are just as deserving of a loving home as any other breed.”

He posts the photos of dogs the team have found on social media. Nearly 700 people have shared posts on the page, and around 35,000 people have seen the posts.

Dogs which are picked up by council wardens spend seven days at Jasmil Kennels in Upchurch and if the owner cannot be found they become responsible for the dog and will try and find it a loving home.

Warden Russel Songhurst set up the Facebook page

If a new owner cannot be found dogs may be put to sleep.

Cllr Rupert Turpin, head of community officers, said: “This is a good example of someone going above and beyond the call of duty because they really care about their job - congratulations to Russel for his hard work which has clearly paid off.

“While we have seen lots of dogs rehomed recently, more dogs would be reunited with their owners more quickly if they had micro-chips.

This little dog was reunited with his owner after his picture was posted onto Facebook.

“Medway Council offers a free at-home micro-chipping service and as of 2016 anyone who does not have their dog micro-chipped will be breaking the law.”

For more information visit the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/mcstraydogs.

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