STRAY dogs are being left on Bournemouth streets because of conflicting advice from police and the council’s dog warden service.

That’s the claim from the co-ordinators of two local animal welfare charities who say people who find strays are sent back and forth between the police and the Town Hall.

They say the problem of stray dogs in the borough has spiralled “out of control”.

Marjorie Titchen, a co-ordinator for the Dorset Animal Workers Group (Dawg), said people were phoning councils in surrounding boroughs and counties in desperation to home stray dogs.

“From Friday night until Monday morning, there are no dog wardens on duty. No one knows what to do. If you find one, you just have to leave the dog in the street. It’s bad for the dog and could cause an accident,” she said.

“A lot of people are being turned down. They can’t get them into a sanctuary so they leave them on the street.”

Jane McInnes of the Bournemouth Pet Search service echoed Mrs Titchen’s concerns.

“What are people supposed to do who find a strange, stray dog and have no idea who it belongs to?

“If you ring the police they won’t take it. It’s a vicious circle,” said Mrs McInnes.

Bournemouth council has one dog warden who works between 9.30am and 4pm from Monday to Friday.

A spokesperson for Bournemouth council said: “Anyone who finds a stray dog can take it to Madeira Road police station and we will collect from there at the weekend.

“If someone finds a stray dog, the finder is responsible until the council collects the dog,” she added.

But a Dorset Police spokesman said: “The council is the first port of call.

“We would encourage people who find a dog to look after it themselves if they are able. “We don’t have the facilities to look after a dog.

“It should be an absolute last resort to bring the dog here.”

Residents who find stray dogs can contact the Dorset Animal Workers Group on 01202 428868 or Bournemouth Pet Search service on 01202 394609.