THE COST of reclaiming lost dogs in Thurrock has rocketed since the council took over the service this month.

The council's contractor Gemini Kennels, in Wickford, call-out charges range from £50 to £70, depending on what time and day of the week.

There is also a kennelling charge of £11 per day plus the statutory fee of £25.

Before police charged £25 and, if the dog was then taken to a kennel, the fee was around £10 per day.

Gemini Kennel owner Michael Knight defended the fees saying: "They are high, but that can't be helped. The council has a statutory duty and a service to provide. Nothing is cheap in this world.

"Owners have got to be made responsible for their animal. They have a duty of care to make sure their dogs do not get out.

"The question you have to ask is if the council doesn't provide a quality service and the little dog roaming around the public highway gets hit by a car what then?

"Once the owner has paid these fees you tend to find the dog doesn't get out again."

Mr Knight has also urged dog owners to get their dogs proper collars and ID tags.