Croydon's stray dog service has an RSPCA platinum award for a third year, one of six London councils listed. What a lost dog costs you, and the free microchips.
Croydon’s dog warden service has been given a platinum award by the RSPCA, the charity’s top level, for the third year in a row, the council says.
The RSPCA has listed Croydon Council among the platinum organisations for stray dog services in its 2026 PawPrints Awards (RSPCA: 2026 winners and finalists). Platinum goes only to councils that have reached gold in the same category for five or more years running.
The council announced the award on 1 October. It credits its dog warden, Tara Boswell, who has worked for the council for more than 15 years. It is the eighth year in a row that her work has been recognised in the awards (Croydon Council).
Who else made the list
The RSPCA gave platinum for stray dog services to 29 councils and council partnerships across England and Wales. Six are London boroughs:
- Croydon
- Hackney
- Hounslow
- Newham
- Wandsworth
- Westminster
None of Croydon’s neighbours, Bromley, Sutton, Merton or Lambeth, appears anywhere on the 2026 list.
The awards are judged on a ladder. Bronze is for meeting the legal basics, silver for consistent delivery and early help, gold for preventative work done in partnership, and platinum for holding gold over time, according to the RSPCA’s own description of the levels.
What the dog warden does
The service picks up stray dogs, reunites them with their owners and finds rescue places or new homes for those nobody claims. The council says Ms Boswell helps hundreds of stray dogs every year, working with animal charities, vets and rescue centres.
“There are some significant challenges involved in delivering the service, particularly with the continuing pressures on kennels and rescue organisations,” she said in the council’s announcement.
Executive Mayor Jason Perry said the eight consecutive years of awards “reflect the care, dedication and consistently high standards she brings to her work.”
The awards themselves will be presented at an RSPCA event in Cardiff on Wednesday 11 November.
What it means for you
If you own a dog in Croydon, this is the service that will have it if it ever gets out. These are the council’s published charges for getting it back (Croydon Council: dog warden service):
| Situation | Charge |
|---|---|
| Dog identified and returned to you the same day | £50 |
| Dog taken to kennels | £100, or £50 if it is microchipped with up-to-date owner details |
| Each day in kennels | £20 |
Vet fees may be added. If a dog is not claimed within seven days, it becomes the property of the kennel.
The quickest way to keep those costs down is a microchip with your current details on it. Microchipping is free to all Croydon residents. Book on 020 8726 6000 or by emailing doginfo@croydon.gov.uk.
A few other things the council’s page says that most owners do not know:
- Microchipping is compulsory for every dog over eight weeks old. An unchipped dog can lead to a notice, and the keeper may face prosecution and a £500 fine.
- Your dog must wear a collar and tag in public, with your name and address on it. The council’s page warns of a fine of up to £5,000.
- Update the chip when you move or change number. An out-of-date chip doubles the kennel charge.
If your dog goes missing
The dog warden works weekdays 7am to 3pm, and weekends and bank holidays 9am to 4pm. Call 020 8726 6000, choose option 3 for waste services, then option 4 for other environmental services.
The council also advises you to:
- put up posters with a photo where the dog went missing
- tell local vets, or take a poster to them
- report it to Battersea Dogs and Cats Home on 020 7622 3626
- report it to your microchip company
- call the neighbouring borough’s dog warden if you live near the boundary
A dog you think has been stolen should be reported to the police on 101. Cruelty goes to the RSPCA on 0300 123 4999.
If you find a stray out of hours, the council asks you to take it to a 24-hour vet or a police station, or keep it at home until the warden is back on duty.
Sources
- RSPCA Political Animal: 2026 PawPrints winners and finalists (platinum list for stray dog services, what each level means, the 11 November event)
- Croydon Council: dog warden wins RSPCA award for eighth year, 1 October 2026 (the warden’s service, years of awards, quotes)
- Croydon Council: dog warden service (hours, phone route, charges, free microchipping, collar and microchip rules, lost dog advice)
Our other Croydon guides cover bin collection days, council tax bands and parking.
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