Almost three-quarters of all the stray dogs euthanised in Kent in the last four years were in just three boroughs, figures have revealed.

Information obtained from Freedom of Information requests show 44 strays have been put to sleep across the county after being taken in by councils since 2018.

Thirty-one of them were found in Tonbridge & Malling, Maidstone, and Gravesham - where authority bosses stress they would be breaking the law "if we did not euthanise dogs for welfare reasons".

More than 3,000 unwanted canines have been taken in by authorities over the same period, prompting charities to warn of the rise of "unscrupulous or unregulated breeders".

Fleur Disney, from Tonbridge-based Animal Aid, told KentOnline: "We've been troubled by the increase in the number of people taking on companion animals without careful thought given to the long-term responsibilities and financial implications of caring for them.

“People often buy animals from unscrupulous or unregulated breeders, rather than adopting them from rescue centres.

"Animals from these breeders often have health or behavioural issues, from poor practices like taking them away from their mothers too early.

“Rather than take issue with the rescue centres and councils left to deal with the consequences of other people’s whims – we urge the public to take seriously the life-long commitment of taking in an animal."

Nine dogs were put down after being taken in by Maidstone and Gravesham borough councils between 2018 and 2022.

Tonbridge & Mailling, meanwhile, had the most, with 13 over the same length of time.

Officials say they are not involved in the decision to euthanise the animals, with it left to a vet to judge whether the creature's "condition or behaviour makes re-homing impossible".

They are urging owners to microchip their pets - which has been legally required since 2016 - so they can be reunited with missing companions more easily.

Almost half of the county's 6,263 strays have not been returned to their owners by councils since 2018.

Dr Samantha Gaines, from the RSPCA's companion animals department, added: "The numbers of dogs straying across Kent reminds us of the importance of getting dogs microchipped.

"It's the easiest way for our teams and others on the frontline to ensure the animals can be reunited with their owners as quickly as possible.”

Medway has taken in the most canines of any authority in the county - having found more than 1,400, of which 25% were returned to their owners.

Swale Borough Council has reported the second most since 2018, but successfully returned almost nine-tenths to their owners.

Authority bosses put their success down to the help of the public.

"We work hard to reunite lost dogs with their owners," a spokesman explained.

“Where dogs aren’t chipped, or the details aren’t up to date, we have a tremendous amount of support from the local community to help spread the word on social media and find the owners."

Local authorities deal with stray dogs reported by residents, and house them in kennels while an attempt is made to find the owner.

If the creature cannot be returned, they then try to re-house them.

Councils and kennels also work with vets, who help to determine how a stray should be cared for.

Senior Gravesham councillor Shane Mochrie-Cox says the authority prides itself on its "very low figures" for euthanising strays.

“To be clear, this is always a last resort and is only done on medical or safety grounds," the Labour politician stated.

“We would, however, be breaking the law if our stray dog service did not euthanise dogs for welfare reasons on the advice of a vet.

“We pride ourselves on our very low figures, making every effort to either find the owners or to place them in new, caring homes.

“Indeed, we have not euthanised any dog in the last two years and we hope this continues."