Nearly 2,000 stray dogs have been recorded in Swale in the last three years.

The figure has prompted a warning to owners they have a legal responsibility to ensure their pets wear a collar.

A total of 574 strays have been reported since April last year.

This compares to 624 between April 2013 and March last year and 595 during the same period of 2012-13.

Out of these, 351 were not reunited with their owners due to a lack of identification.

Council dog warden Tim Oxley said: “Our first priority is getting the dog back to its owner as fast as possible.

“We try to identify the dog, maybe with a collar and name tag or a microchip.

“If the dog isn’t collected, we post a picture on to our Facebook page and the owner has seven days to collect it before it goes to the kennels.”

The dogs then go to Jasmil Kennels in Upchurch.

Working within a team of four, Mr Oxley and his colleagues work day and night.

He added: “The Facebook page works really well as people tend to recognise dogs and we can get them back to their owners. “We reunite as many owners with their dogs as possible.”

RSPCA spokesman Katya Mira said: “Owning and caring for a dog is great fun and immensely rewarding, but it is also a big responsibility.

“If you own or are responsible for a dog, it is important that you care for him or her properly for their lifetime, which is typically about 13 years, although can be a lot longer.

“There is no one perfect way to care for all dogs because every dog and every situation is different. It is up to you how you look after your dog, but you must take reasonable steps to ensure that you meet all your dog’s needs.”

• To search for a lost dog visit www.facebook.com and search for ‘Swale dog service’.