CHIGWELL: Massive bill for one night in kennel

10:04am Monday 6th October 2008

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A DISABLED pensioner has slammed the council after receiving a £162 bill from a kennel where her two runaway dogs were kept for just one night.

Wendy McCloud has been raising Great Danes for years and was featured in the Epping Forest Guardian this summer because Hugo has a habit of leaping on to car roofs when drivers try to leave his home.

Last week Mrs McCloud was horrified to discover that Hugo, along with her other Great Dane, Nancy, had scaled a 6ft wall into fields behind her home in Roding Lane, Chigwell.

Mrs McCloud, who suffers from arthritis and is confined to a wheelchair, said: “It was awful when they got out, I didn’t know where they were and I was panicking.”

Meanwhile Hugo and Nancy headed to Buckhurst Hill Primary School.

A member of staff immediately called the council – and a dog warden was called out.

Despite having a number and an address on Nancy’s collar, the two dogs were taken away to spend the night at Hillside Kennels, in Waltham Abbey.

After a series of frantic phone calls, Mrs McCloud discovered that her much-loved dogs had been taken to Hillside, and she immediately called a friend and asked her to pick up the dogs.

But worse was to come when she was presented with a bill for £162 for one night’s accommodation for two dogs.

She told the Guardian: “I couldn’t believe it. I was furious.

“Nancy at least had a number on her collar and I was never called. I don’t know how they can justify that amount of money”

A council spokeswoman denied the charge was out of the ordinary, adding it was Mrs McCloud’s responsibility.

She said: “These dogs have strayed many times before and been returned directly to their owner.

“Often these dogs were found in a school in Buckhurst Hill and I understand on one occasion someone from the school was slightly hurt after trying to contain them and protect schoolchildren.

“It is the responsibility of the owner to ensure their animals do not stray.

“The council has a duty to respond to reports of dogs straying.”

She added: “The owner was charged £162 for both dogs. These are scheduled fees and this amounts to two days boarding for both dogs.”