AN ANIMAL charity this week praised Harrow Council for its work with stray dogs.

The RSPCA has recognised the council's “high standards of welfare, commitment to customer service and long term schemes” with a Gold Standard Footprint award.

In the past few years, the local authority’s stray dog service has seen a dramatic rise in the number of cases – from 105 reports of lost or stray dogs in 2008, to 462 by 2011.

Portfolioholder for environment and community safety, councillor Philip O’Dell, said: “It’s a sad state of affairs that the number of stray dogs in Harrow is on the rise. Dog owners need to be more aware of the long-term commitment involved in owning an animal.

“The welfare of the animals is of importance to us, and this award indicates we’re getting it right. It also recognises the work we do to reunite dogs with their owners and control the problem.”