DOG catchers in north Durham have launched measures to reduce the numbers of dogs destroyed each year.

The move comes after 564 stray dogs were caught in one area of North-West Durham in one year. Of those, 430 were destroyed.

Now dog control officers are taking the message about looking after dogs into schools, operating free dog registration schemes and administering cheap dog micro-chipping services.

Derwentside District Council dog enforcement and district council officer, Lyn Copeland, explained that the number of stray dogs caught had risen by more than 100 from the previous year.

In neighbouring Chester-le-Street, the number of strays captured was about 150 and only about 30 dogs had to be put down, compared to 430 in Derwentside.

She said: "We decided to go into the schools and hold demonstration classes because children are the dog owners of tomorrow, but also because they will help get the message to parents.

"One of the major problems is there are latch-key dogs the same as latch-key children. The dogs are simply left to roam, and if they are not neutered the problem escalates.

"You can end up with packs of dogs on the streets."

The council operates a reduced price micro-chipping scheme. Identification chips enable wardens to return pets to their owners. At present, the dogs are kept in the kennels for seven days and, if they are not picked up, they are destroyed.

Dog control officer at Chester-le-Street District Council, John Taylor, admitted that the reason fewer stray dogs were rounded up in the area than in Derwentside may be that fewer resources were ploughed into the task.

He said: "We had about 150 dogs last time, which is more or less the same as most years and we managed to keep the number destroyed down to 30 - which is still too many.

"One of the things we've done to try improve the situation is offer a free dog registration scheme.

"So far, we have about 650 registered, which is a good start. We hope the situation will begin to improve soon."

People can take their dogs to be micro-chipped at Derwentside council offices from Monday, July 10 to Thursday, July 13. The service will be offered at Chester-le-Street council offices the following week.