“Can you remember the last time you saw a dog wandering about on its own?”

Joanne Housley recalls the days, at least two decades ago, when this sight was not uncommon, neither was it rare to see two or three dogs together, unaccompanied in a public place.

“It is not often nowadays, you see a dog by itself,” says Bradford Council’s environmental health manager.

Yet across the UK - home to around ten million dogs - this does happen. In Bradford reasons for this vary. “It could be the result of owners having left gate or door open, or dogs walking off-lead, who have then bolted,” says Joanne.

In Bradford, dogs reported as strays to Bradford Council’s dog warden service are picked up and cared for at Fleet Boarding Kennels in Queensbury, which works with the authority to find the owners or new homes for the animals.

Across the district, over the past three years the number of stray dogs reported has fallen from around 1800 to 1700, but only around half of these dogs are collected and taken to kennels. “Sometimes, by the time we arrive it has gone. Some people let their dog out, then - unless it is taken by a member of the public - it will make its way home,” explains Joanne.

“If a member of the public rings and says they have found a dog we check whether they have asked around the area. Someone may be out looking.”

Says Keith Johnson, who runs Fleet Kennels with his wife Denise: “There are still a few people with ‘‘latch key’ dogs, who are let out to roam. Some will have a collar and tag, but some won’t.”

In 2014, 31 per cent of dogs collected by the dog warden service were returned to their owners, a rise of ten per cent from the previous year. In 2012, the figure stood at 11 per cent.

Social media now plays a role in reuniting pets with owners. “And owners sometimes put up posters, but if anyone has found a dog they should ring the dog warden service as the owner may have contacted us,” says Joanne. "They should also contact local vets.”

Dogs that carry identification can be returned directly to their owners. “We mostly find microchipping, it is less common to see discs on collars,” says Keith. “with a disc they can be returned more quickly, reducing distress.”

The Control of Dogs Order 1992 states that any dog in a public place should wear a collar and tag - even if microchipped - bearing the owner’s contact details. Owners can be fined up to £5,000 if their dog does not have one.

From April next year the Government is introducing compulsory microchipping for all dogs to help reunite owners with lost or stolen pets, relieve the burden on animal charities and local authorities and protect the welfare of dogs by promoting responsible dog ownership.

Says Keith: “Many people do not know that a collar and disc with a name and address is a legal requirement. This is an important factor with dogs found loose and brought to us. Some owners will say: “Well it is microchipped, but they do not know that it needs a collar and disc.”

Some owners take their dogs to the RSPCA , but, other than in an emergency where the dog is in imminent danger of death or severe suffering, the charity has no responsibility for them. The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 places full responsibility on the local authority for dealing with stray dogs. Most people would imagine dogs found roaming to be thin and dishevelled, yet many are healthy and well-cared for.

Dogs are housed at Fleet Kennels for seven days. If owners cannot be traced they can be adopted by the public. Keith and Denise work hard to rehome dogs, searching for the owners and working with numerous rescue organisations and foster carers within the region.

The vast majority - more than 80 per cent last year, up from 70 per cent in 2012 - are rehomed. Those that are put to sleep tend to be those unsuitable for homing due to behavioural problems such as aggression.

“All dogs that leave us are microchipped and have an engraved fob,” says Keith. “We work with the Dogs’ Trust who have a neutering voucher scheme.”

Keith and Denise, who have three pet dogs of their own, love seeing dogs reunited with their owners. “It is so rewarding to see,” says Denise.

*Bradford Council’s dog warden service can be contacted on 01274 433927; Fleet Kennels 01274 880408; fleetkennels@btconnect.com