Mansfield District Council is taking in the lead in its efforts to reunite lost dogs with their owners with the launch of a highly successful Facebook campaign.

The MDC Facebook gallery, which publishes photographs of missing and abandoned dogs, is getting the thumbs up from Mansfield’s dog lovers, who have responded in their thousands to the campaign, sharing information and offering advice.

One post received a staggering 90,000 views, while there were more than a 1,000 shares for a stray Vizsla. The owner of that dog was not found and the animal was expected to be passed to an Hungarian Vizsla rescue centre to be rehomed on Friday August 28.

The council is also asking people to contact the Dog Control Service directly if their pet goes missing. The service, which operates 24/7 is a good starting point for worried dog owners and may eliminate a lot of unnecessary stress for both owner and dog.

Since the beginning of August, 29 lost dogs have been reunited with their owners. When a dog is picked up by the Dog Control Service, it is checked to see if it has any form of identification such as a collar, tag or microchip. If this is not the case, it is taken into kennels, where it remains for seven days, before being transferred to a rescue centre, which will attempt to rehome the dog.

Dealing with abandoned or lost dogs is an expensive business for the council, costing £77,740 last year, which is why responsible dog ownership is a big priority for the authority in its efforts to reduce the number of lost and stray dogs. Top tips for owners include:

•Secure the fences and gates around your property
•Keep your dog on a lead when appropriate and train it not to run off
•Neuter your dog. Neutered male dogs are less likely to stray
•Microchip your dog and ensure it wears a collar and ID tag – the council offers a competitive microchipping service. Contact 01623 463 189

Cllr Andrew Tristram, Portfolio Holder for Environment at Mansfield District Council said: “The success of our Facebook campaign and the overwhelming support by the public demonstrates clearly that in Mansfield, dogs really are man’s best friend and that our residents genuinely care about animal welfare. I would like to thank everyone who has engaged in our campaign for their unbelievable support.

“I also want to urge people who lose their dogs to contact our Dog Control Service immediately to see if our team has picked up your pet. We have taken in some animals who have clearly been very well cared for, but their owners have not come forward. Stray dogs can pose a danger to the public and to themselves, as they can cause road accidents and foul public areas, not to mention the stress created for owners and dogs alike.”

Photographs of stray dogs are published on Facebook.com/mymansfielduk

If you find a stray dog, try to secure it and contact our Dog Control Service on 01623 463189 or via email [email protected] The out of hours number is 01623 463050.

If you have any concerns with regard to dangerous dogs, contact Nottinghamshire Police on 101.