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# Council awards Stowmarket dog rehoming centre £180,000 contract for stray dog services
- URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/council-awards-stowmarket-dog-rehoming-centre-ps180-000-contract-for-stray-dog-se/
- Published: 2024-11-12T08:27:28.000Z
- Updated: 2026-03-16T15:30:43.000Z
- Description: Ipswich Borough Council has awarded a five-year contract worth £180,000 to West End Rehoming Limited to handle stray dogs in the town. The Stowmarket-based company will provide collection and kennelling services from October 2024.
- Author: Oliver Rouane-Williams
- Tags: News, Business, Councils, #article, Ipswich Borough Council, West End Farm Kennels, #Import 2026-03-16 14:46

**The big picture:** The contract fulfils the council's legal duty under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to handle stray dogs within the borough.

**Why it matters:** The service is essential for public safety and animal welfare. West End Rehoming also operates a rescue unit that tries to find new homes for unclaimed strays. Without such services, many stray dogs would face being put down.

![A stray dog](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/03/1731078447-stray-dog-3.jpg)

Stray dogs in Ipswich will be re-homed by West End Rehoming near Stowmarket Photo: Bogdan Kurylo (Getty Images)

**The details:**

- Contract runs from 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2029
- West End Rehoming was the only bidder for the specialist service
- Company is based in Buxhall, Suffolk
- They already provide similar services to other Suffolk councils
- All dogs taken in receive flea treatment, worming and microchipping

**What they're saying:** A council officer noted that "this is a specialist service and only provided by a limited number of suppliers, very few of which are within reasonable proximity of Ipswich."

**The bottom line:** The £180,000 cost will be met from the council's existing annual core service budget, with no additional funding required.

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