Footballer Graeme Le Saux had to look after a lost dog overnight after he found it on his property.
The former England player found the bull mastiff in the driveway of his Cobham home and put it in his garage away from his children.
He gave the mutt food and water before it was eventually reunited with its owners who had just moved into a nearby house.
Surrey Police said the duty of care for a stray dog lies with the person who finds it but that it can be put into kennels if taken to a police station.
"We do have dog units on duty over the weekend but they are operational units and are not there to collect stray dogs," said a spokesman.
"Stray dogs should be dealt with by the local authority."
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