The Dog Warden will help you if you lose your dog, and aims to help prevent stray dogs from being a danger in traffic or a nuisance to people.
Our Dog Wardens:
- Catch and detain stray dogs,
- Enforce legislation on dog fouling
The first time a dog is caught straying, the dog wardens will try to trace the owners and return it.
Any other stray will be kept safely for up to seven days.
Any complaint regarding dogs straying on school premises or interfering with the flow of traffic will be dealt with urgently.
We will respond to any complaints about loose dogs or where a stray dog is confined and needs to be collected as quickly as possible, but always within 2 working days. Other service requests will be responded to as quickly as possible but always within 5 working days.
Some complaints cannot be dealt with by the Dog Warden. These will be passed quickly to the appropriate agency (e.g. the Police or RSPCA).
Tag your dog!
Your dog must wear a tag by law when out in a public place.
The first time we catch your dog straying we will return it to you. But we can only do this if it is wearing a tag, or is micro-chipped.
If we catch a stray dog, and we can't trace the owner, we will keep it in boarding kennels. If the owner does not collect the dog within seven days, they will lose the right to reclaim it, and we will try to re-home it. If the owner reclaims a dog then kennelling costs are recharged to them prior to release of the dog.
The Dog (Fouling of Land) Act 1996
The Dog (fouling of land) Act 1996 came into force on 1st April 1998.
This Act means that it is illegal to fail to clear up after your dog if it fouls land which is open to the air and to which the public have access. (Subject to certain exemptions)
The penalty for contravening the Act is a £50 fixed penalty notice or a court appearance where fines can be up to £1000.
As well as being offensive, dog fouling causes serious health risks. Infection by the parasitic worm, Toxocara Canis, is spread by dog faeces. This may cause stomach pains, fever and even blindness.
If you witness a person in charge of a dog failing to clean up after it, you can report them by contacting the Dog Wardens on 01274 433927 or by using the online form. Please provide the date, time, location and description of the dog/offender, and if possible, the name of the dog owner.
