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.

In particular, the service aims to deal with problems caused by the four main symptoms of irresponsible dog ownership:-

• Noisy dogs
• Aggressive dogs
• Dog fouling
• Straying dogs

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.

Any complaints about dogs will be responded to as quickly as possible, but always within 2 working days. The Dog Warden will act in the strictest confidentiality and keep you informed about what they are doing.

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).

The Dog Warden will ensure the Council's legal duties are met, so far as dogs are concerned. They will also regularly patrol beaches and other areas covered by dog related by-laws, and put up anti-dog fouling stickers where needed.

If you have any questions or complaints, please contact the Dog Wardens.

School Talks

Part of our job is educational. Primary Schools in the enter location can arrange for a Dog Warden to visit and talk to pupils about all aspects of responsible dog ownership.

If you are a teacher at a school in the enter location, you can e-mail us for further details.

Dogs on Beaches

Dogs are banned from certain beaches during the summer season.

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, free of charge. But we can only do this if it is wearing a tag, or is microchipped.

If we catch a stray dog, and we can't trace the owner, we will keep it in boarding kennels at your expense. If you do not collect your dog within seven days, you will lose the right to reclaim it, and we will try to re-home it.

Fouling Legislation!

The Dog (fouling of land) Act 1996

The Dog (fouling of land) Act 1996 came into force on 1st May 1997.

This Act means that it is illegal to fail to clear up after your dog if it fouls any land which is open to the air and to which the public have access.

The penalty for contravening the Act is a enter amount "on the spot" fine or prosecution in the magistrates court.

You may purchase, at cost price, biodegradable plastic "Doggy Bags" from the public offices of the Council.

The Dog Warden Service:

• Responds to all complaints as soon as possible but always within 2 working days.
• Responds urgently to sightings of stray dogs on school premises or interfering with traffic.
• Collects and return your stray dog free of charge the first time it is collected, provided it has a collar and address tag.
• Collects all other strays and keeps them safely for a maximum of seven days for collection by the owner (subject to the payment of a fee). We then work with local Re-homing charities and have an excellent record of successful home placements.
• Promotes responsible dog ownership through talks to Primary schools and other groups.
• Provides (at cost price) supplies of award winning "doggy bags" to dog owners.
• Enforces dog-related by-laws and the Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996.
• Microchips dogs in promotion of responsible ownership.

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