How we deal with dogs

These procedures state how Charnwood Borough Council operates in relation to issues of Dog Control.

The main areas for dog control are:

• Collection and kennelling for stray dogs
• micro-chipping
• responsible dog ownership.

Scope

These procedures cover the following activities in relation to dog control:

• Handling of stray dogs within normal office hours
• Handling of stray dogs outside of normal office hours
• Recovery of kennelling costs from dog owners collect their dogs when they are found as strays
• Micro-chipping of dogs
• Enforcement of breaches of Public Spaces Protection Orders for offences such as dog fouling, dogs being present in exclusion zones and dogs not being on a lead in areas where specified.
• Enforcement of Community Protection Notices (CPN’s) in relation to Dog Control
• Educational and promotional activities

The Regulatory Services Enforcement Policy governs the general approach to enforcement of all areas covered by the Regulatory Services Team. As such it should be read in conjunction with this procedure document. 

This procedure document should also be read in conjunction with specific departmental written instructions and procedures concerning the operation of the dog control service.

Handling of stray dogs within normal office hours

All reports of lost and found dogs should be reported to the council using the web form or by calling 01509 634564.  When reports regarding stray dogs are received by the Council they will automatically be sent to the Dog Warden and kennels to notify them that they need to collect a stray dog or to advise about a lost dog so they can contact the owner if the dog is received at the kennels.

The Dog Warden will go to any reports of found dogs where the dog is secured and kept on  a person’s property.

A stray dog is defined as any dog which is roaming free without its owner being present.

The Dog Warden is authorised to detain and seize any stray dog which has been found by a member of the public and is secured on their property.

The Dog Warden will make all reasonable enquiries to find out the identity of its owners, , check details on dog tags and talk to persons who reported the stray dog or who are in the immediate vicinity.

The dog will be taken directly to the kennels and registered as a stray dog where the microchip will be checked for the owner details and the owner will be contacted.

The kennels will try and contact the owner by telephone  using the details ont eh tag or the microchip but where the owner of a stray dog cannot be identified, , the kennels will write to the owner (as identified on the microchip) to give notice that their dog has been reported and collected by the Dog Warden as a stray dog. The notice will detail the appropriate release fee which is payable, and arrangements needed for them to reclaim their dog.

Stray Dogs seized by the Council are held for seven clear days at the Councils kennelling facility. During that seven day period the owners of a stray dog may come forward and reclaim their dog. To do so they must pay the appropriate costs.

• A fine and administrative fee: £54.07
• Daily kenneling fee (currently £11.40 including VAT)
• Any veterinary fees incurred

Following the seven-day period, stray dogs which are not reclaimed become the property of the kennels who will arrange to re-home them through a rescue centre.

Handling of stray dogs outside of normal office hours 

All reports of lost and found dogs should be reported to the council using the web form if you have access to a computer.

Once the web form is submitted the Dog Warden and kennels will immediately receive a notification of a lost or found dog.

For reports where you do not have access to a computer and it is outside of normal office hours then you should call 0116 269 6177.

The working hours for the Dog Warden and kennels are:

• Monday to Friday: 8am-5pm
• Saturday: 9am-10pm
• Sunday: 9am-10pm 

Veterinary treatment of stray dogs kept within the Council’s care

The Council will ensure that all stray dogs within its care receive appropriate veterinary care to ensure they are free from pain and kept in a comfortable condition.

Where veterinary treatment is administered to a stray dog which is subsequently re-claimed by its owners, the costs for the veterinary treatment will be recovered from the owner. No veterinary treatment of stray dogs under the Council’s care will be undertaken without the permission of the authorised officer (in excess of the agreed nominated cost).

In all cases the officer above must be notified of any veterinary care given to a stray dog at the earliest opportunity. The Council is not responsible for any veterinary treatments administered to a dog prior to its submission and registration in the Councils Kennelling facility.

Recovery of kennelling costs from dog owners who fail to collect their dogs

Unfortunately, there are circumstances where the owners of stray dogs are known and make contact with the Council, but yet choose to not re-claim their dogs. This means that the Council is forced to retain the dogs for a full clear seven days and then arrange for a rescue centre to re-home the dog (where applicable)

The Council is limited in what legal action it can take in these circumstances; however it is not fair or equitable that an owner who effectively abandons their animal in such a way should be allowed to do so without re-course.

The Council therefore will invoice known owners for the costs incurred in keeping their dog for the whole seven days. This will be done via invoice with appropriate follow up should the invoice not be paid.

Micro-chipping of dogs

Where the Council seizes a stray dog, who is found to be without an implanted micro-chip, a micro-chip will be implanted before the dog is either returned to its owner or before it istransferred to the rescue centre. Where the Council incurs costs undertaking such actions, the cost will be recovered from the dog’s owners, however subject to availability, some of these micro-chipping services may be undertaken in partnership with external organisations such as the Dogs Trust, and therefore be free of charge.

The Council is responsible for enforcing legislation in relation to the microchipping of dogs. Where it is made aware of a dog which is not microchipped, the Council will attempt to contact the owner to resolve the matter. Where adequate actions by the owner cannot be secured, the Council will legally require the dog to be microchipped.

A 21-day notice will be issued to the owner requiring them to:

• Have a microchip implanted in their dog: or
• Update contact and/or owner details on the existing chip.

Failure to comply may result in prosecution.

Investigation of dog fouling reports

Incidents of dog fouling reported to the Council will be recorded on the lagan database system.

Incidents of dog fouling will be notified to the Street Warden Team who will assist the assigned case officer with patrols of the area and, where applicable, the erection of appropriate dog fouling signage.

All reported incidents of dog fouling will be collated by the Street Management Team and that information used to ensure Officers are aware of the problem when out on patrol.

Where applicable, the Council’s Environmental Services Department will be notified in order to have dog fouling cleared from public spaces.

To report a dog fouling issue call: 01509 634564, or use the online form.

Enforcement of Public Space Protection Orders (PSPO’s) in relation to dog control

The Council has PSPO’s in relation to dog control in place within the borough. These orders cover the following issues;

• Requiring owners to clean up after their dogs if they foul in a public space

• Requiring owners to put dogs on leads in specified cemeteries and burial grounds

• Prohibiting dogs from entering enclosed children’s play areas.

These orders were implemented following a public consultation process and look to address the main issues affecting the public regarding irresponsible dog ownership.

The orders are in place for a 3-year period after which they are subject to review. At that stage each order will be reviewed to ensure it remains appropriate.

Additionally, consideration will be given to any additional orders or revisions of existing orders which may be required at that time.

At the review stage, those orders (existing and any new) will be reviewed according to the process specified in the appropriate legislation.

Our orders can be seen in full on the dog control webpage.

Enforcement of Community Protection Notices (CPN’s) in relation to dog control

The Council can issue Community Protection notices to deal with owners who have a dog which is

(i) having a detrimental effect, of a persistent or continuing nature, on the quality of life of those in the locality; and

(ii) the conduct is unreasonable.

A Community Protection Notice imposes any of the following requirements on the individual or body issued with it:

a) a requirement to stop doing specified things

b) a requirement to do specified things

c) a requirement to take reasonable steps to achieve specified results.

They can only be issued if the offender has been given a written warning that the notice will be issued if their conduct does not change and that they have been given enough time to have reasonably made those changes, and yet have chosen not to do so.

A person issued with a Community Protection Notice who fails to comply with it commits an offence which is punishable by prosecution or a fine.

Examples of conditions which may be imposed:

• Dog must be on a lead in public places
• Dog must wear a muzzle in public
• The owner must prevent escape by the dog
• The householder must secure their boundary to prevent escape.

This list is not exhaustive and each report would be assed to see if it meets the legal test and then dealt with on a case for case basis.

Dangerous dogs

Dangerous Dogs are predominately an area which the Police deal with. A memorandum of understanding is in effect between all local authorities and Leicestershire Police which confirms this and commits the Police to taking the lead on such matters.

The Council’s Dog Control Service may where necessary and appropriate support the Police in certain cases.

Educational and promotional Activities

The Council’s Dog Control Service recognises the importance of education and promotion in tackling irresponsible dog ownership issues. The service is committed to undertaking educational and promotional activities to support and compliment the enforcement work undertaken.

The service will look to publicise successful enforcement cases where necessary to act as a deterrent for other potential offenders.

The service will work with the Communications team to maximise the potential of the use of media such as Facebook, Twitter, press releases, etc. in order to provide key messages to dog owners within the borough.

Procedure Review

To ensure these procedures remain current and up to date it shall be subject to full review and revision every year or following any significant changes to legislation, practice or procedure.