Dogs & Dog Wardens
Telephone 01304 872289
There are lots of positive aspects of
owning a dog. It is important however to be a responsible owner so
that
nuisance is not caused to others or
the environment.
Dog Fouling
Apart from the obvious
unpleasant effects of dog fouling there are potential health
risks. Dogs can be affected by several types of worm. One of which
can cause serious illness in children. It is important to clear dog
mess from public places and your own garden. You should always:
- Worm your dog every 6 months
- Wash your hands after playing with
dogs.
- Train your dog to go at home and take
a plastic bag and poop scoop when you go out, in case of
accidents. It is a legal requirement to clean up after your dog in
most public places.
Under The Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996 it is an offence for
any person in charge of a dog not to remove any faeces deposited by
a dog in their charge. Anyone found guilty of an offence will be
issued with a fixed penalty ticket (currently £50 fine). This gives
the offenders the opportunity to dispose of the offence there and
then. Should the fine not be paid, or offences be persistant the
Council may prosecute with a maximum fine of £1000."
Stray Dogs
With effect from 1 April 2008 the responsibility for stray dogs
found out of hours passed from the Police to the Local
Authority.
If you witness a dog roaming unattended or find a stray dog you
can report it to the Dog Warden, telephone 01304 872289. If the dog
is seized but the owner cannot be located, the dog will be taken to
the kennels used by the Local Authority, where it will be kept for
7 days. If at the end of this period the dog has not been claimed,
the kennels will endeavour to re-home it. However, dogs found to be
regularly straying will automatically be taken to kennels and the
owner, if known, will be informed. When a dog is claimed the owner
is required to contact the Local Authority to pay a statutory fine
(currently £25.00) plus the kennelling costs. After the payment has
been made arrangements will be made to return the dog to its
owner.
If you find a stray dog out of office hours please phone 01304
821199. The operator will then give you details of the arrangements
that have been put in place. Please note the Council do not provide
a stray collection service outside of office hours.
Lost Dogs
If you have lost a dog you can report this to the Dog Warden,
telephone 01304 872289 with the following
information:
- Your name, address and telephone number
- Description of your dog
- Date and time lost
- Location when lost
Dog Control
Every dog must wear a collar and tag
with its owner’s name and address when in a public place. It is an
offence for a dog to be in a field with livestock without being on
a lead or some other form of control. Dover District Council
employs a warden to collect stray dogs and the owner will be
charged a fee and kennelling costs. If the dog is not
collected within 7 days the Council
has the right to find a new home or have the dog destroyed.
A MAN'S BEST FRIEND CAN BE A
NEIGHBOURS NUISANCE
Remember that it is your
responsibility to ensure your dog does not become a nuisance. If
your dog causes a nuisance action can be taken against you. If you
would like more information about dogs and the responsiblites of
owners please contact the Councils’s Dog Warden on 01304
872428
Barking
Constant barking or howling can cause
considerable annoyance to neighbours particularly if it occurs at
unsociable hours and may lead to enforcement action by the Council.
Your dog may not like being left on its own for long periods of
time but if you do, make sure you ask someone to visit. The Council
have an advice leaflet on barking dogs. Defra provide further
advice with a downloadable leaflet.
Byelaws
Under local byelaws in designated areas there are restrictions
e.g. a dog ban on Deal beach between 1 May - 30 September. In any
designated area there will be signs. For further information
contact the Dog Wardens telephone 01304 872289.
School Talks
School talks are given by the Dog Wardens when requested by
local schools. It is considered important to educate children on
responsible dog ownership as they will be the dog owners of
tomorrow.
Home Checks
Home checks are carried out by the Dog Wardens on behalf of the
kennels to ensure that when unclaimed stray dogs are re-homed, they
go to responsible, caring homes.
Dog Bins
To report a full/damaged dog bin or to request a bin in a new
location, please telephone 01304 872428 or email customerservices@dover.gov.uk.
Leaflets
Contact
Dog Warden: 01304 872289
Customer Services: 01304 872428
E-mail: envhealth@dover.gov.uk
