Dog Control

Service Objectives

1.  Responsible Dog Ownership

Encourage and enforce responsible dog ownership so as to reduce the number of strays collected and kenneled within the Borough;

2. Prevention of Nuisance

Using the Council's licensing and regulatory powers to ensure the protection of public safety and prevention of nuisance;

3. Out of Hours Service

To provide a service for the collection of stray dogs both within and outside normal working hours.

 

Scope of Service

1. The Animal Welfare Officer receives requests for service from dog owners who have lost their dog in or around the Fareham Borough Council area.  The officer may search the area and/or examine various sources of information in an attempt to locate the dog;
2. Other people will contact the officer when they have found a dog within the area.  This can occur both within and outside normal working hours;
3. During normal office hours, the officer will respond within one hour with a visit to the finder's location and collect the dog.  The dog will be scanned for a microchip and checked for other identification (e.g. dog tag, tattoo etc).  If an owner's name and address is found, the dog is generally returned home.   Otherwise, the dog is taken to a private kenneling facility, with which the Council has a contract;
4. Where the dog is not returned directly to the owner, a charge is made including a statutory fee for the initial collection of the dog and daily kenneling fees;
5. The Animal Welfare Officers make use of the Fareham Borough council website and the internet generally and the internal electronic filing system registers to monitor lost and found dogs.  The Animal Welfare Officer organises the re-homing of seized dogs where they are not claimed.  This process may involve a visit to the potential owner's home;
6. The Animal Welfare Officer provides advice and assistance to the Leisure Service in the location, provision and management of dog bins and signs;
7. The Animal Welfare Officer liaises with the Police regarding dangerous dogs and the RSPCA regarding welfare issues;
8. To respond within 2 working days to complaints of noise from barking dogs.  Where there are persistent problems, to offer advice and guidance with formal action taken where necessary;
9. To assist in the annual inspections of animal boarding and breeding establishments as part of the licensing service;
10. To provide a chargeable micro-chipping service for dogs and cats and to assist the refuse department in the identification of dead pets found on the roadside during refuse collections;
11. To undertake occasional educational events such as micro-chipping days etc.

 

Service Standards

1. To attend two promotional activities during the year to promote responsible dog ownership.
2. To respond to reports of stray dogs within 1 hour of notification during normal working hours.
3. To respond to dog barking complaints within 2 working days of receipt.
4. To respond within 2 hours to dogs reported to the out of hours service.
5. To assist in reducing the number of stray dogs kenneled per year by undertaking the micro chipping of dogs.

For further information on any of the above please contact us at regulatory@fareham.gov.uk or by telephone on 01329 236100.