Every dog owner has a moral and legal duty to ensure that
their pet does not cause a nuisance to others.
Why you should be a responsible
dog owner
- Dogs not kept under proper control can cause road traffic
accidents, attack other dogs, pets and even people.
- Dog faeces are thoroughly unpleasant and can carry diseases
such as toxocariasis which has been known to cause blindness,
especially in young children.
Purbeck’s Dog Warden has many
roles. These include:
- Handling and kennelling stray dogs.
- Promoting responsible attitudes to dog ownership.
- Enforcement of local bye-laws and national dog
legislation.
Stray Dogs
A large proportion of the Dog Warden’s
time is spent dealing with stray dogs. Any dog found straying will
be picked up by the Dog Warden. Where it is possible to immediately
identify the owner of the dog e.g. via identity tag, tattoo or
micro-chip the dog will be normally returned to the owner free of
charge. In all other cases the dog is registered and taken to a
local kennel. A dog owner has 7 days to claim their dog back and
pay in full a fixed fee which is set by central government, and all
kennelling fees incurred by the Council. Dogs not claimed within 7
days will be put up for re-homing. It is also an offence under the
Control
of Dogs Order 1992 (external link) for a dog to be in a
public place without wearing a collar with the name and address of
its owner inscribed on it or with a disc attached to it. The
maximum fine for this offence is £2,000.
Lost Dogs
The Council holds a register of all dogs seized or reported lost so
if you have lost your dog please call us. Local Police stations
will also hold details of stray dogs reported to them.
Dog Fouling
There are a number of areas within in the district where it is
an offence to let your dog foul and not remove it. Areas include
parts of Lytchett Matravers, Studland, Middle Halves, and Upton
recreation field, West Halves Sports Field and Swanage beach. If
you have any doubt whether or not you have a legal duty to clear up
after your dog then please contact us. Irrespective of whether an
area of land is covered by a bye-law, any dog owner still has a
moral duty to ensure that their dog’s faeces does not cause a
problem to any other person
How You Can be a Responsible Dog Owner
- Ensure that your dog wears a collar and identity tag at all
times.
- Ensure that your house and garden is secure so that your dog
cannot just ´wander off´.
- Keep your dog on a lead at all appropriate times.
- Clear up after your dog and dispose of the mess
appropriately.
For problems with noise from dog barking see section on
Links:
Contact Details:
Should you wish to contact the Council’s Dog Warden or would
like further information, please contact the Customer Service Unit
on 01929 556561 or email envservices@purbeck-dc.gov.uk