Tendring has two dog wardens. They can help with
most dog related problems for example: noise from barking dogs, dog
fouling and stray dogs. They will also provide advice on
responsible dog ownership.
You can contact the dog warden service on 0845
2417253 or email
info@animalwardens.co.uk.
To report a dog bin that needs emptying please
use the Waste Crusader report form which can be
filled in and submitted online.
Useful Information:
Stray Dogs
In law any dog found unaccompanied
in a public place or on land where it has no right to be will (if
practicable) be seized as a stray dog. The dog will be taken to the
locally appointed kennel. The dogs will only be released back to
the owner on payment of a government imposed statutory seizure
charge of £25 plus kenneling and any other charges accrued. If the
dogs identification does not comply with the Control of Dogs Order
(1992) the owner may be liable for prosecution with a maximum fine
of £5000.
For information on what to do if you find a stray dog, including
contact details and where you can take the dog, please see the
What to do if you find a stray dog pdf. document
Local residents willing to provide a
good home to a dog can contact the kennels direct at Stowmarket,
telephone 07941 558096 (8.30am to 6pm weekdays and before noon at
weekends). A contribution is asked for the upkeep of the dog whilst
it has been looked after in the kennels and for
micro-chipping.
Tendring District Council Dog Warden Service has been awarded the
RSPCA Community Animal Welfare Footprint Gold Award for the stray
dog service. This award recognises the excellence of the stray dog
service and its policies and procedures.
Beach Ban Areas
To protect the beach
for users dogs are banned from some of the more popular beach areas
in the Tendring district from 1 May to 30
September. Dogs must be kept on a lead on adjacent cliff
paths and promenades. All beach ban areas are clearly signed and
they include beaches at Harwich, Dovercourt, Walton-on-the-Naze,
Frinton-on-Sea, Holland-on-Sea, Clacton-on-Sea and
Brightlingsea.
For details of which beaches are included please
see the Guide to Dog Bans on Beaches page or pick up a
leaflet from Tendring District Council Cash Offices.
Dogs are banned from most children's play
areas.
Dog wardens patrol all of Tendring district and
you may be prosecuted if you ignore the beach control orders or
fail to clean up after your dog.
Responsible dog ownership
Always clean up after your dog
Tendring has approximately 1,000 dog waste bins
and litter bins across the district for the disposal of dog waste.
You can be issued with a fixed penalty notice, currently £50.00, if
you are witnessed not clearing up after your dog or you can be
taken to court and face a fine of up to £1,000.
Dog waste bags are available from Tendring District
Council cash offices (subject to availability).
Worming
Regular worming (treatment available
from the vet) keeps the dog healthy and the faeces free of the
harmful roundworm eggs which, if left, can develop into larvae
which cause the toxicara infection. Once in the human bloodstream,
this can result in illness or even blindness, so it is of
particular concern where children play on grassed areas.
Flea treatment
Dogs (and cats) should be kept free
of these parasites by regular application of flea treatment
available from the vet. An animal with fleas suffers immense
discomfort, not to mention serious illness if left untreated. The
owner who overlooks preventative flea treatment can expect high vet
bills, lengthy treatment of home and pet - and a few bites round
the ankles!
Vaccinations
Puppies require a course of
vaccinations followed by an annual booster through adulthood to
protect them from serious common illnesses. No reputable kennels
will accept a pet for boarding without an up-to-date vaccination
certificate signed by a vet.
Neutering
Neutering is a routine operation,
which prevents pets from producing young, and reduces some common
behavioural problems in dogs. The vet can perform the operation on
pets from six months of age onwards. Neutering prevents the birth
of thousands of puppies each year for which there are not enough
good homes to go round.
Collar and tag
Under the Control of Dogs Order
1992, all dogs when out in a public place must wear a collar and
tag with the name and address of the owner inscribed on it. Owners
who fail to comply with this are liable for prosecution and a fine
of up to £5000.
Dog training
Walks are more fun if your dog
always comes back when called and doesn't pull on the lead. The
Kennel Club's Good Citizen Dog Schemes are a fun way to train your
dog and learn how to keep it happy and healthy. Contact
The
Kennel Club.
Microchipping
Microchipping is
permanent identification of pets by implanting a tiny chip bearing
a unique number underneath the animal's skin at the back of the
neck. Dog wardens, vets and animal rescue centres routinely scan
dogs which come into their care with a special reader and, by
checking the number against a central database, can swiftly connect
lost pets with owners anywhere in the country. You could save
yourself a large kenneling charge if your dog is picked up as a
stray.
Contact your local vet or Petlog 0870
6066751.
The Council's dog wardens operate regular microchipping surgeries
where dogs will be microchipped at low cost. Contact the Council's
dog warden service on 01255 686766 to book for the next
surgery.
Keeping control
Every dog owner is
responsible for his/her dog's behaviour at all times. Dogs should
be kept under the control of a responsible adult and must not be
allowed to stray onto the public highway. Control your dogs so that
it does not scare or disturb farm animals or wildlife. Dogs should
be exercised on leads where appropriate and should be muzzled where
necessary. Young children should not be allowed to exercise dogs
unsupervised. If your dog is travelling in a vehicle use a mesh
wire cage, dog guard, harness or pet carrier.
Barking Dogs
- Don't let your dog bark or whine for long
periods.
- Keep your dog indoors if it barks constantly
when unattended or disturbed.
- If your dog still barks when indoors make
arrangements to leave it with a neighbour or friend or get someone
to call in - leave its favourite toy or put the radio on at very
low volume.
- Move the kennel or erect a fence so that your
dog is disturbed less often by passers-by. Attend a dog training
class to retrain your dog and change his / her
behaviour.
- Please read the defra guidance leaflet :
Is your dog barking too much? pdf.doc.
Control of Dogs
Section 1 of the
Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 prohibits four types of
dog:
- the Pit Bull Terrier type
- the Japanese tosa
- the Dogo Argentino
- the Fila Brasileiro
It is an offence to own or keep any of the above types of dog,
unless it is on the Index of Exempted Dogs and is in compliance
with the requirements. In any event it is an offence to breed from,
sell or exchange (even as a gift) such a dog, irrespective of
whether it has been placed on the Index of Exempted Dogs. For
further information on the Dangerous Dogs Act and dogs that are
banned in the UK please visit
Directgov.
And remember - ALWAYS CLEAN UP AFTER YOUR DOG
Useful links:
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals (RSPCA) Tel: 0870 3335999
Dogs
Trust Tel: 020
78370006 |