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Animal welfare

Dog warden service

Dog Control Orders

At Cabinet on Monday 19^th September 2011 it was approved to consult members of the public on the possible introduction of five Dog Control Orders, namely:

• Fouling of Land by Dogs (Calderdale) Order
• The Dogs on Lead (Calderdale) Order
• The Dogs on Leads by Direction (Calderdale) Order
• The Dog Exclusion (Calderdale) Order
• The Dogs Specified Maximum (Calderdale) Order.

The Report submitted to Cabinet on 19^th September 2011: Proposed introduction of Dog Control Orders [PDF file 315KB]|

The formal consultation process starts on Monday 3^rd October and ends on Friday 4^th November 2011.

For details of the consultation process including an overview of the proposals, all of the proposed Orders, a questionnaire seeking your views, and associated documents such as a draft map and links to guidance and legislation visit: Dog control orders consultation. You must submit any comments via the formal consultation process, starting on 3^rd October, so as to ensure your views are appropriately recorded.

The Dog Wardens will help you if you have a problem with dog fouling, stray dogs, lost dogs or found dogs:

Dog fouling

The Dog Wardens deal with complaints about dog fouling. For more information see Dog fouling.

If you witness dog fouling, use the online form to report it: Report dog fouling.

Stray dogs

The Dog Wardens will collect stray dogs during normal office hours and will patrol areas where stray dogs are reported. If they find a stray dog they will try to seize it and take it to the kennels where it will be kept for 7 days prior to being re-homed or destroyed.

If the dog owner can be identified then the Dog Wardens will attempt to contact them and inform them of how to reclaim the dog.

Reclaiming your dog

To reclaim your dog you must pay, in full, certain charges as set by legislation and Council policy. Neither kennel staff nor Council officers have any discretion to alter these charges. For a list of charges see Housing and Environment services

Special fees apply to a bitch with puppies or any unaccompanied litter of puppies.

Dogs will be kept for 7 days and if not reclaimed in this period will be either re-homed or destroyed.

To claim your dog you need one of the following means of current identification;

• Driving licence
• Travel permit
• DSS allowance book
• Passport
• Rent book
• Pension book
• Mortgage payment book.

Found dogs

If you find a dog roaming the streets during office hours and decide to take it into your house or workplace, you can contact the Dog Wardens on 0845 245 7000, and the dog will be collected as soon as the Dog Warden is able to attend.  Outside office hours you can contact the Council's out-of-hours number 0845 1111 137.  The person who answers will advise you what to do.

You are advised not to detain a stray dog unless you are willing to keep hold of the dog until the following working day, when the Dog Wardens will make arrangements to collect the dog from you.

Lost dogs

If you have lost your dog you should report it to the Police as they are responsible for recording lost property. You can also report it to the Dog Warden who will check their records to see if the dog has been reported as a stray and seized.

For further information contact the Dog Wardens on 0845 245 7000 or email customer.first@calderdale.gov.uk.

Some requests for service cannot be dealt with by the Dog Wardens. These will be passed quickly to the appropriate agency (e.g. the Police or R.S.P.C.A.| ).

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