Animal welfare
Dog warden service
Dog Control Orders update
Calderdale Council's Housing and Environment Services have received approval to introduce five Dog Control Orders to the borough, which are currently scheduled to come into force on Wednesday 1st August 2012. The five Orders are:
- Fouling of Land by Dogs (Calderdale) Order
- The Dog on Lead (Calderdale) Order
- The Dog on Lead by Direction (Calderdale) Order
- The Dog Exclusion (Calderdale) Order
- The Dogs Specified Maximum (Calderdale) Order.
For further information and details see Dog control orders consultation. The information will be updated from time to time, which will keep persons in charge of dogs informed of any significant developments prior to the Orders coming into force.
Dog Warden Service: 0845 245 6000.
The Dog Wardens may be able to help you if you have a problem with dog fouling, stray, lost or found dogs.
Responsible dog ownership
It is a legal requirement for a dog that is in a public place to be wearing a collar and tag with information upon it which will allow the finder of the dog to return it to the owner or person in charge of it. Usually, a telephone number, postcode and the dog's name will be sufficient. If your dog escapes from your possession and it is wearing a collar and tag with details on, then you may be able to reclaim your dog without involving the Dog Warden Service, thereby saving yourself some money. It would also help the Council as Officers would not need to seize and detain as many stray dogs, thus saving money and Officer time.
Calderdale Council recommends that you also microchip, neuter, and regularly worm your dog. The RSPCA|
and the Dogs Trust| and local veterinarians work with the Council to promote responsible ownership.
Dog fouling: 0845 245 6000
The Dog Wardens investigate complaints about dog fouling in designated public places. For more information see Dog fouling.
If you witness a person regularly failing to remove their dog's poo from designated land that is accessible to the public and open to the air, use the online form to report it: Report dog fouling. Without providing a rough time that it occurs and description of the person and their dog, Officers will be unable to try and 'catch' the alleged offender at whatever time you've suggested that it happens. However, if you know the address which they come from, please tell us and we may write to them, visit them or patrol. In most cases, this usually solves the problem.
Due to an increasing number of priorities, without a positive line of enquiry like a name or description and time, Officers may be unable to assist you.
Finally, if you see someone not pick up their dog's poo in a public place and are willing to provide a statement to an Officer, please contact us. Officers will investigate your statement and if it can be proven beyond all reasonable doubt, and that you also have no ongoing disputes with the alleged offender, then the alleged offender may be subject to an enforcement intervention.
Persons observed failing to remove their dog's poo from publicly accessible designated land which is open to the air can currently be served with a £50 Fixed Penalty Notice or be prosecuted in Halifax Magistrates Court and fined up to £1000.
Found dogs
Seizure and detention of stray dogs and found dogs can be undertaken by the Council’s Dog Wardens between 08:45 and 17:00 Mondays to Fridays.
Uninjured / healthy out of hours stray dogs (found between 09:00 and 22:00 Saturday / Sunday, or 17:00 to 22:00 Monday to Friday): 0845 1111 137.
If you've found a stray dog and are able to transport it out of hours yourself, you must phone the Council and receive a Codeword. Once the Codeword is obtained, you will be given a telephone number for Fleet Kennels, so you can make an appointment to deliver the dog. The Council does not currently have capacity to transport dogs out of hours. If you cannot transport the dog or make arrangements to do so, you must not let the dog go as you would be in breach of the Animal Welfare Act. Please keep hold of the dog, if you can, until the next working day when the Dog Wardens will collect it from you.
Please do not take any stray dogs to Fleet Kennels without 'phoning the Council first, on 0845 1111 137 as the dog may not be accepted from you.
Stray dogs found overnight (between 22:00 hours and 08:45 hours): 0845 1111 137.
The Council currently has no provision for the seizure or detention of stray dogs during these hours. If you've found a healthy or uninjured dog after 22:00 hours please phone 0845 111 137 and keep hold of it until the following working day when the Dog Wardens will make arrangements to collect the dog from you.
The Council is currently reviewing its policy and procedures in relation to stray dogs that are found overnight between 22:00 hours and 09:00 hours and for circumstances where a finder of a dog does not have the capability to transport the dog to Fleet Kennels between 17:00 and 22:00 themselves.
Injured and / or sick out of hours stray dogs (0845 1111 137).
If you have found an injured or sick dog overnight between 17:00 and 08:45 hours, you should phone the Council and ask for the Duty Environmental Health Officer, who may then make arrangements with a local vet who provides a 24hr emergency service. Once arrangements have been made, the Duty Officer will call you back with a request to transport the dog to the vet as the Council does not currently have the capability to transport dogs out of hours.
The Council will pay a veterinary practice a modest sum for basic initial emergency treatment (IET) of sick/injured stray dogs to keep the dog free from pain or suffering, on authority from the Duty Officer. The Council will not pay for x-rays, operations or major treatments. If the dog recovers enough to be transported, the Dog Wardens will collect the dog the next working day and transport it to Fleet Kennels. If the owner seeks to reclaim the dog, then the owner of the dog, and not the Council, is liable to pay the fees to the vet.
Reclaiming your dog
To reclaim your dog you must pay in cash, in full, certain charges as set by legislation and Council policy at the kennel before you can collect your dog. Neither kennel staff nor Council officers have any discretion to alter these charges. For a list of charges see Housing and Environment services You will not be allowed to reclaim your dog without paying any and all outstanding fees, in full, first. You can only reclaim your dog by appointment, by phoning Fleet Kennels on (01274) 880408.
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 they will be re-homed. If the dog cannot be found a new home, it may be put to sleep.
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.
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. You should also phone any local veterinary practices. There are a number of them in the borough, including Ashfield Veterinary Group, Brighouse Veterinary Centre, Calder Vets, Friendly Animal Clinic, Hird and Partners, Prospect Vets, Vets 4 Pets, and West Mount Veterinary Group.
For further information contact the Dog Wardens on 0845 245 6000 or email customer.first@calderdale.gov.uk.
Dangerous / aggressive / fighting dogs (West Yorkshire Police Force, telephone 101)
West Yorkshire Police: Calderdale Neighbourhood Policing| have responsibility in this area.
If a dog is an aggressive stray dog, then the Dog Wardens will attempt to seize or detain it. If a dog is a dangerous banned breed (Japanese Tosa, Fila Brasiliero, Dogo Argentino or a Pit-Bull Terrier type) the Dog Wardens may suggest that you contact West Yorkshire Police via the relevant Neighbourhood Policing Team.
Abandoned dogs
Dogs that have been abandoned by owners either as a result of the owner being removed from property by the Police, or dogs being left in or attached to a property as unwanted pets will not be seized or detained by the Council Fundamentally, these dogs are not deemed to be stray dogs. Calderdale Council only has responsibility for seizing and detaining stray dogs. The Council recommends that you contact the RSPCA| (0300 1234 999) or other dog welfare organisations.
Reclaiming / rehoming issues
Please note that Fleet Kennels make every effort to return dogs to their owners. If an owner does not reclaim their dog, the priority is to have the dog rehomed via a number of dog charities and rescue centres. Fleet Kennels have a strong working relationship with the Dogs' Trust, and other rehoming charities across the region.
