Dog Ownership. Barking. Health. Fouling. * Provide your dog with safe and. * Walk your dog at least twice a day * Keep your dog inside when you are

Transcription

1 Dog Ownership

2 Dog Ownership Community Gateway Association (CGA) has a Responsible Pet Ownership Frame work which advises our tenants of the conditions that must be met in order to keep an animal at their property. The following information focuses on guidelines for Dog ownership. All dog owners have a responsibility to make sure their dog is well looked after and does not cause any nuisance to neighbours.the following are common problems that all dog owners should be aware of. Barking It is natural for dogs to bark, but constant barking or whining of a dog can be very annoying and upsetting for your neighbours. If the noise amounts to statutory nuisance you could face prosecution, and if convicted you can face a fine of up to 5000 you can also risk CGA withdrawing permission for you to keep a dog. Your dog may be barking out of boredom or loneliness. Steps you can take: * Provide your dog with safe and interesting toy * Walk your dog at least twice a day * Keep your dog inside when you are unable to supervise it * Do not leave your dog alone without human company for long periods of time Health Dogs need to be vaccinated and have regular health checks with the vet. Vet bills can be costly and you may want to consider taking out pet insurance to give your dog the protection they need. The PDSA and the RSPCA offer help with vet bills if you are claiming housing benefits. Fouling It is your responsibility to remove dog fouling immediately and dispose of it in a way that does not cause a nuisance. You should use a poop scoop or plastic bag and dispose of it in any Council waste bin or your household refuse. Residents must be able to demonstrate the ability and commitment to pick up dog fouling and place in a dog bin or a bin that allows the disposal of dog waste. Dog fouling should not be left for any period of time; this includes any dog fouling in their own enclosed garden.

3 MicroChip Every dog should have a tag, but a microchip is permanent identification that links dogs to their owners and it is recommended for all dogs. The chip is a painless procedure and you can get your dog chipped by your vet. CGA will chip your dog free of charge if you are a tenant by you attending one of the Dog Chipping events. Microchipping is to become compulsory in April Straying Dog owners must not their dogs stray. You must make sure that your dogs are kept secure in your home or garden. Dogs must be kept on leads in communal areas. Dogs are not allowed on fenced children s play areas. Dangerous dogs The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 (amended 1997) bans ownership, breeding, sale or exchange of dogs such as; Pit bull terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Braziliero. If you are found in possession of any of these dogs, you will face prosecution, and if convicted, could face a fine of up to 5000 and/or six month imprisonment. CGA responsible pet ownership Tenancy conditions for dogs are as follows: * When dogs are in public places, they must wear a collar and tag with the name and postal address of the owner clearly inscribed * All animals must be kept under proper control at all times when they come into contact with neighbours, visitors or their animals * Animals must not cause a nuisance or annoyance to neighbours, visitors or other animals * They must take such steps as are reasonable in the circumstances to ensure that the needs of their animals are met to the extent required by good practise * Dogs must be neutered if we believe that the dog is allowed to stray or if it is recommended by a veterinary surgeon, animal behaviourist or a dog trainer * Animals must not be allowed to foul in public or communal areas. Any fouling must be cleared up immediately * Animals must not damage CGA property. If they do, without prejudice to any other enforcement action we may take, the tenant will be responsible for paying for the repair/ replacement * Dogs must be kept on a lead in communal areas and must not enter children s play areas.

4 Cruelty or neglect The Animal Welfare Act requires all dog owners to meet the five freedoms as follows: * Freedom from hunger and thirst * Freedom from discomfort * Freedom from pain, injury or disease * Freedom to behave normally Freedom from fear or distress * If you think that a neighbour is guilty of cruelty or neglect towards an animal, you should report it to the RSPCA. The RSPCA will treat your report as confidential. How will your complaint be dealt with? Where a complaint is made about a permitted pet causing a nuisance, CGA will investigate the complaint and deal with it in line with CGA s Anti-social Behaviour policy and service standards. Staff will record all nuisance complaints and consider a range of options for resolving the problem. This will include working with the local authority s Environmental Health Department and/or Dog Warden. If the nuisance is persistent and the resident fails to engage in dealing with the problem, CGA may consider legal action after all other options have been exhausted. External housing for pets is not allowed The erection of any external structure is not permitted at any CGA property, without prior written consent. Consent will not be granted for any structure used to house animals that may cause nuisance or annoyance to neighbours. Any resident constructing a structure without consent will be required to remove the structure within 28 days; failure to remove the structure may result in legal action to ensure that removal and any costs incurred will be the responsibility of the tenant.

5 Dog Ownership Useful numbers Community Gateway Association Nuisance complaints Tel: Preston Dog Wardens and Environmental Health Stray dogs, noise nuisance and fouling Tel: Lost Cats Registering Scheme Cats Protection League Database for lost and found cats in the Preston area Tel: RSPCA Welfare Line Reporting any cruelty concerns Tel: Vets in Preston Vets 4 Pets 90 Moor Lane, City Centre, PR1 1JQ Tel: Riverbank Veterinary Centre 16 Watery Lane, PR2 2NN Tel: Abbey Veterinary Centre 220 Watling Street Road, PR2 8AD Tel: Conway Drive, PR2 3ER Tel: New Hall Veterinary Centre 464 New Hall Lane, PR1 4TA Tel: Discounted vets and neutering (Need to be receiving benefits) PDSA Pet Aid Hospital Blackpool Treat both emergency and non-emergency for a donation 47 Hawes Lane, FY4 4AP Tel: RSPCA Clinic Wednesday & Friday 10-11am Myerscough Veterinary Group, 196 Lancaster Road, Preston, PR1 2QL Tel; Cats Protection League Cat Neutering Scheme Voucher for discounted neutering Tel:

6 How to get in touch Gateway Direct Other useful CGA contacts Out-of-Hours Emergencies To report an out-of-hours emergency call Head Office: Community Gateway Association Harbour House, Port Way, Ashton-On-Ribble, Preston, PR2 2DW Web: Community Empowerment Team Harbour House, Port Way, Ashton-On-Ribble, Preston, PR2 2DW Gateway Tenants Committee Via the Community Empowerment Team