Housing A GUIDE TO GOOD PRACTICE. Community Animal Welfare Footprints

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1 Housing A GUIDE TO GOOD PRACTICE Community Anima Wefare s

2 CAWF Housing achievers GOLD Amicus Horizon Ltd Brighton & Hove City Counci Dacorum Borough Counci Housing Hartepoo Lewisham Homes North Kesteven District Counci North Linconshire Homes South Angia Housing Sussex Housing & Care Sutton Housing Partnership Wandsworth Borough Counci West Kent Housing Association 2013 SILVER Festiva Housing Hanover Housing Association Sandwe Homes Yarington Housing Group BRONZE A1 Housing Bassataw Limited Brackne Forest Homes Goden Gates Housing Trust Hastoe Housing Association Limited Lambeth Living Limited Leeds City Counci Merthyr Tydfi Housing Association Merthyr Vaeys Homes Southampton City Counci Tendring District Counci Housing Service The Wrekin Housing Trust GOLD SILVER BRONZE Phiip Toscano/RSPCA Photoibrary (x2) 02 COMMUNITY ANIMAL WELFARE FOOTPRINTS

3 Ceebrating good practice The RSPCA s Community Anima Wefare s scheme (CAWF) ceebrates and promotes oca authorities, housing providers and oca resiience forums in Engand and Waes that demonstrate good practice in anima wefare services. The scheme focuses on four key footprint areas: stray dogs, contingency panning, anima wefare principes, and the one that inspired this pubication housing. Since the scheme s aunch in 2008, housing entries have increased substantiay. Loca authorities and registered socia andords (RSLs) have earned bronze, siver and god footprints for cear and positive pets poicies, usefu information for tenants, cear enforcement, good partnership working, innovative education work, and more. This booket gives guidance on what makes a good pets poicy and highights some of the good housing practice with regard to pets demonstrated by our footprint achievers. It is our hope that this guide wi inspire other housing providers to review and improve their current pets poicies and practices. The Society aso hopes that this guidance wi encourage andords to promote their good work and to seek recognition via the CAWF scheme. TO FIND OUT MORE cawf@rspca.org.uk Contents 04 A pets poicy: Why is it so important? 05 A pets poicy: The basics 07 A tenancy agreement: What to incude 10 A pets poicy: Going beyond the basic standard 13 A pets poicy: Other considerations 14 The RSPCA: A resource for housing providers 15 Directory of usefu contacts 15 Get invoved in

4 Housing: A guide to good practice A PETS POLICY Why is it so important? Keeping pets in shetered, socia or counci accommodation can pose many chaenges for andords. Yet research shows that animas that are we cared for and responsiby kept can be a positive attribute to any community, as pet ownership often satisfies the need for companionship, daiy routine and exercise. Studies have shown that pet ownership can enhance the owner s menta and physica heath and encourage exercise, pus pets make great companions 1. However, whie pets can have a very positive impact on their environment, irresponsiby owned pets can be the cause of much misery and suffering to the animas themseves and to those who ive around them. The chaenges ranging from the high-profie issues of anima hoarding and intimidation with dogs, to the ower eve but equay probematic issues of cat spraying and barking dogs can be improved by having a cear and we-enforced pets poicy. A pets poicy is a document that outines the expected behaviours of tenants with regard to pets, which incudes their ega obigations, what is required of owners, and the potentia consequences of faiing to observe the poicy. It is aso recommended that the pets poicy is inked to the tenancy agreement. Some of the most effective pets poicies have been tied in with arger strategies that tacke wider issues such as anti-socia behaviour (ASB) and noise, both of which are issues that housing providers and oca authorities are obiged to address. See exampes of good practice on pages 6 and 7. Socia andords are required under the Housing Act 1996 s.218a, introduced by the Antisocia Behaviour Act 2003, to prepare and pubish a statement of poicies and procedures for deaing with ASB. Some andords have decided to incude procedures on nuisance caused by animas within this statement. Simiary, in the past, andords (oca authorities in particuar) have used oca findings from surveys and nationa indicators specificay the perception of ASB and how we residents fee it is being deat with to tacke some anima-reated probems. This has been a particuar focus of andords that have seen a rise in ASB with dogs. It is important that housing providers do not fee aone when deaing with anima-reated probems, as many of these issues are best tacked in partnership, whether it is with the oca authority, the poice or the RSPCA. This, as we as education and proactive work, wi be addressed ater in this booket. 1 Further information from studies can be found at: Angea Hampton/RSPCA Photoibrary 04 COMMUNITY ANIMAL WELFARE FOOTPRINTS

5 A PETS POLICY The basics The RSPCA beieves that housing providers shoud not discourage pets where faciities exist for their proper care. Contros are necessary, however, to prevent irresponsibe pet ownership, which can cause suffering to animas and a nuisance to neighbours, and so many housing providers are now incuding causes about pet ownership in the tenancy agreement. In a written poicies, the key questions to address are whether the poicies or conditions are enforceabe, and whether they wi be enforced by housing officers. It is aso important to ensure that pet owners generay, or owners of specific pets such as dogs, are not viified through poicy. Whie there may be a need for greater conditions on some pets, they need to be proportionate to the probem and expained ceary to the residents. Housing officer training It is important to ensure that housing officers deaing with anima-reated probems are aware of the basic egisation surrounding pets and are comfortabe around the animas they come into contact with. Some andords have arranged for behaviourists and dog handers to provide basic dog handing and behaviour training, which resuts in officers feeing more confident in their enforcement roe. Pease note that the RSPCA beieves it is essentia for behaviourists to be certified cinica anima behaviourists. More information can be found at: vetcare/findabehaviourist The foowing information shoud be incuded in a basic pets poicy, and incuded in the tenancy agreement where possibe. A cear statement that the owner is responsibe for their pets wefare by aw, as defined under the Anima Wefare Act You shoud base this on the duty of care in section 9 of the Act, which makes it an offence for the person responsibe for an anima to...not take such steps as are reasonabe in a circumstances to ensure that the needs of an anima for which he is responsibe are met to the extent required by good practice. The needs outined are: a suitabe environment; suitabe diet; abiity to exhibit norma behaviour patterns; to be housed with or apart from other animas; to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease. The RSPCA has produced information on how to meet a pet s needs under the Anima Wefare Act 2006 (s.9), which can be found at: artice/cad_ourpets You wi aso need to incude a cear process for deaing with any wefare or cruety compaints. A cear statement that the owner must ensure that the pet does not cause a nuisance and is not used in an anti-socia manner. This statement needs to incude cear detais of what is expected from a responsibe owner. In addition, you shoud detai a cear process for deaing with nuisance (incuding hygiene and noise) compaints that arise, which incudes, where appicabe, working with other agencies such as the poice and the RSPCA. The RSPCA advises that as with the majority of ow-eve compaints positive action towards an improvement is sought in the first instance, and that the pet owner is directed to sources of information and advice. Pease note: Where anima training is a possibe soution, we recommend that owners are directed to a suitabe trainer. Further information can be found at: pets/dogs/behaviour/trainer Cear guidance on which pets are aowed, where they are aowed, where they are not, and how many pets a tenant can have. State whether pets are aowed in the accommodation and, if so, how many and which species. The RSPCA is not abe to specify exacty how many animas of what type can be kept as this depends on the size and stye of accommodation, but the Society beieves that some species, such as primates, shoud not be kept as they cannot have their needs met in a househod environment. Loca authority anima wefare officers, environmenta heath staff or vets experienced in the animas concerned may be abe to provide hep and support in defining a specific poicy, as we as the training of housing staff in assessing the suitabiity of accommodation for keeping pets. You may wish to prohibit on safety grounds the keeping of any animas isted under the Dangerous Wid Animas Act If you aow some animas named under this Act, then you must ensure the owner has an up-to-date icence to keep or breed these animas. You shoud aso state whether tenants are aowed to repace their pets when the anima dies. Pease note: We recommend that this guidance shoud have the fexibiity to assess individuas requests on a case-by-case basis. Conditions that tacke indiscriminate breeding and accidenta ownership The breeding and sae of animas shoud be prohibited on premises that housing providers manage i.e. the dweing and other areas such as garages. This wi hep encourage responsibe pet ownership and reduce the number of accidenta owners i.e. those who acquire pets from friends and neighbours without being aware of the anima s basic wefare needs. It wi aso hep avoid environmenta nuisance and heath and safety probems for neighbours. 05

6 Housing: A guide to good practice Tendring District Counci Pets poicy: a iving document BRONZE Tendring District Counci, ike many bronze-achieving housing providers, has got the basics right. In fact for the ast few years it has provided a good tempate for other housing providers, with sound poicies and cear information. It took time, however, for Tendring to attain its current standard. The counci, which manages more than 3,000 properties, thoroughy revised its tenancy agreement with regard to pets in It appeared effective, so remained unchanged unti 2006 when the housing service started seeing a steep rise in cat and dog compaints. It was quicky identified that the counci s poicy at that time did itte to address a number of important factors. It aso excuded many potentiay responsibe pet owners due to their accommodation not meeting the counci s conditions. As a resut of a review, a new document was produced that incorporated the Anima Wefare Act 2006 and ensured a more robust and efficient poicy on deaing with breaches and disputes. Most importanty, the new document aowed a certain amount of fexibiity, which ensures that exceptiona circumstances are taken into account when assessing the suitabiity of a tenant to have a pet on the counci s property. The review has produced a pets poicy and a guidance booket that are practica, accessibe and effective. Housing Services Estate Management Team Te: Fax: You may aso wish to consider whether to aow home boarding (where dogs are cared for in the homes of paid dogsitters). The RSPCA is not opposed to home boarding but you shoud incude whether you aow tenants to run a business from their dweing, considering the risk of nuisance to neighbours, whether the property is appropriate and whether the tenant can meet the wefare needs of pets in their care. We can provide advice on home boarding issues. A cear poicy on pets eft behind This poicy must make it cear that a pet must not be eft unattended for a period of time that wi resut in the owner being unabe to meet its wefare needs as defined under the Anima Wefare Act 2006 (s.9). Pease note: If a tenant is taken into care or hospita temporariy, under the Nationa Assistance Act 1948 (s48: Duty of councis to provide temporary protection for property of persons admitted to hospitas, etc.) the oca authority must take reasonabe steps to prevent or mitigate the oss or damage. Procedures shoud incude provision for pets. A empty properties, especiay those recenty vacated, shoud be checked by the andord for abandoned pets. Procedures shoud be put in pace to ensure that pets are considered when evicting a tenant, which shoud incude ensuring the property is checked for pets foowing an eviction, and arrangements shoud be put in pace to ensure that the wefare needs of any anima eft behind are met. Pease see A pets poicy: Other considerations on page 13 for more information. Cear procedures on common pet-reated probems There are some probems that are generay regarded as a ow-eve nuisance but which can make residents ives and, in some cases, the anima s ife, a misery if they persist. It is important to have cear, enforceabe poicies to dea with these. Owners who repeatedy aow their animas to stray: It is important, particuary if you are a non-oca-authority andord, that you make contact with your oca authority dog warden/anima wefare officer to carify whether they wi attend cas regarding a stray dog within the housing premises, e.g. communa garden, payground, etc. Fouing: There shoud be proactive enforcement and education to avoid fouing probems. Provision of pet care information You shoud provide information on pet ownership, either produced by the andord or obtained from a recognised source. The RSPCA can provide eafets, whie detaied information is avaiabe to downoad from: It is aso usefu to have a ist of oca contacts avaiabe to new residents and pet owners, which woud incude oca vets and anima wefare organisations that may be abe to assist and advise residents. Excessive noise: Where an anima is dispaying unwanted, undesirabe or probem behaviour e.g. excessive barking, the owner shoud be advised to seek advice from a vet or certified cinica anima behaviourist who wi be abe to identify any potentia wefare issues and deveop a programme of treatment that wi dea with both the behaviour and any distress. Anima negect/hoarding: The owner shoud be asked to rehome the pet and, if necessary, be reported to the RSPCA s 24-hour nationa cruety ine (detais on page 14). Where an owner is encouraged to rehome a pet, the andord shoud ensure that this is done in a responsibe manner and shoud direct them to a reputabe rehoming organisation. Phiip Toscano/RSPCA Photoibrary 06 COMMUNITY ANIMAL WELFARE FOOTPRINTS

7 A TENANCY AGREEMENT What to incude A number of CAWF footprint-achieving andords have produced cear and enforceabe tenancy agreements that are enforced effectivey. A tenancy agreement shoud be competed and signed after the housing provider has suppied the tenant with information on owning a pet. This shoud incude the obigations of the owner and issues to be considered before acquiring a pet, for exampe whether they can meet the wefare needs of the pet, whether their ifestye is suitabe, whether the pet is suitabe for their famiy and compatibe with existing pets, and whether they have the means to ensure it is ooked after if they go on hoiday. Community Gateway Association Poicies that tacke probems effectivey Preston-based Community Gateway Association (CGA) is the argest socia andord in the city with 6,184 properties. In 2009, due to residents concerns fueed by media reports of dangerous dogs, the increase in dog fighting and irresponsibe breeding of dogs, CGA decided to take a more organised approach to the issue of irresponsibe dog ownership and introduced a range of expicit poicies. Together with tenant representatives, CGA examined its tenancy agreement to identify if it was fit for purpose i.e. if it was positive about responsibe tenants owning pets but aso ensured that neither the property nor garden coud be used for any trade or business, incuding breeding or seing animas. The tenancy agreement is backed up by cear poicies. For exampe, if a pet has been found to have caused a nuisance, the compaint is deat with under CGA s ASB poicy and procedure, which has service standards on contact times for compainants and aeged perpetrators. In addition, as part of its eary intervention and prevention approach, CGA has deveoped an Acceptabe Behaviour Contract (ABC) to try and offer guidance for owners on their dogs. The ABC incudes prohibitions and instructions such as: You must keep your dog on a ead outside your property. If the ABC is breached, it can be considered a breach of tenancy and enforcement action may be considered. GOLD CGA has aso introduced a pet registration scheme for pet-owning tenants, which incudes photographing the pet for identification purposes. CGA has addressed the number of iega sheds and buidings in gardens used to house and breed dogs which can aso introduce a noise and sme probem by introducing a condition in the tenancy agreement that requires permission to be given for any permanent or temporary structures in gardens. This approach was approved and supported by the Gateway Tenants Committee and the procedure has proved very successfu. To underpin this approach and ensure consistency, CGA has produced a pet framework that provides a cear poicy and procedure for both staff and residents on how the organisation deas with irresponsibe pet ownership. Sue Roach, Community Safety Manager Emai: sue.roach@communitygateway.co.uk Te:

8 Housing: A guide to good practice In our opinion, a good tenancy agreement wi incude the foowing information About the owner Contact detais: Detais of the appicant, with address and contact numbers, and a named individua who woud ook after the anima in an emergency. You woud aso need their address if it is different from the address where the pet is to be kept. Accommodation information: Detais of the type of accommodation where the pet is to be kept and whether it has direct or shared access to a garden. This wi hep estabish a genera picture of whether the pet(s) are suitabe for the accommodation. Pet history: Has the appicant been given permission to keep a pet in the past? Have they ever been prosecuted for any offence against an anima, or for being irresponsibe with an anima in their care? This wi provide important information on whether the tenant is suitabe for pet ownership. About the pet Numbers: Detais of how many and what type of animas the tenant is asking to keep. This wi reduce potentia wefare, noise and environmenta heath issues reating to keeping too many animas in a dweing. You may wish to ask for a description or picture of the anima(s). Vaccinations: Confirmation that the pet has an up-to-date vaccination card and that other necessary treatments, such as de-feaing and worming, have been administered. This shoud reduce the chance of diseases and parasites spreading. Permanent identification: Is the pet microchipped or tattooed? See page 11 for the benefits of microchipping. Breeding prevention: Has the anima been neutered or spayed to prevent it from breeding? Obigation: Confirmation from the owner that they are abe to meet the wefare needs of the pet(s) as stated in the Anima Wefare Act (s.9). Decaration This is to be signed by the pet owner and shoud state ceary that they understand their obigations as pet owner and tenant and wi be a responsibe owner. The decaration shoud aso incude confirmation by the tenant that they are aware of the consequences shoud they fai to meet their obigations. It shoud carify that any pets of chidren under 16 years of age are egay the responsibiity of the parents. arising from section 1 dogs in a proportionate and case-by-case basis, as banket approaches tend not to be suitabe. In deciding whether to exercise their discretion in aowing a prohibited type dog to be entered onto the Index of Exempted Dogs (IED) and returned to its owner (even after a prosecution), the court must be satisfied the dog poses no threat to pubic safety. In order to do this, evidence may be sought by the court from speciay trained poice Dog Legisation Officers (DLOs). This woud be in reation to, amongst other things, the dog's temperament, behaviour and characteristics, the owner's antecedence and suitabiity as we as the suitabiity of the home environment. If a dog is permitted entry to the IED, a housing provider coud take the ead from the court in that it may decide, upon examination of the avaiabe evidence, that the dog does not pose a danger to pubic safety a scrutiny process the majority of other dogs do not undergo, therefore hepfu from a risk assessment point of view. The housing provider coud therefore aow exempted dogs to be kept within properties as ong as the owner continues to compy with the exemption conditions isted beow. The dog must be neutered, tattooed and microchipped. The owner/keeper must take out (and renew each year) third party insurance for the dog. The dog must ony be taken out in pubic by someone over the age of 16, kept on a ead and muzzed 2 when in pubic. The dog must be registered on the IED. Housing providers can pay a key roe in ensuring pubic safety and anima wefare by having proportionate poicies and procedures concerning pet ownership and providing advice and support for peope with pets in their properties. If they are concerned about dogs behaviour (or as is sometimes the case, the behaviour of the owner) they shoud work cosey with their oca authority and the poice to ensure anima wefare and pubic safety are protected. 1. Those prohibited under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991: pit bu terrier, dogo Argentino, fia Brasiiero, Japanese Tosa. 2. The muzze shoud be the right shape and size for the breed or type of dog and shoud aow the dog to pant, drink water and vomit safey, for exampe a a basket muzze, which comprises open mesh and aows the free fow of air. Prohibited types 1 of dog Some housing providers have asked what they shoud do regarding dogs that are prohibited types but have been exempted by the courts. It is important that housing providers have cear and consistent poicies that protect anima wefare but aso dea with issues Andrew Forsyth/RSPCA Photoibrary 08 COMMUNITY ANIMAL WELFARE FOOTPRINTS

9 The RSPCA s position on tenancy agreements and pets poicies in reation to human rights The RSPCA beieves that restrictions on pet ownership in tenancy agreements and pet poicies are appropriate and wi not infringe tenants human rights, where they are needed to ensure good anima wefare, avoid nuisance to other tenants and/or protect the andord s premises from damage. These aims have been recognised in case aw as egitimate to justify restrictions on peope that affect their rights, for exampe, to private ife and peacefu enjoyment of their possessions, such as pets. The RSPCA woud expect that a andord has the discretion to decide what imitations are necessary in the circumstances it is deaing with and to baance the competing rights and freedoms of a tenants. The Society anticipates that restrictions meeting the foowing criteria wi be awfu. They are aimed at ensuring anima wefare and/or reducing anti-socia behaviour and other nuisance and/or protecting the andord s premises. They are proportionate to their aim i.e. are not more restrictive than necessary (andords shoud consider whether there are other ways of achieving the aim and if so, which is the most appropriate). They are non-discriminatory. They compy with the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contract Reguations 1999 (UTCCR). On the atter point, athough the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has stated that banket excusions of pets coud be unfair, the OFT woud be unikey to object to a term (made known to the tenant before they enter into the tenancy agreement) prohibiting the keeping of pets that coud harm the property, affect subsequent tenants or be a nuisance to other residents. As such, in the Society s view, a we thought-through pets poicy which imposes imitations on pet keeping that are necessary to protect other tenants from probems caused by irresponsibe pet ownership, or to prevent damage (that is more than wear and tear) to the andord s property, shoud not breach UTCCR or human rights aw. The pacing of responsibiity on andords for poicies and procedures to dea with anti-socia behaviour (in the Housing Act 1996) seems to support our view. It woud seem sensibe for andords to document the thought process behind their pets poicy and reevant tenancy terms, and to keep exampes of situations that have ed to the poicy, or changes to it, or which the poicy has enabed them to dea with effectivey. For further information on the OFT guidance go to: Pease note:: The text on our position is simpy the RSPCA s view, which informs us in recognising and promoting good practice for the purpose of the CAWF Housing. However, the Society does not itsef operate as a housing provider and does not have any expertise in housing aw; this statement of our view shoud not be reied upon as ega advice by any person. We recommend that the reevant egisation is consuted and own ega opinion sought. Waes and West Housing Information for residents before acquiring a pet GOLD In 2008 Waes and West Housing (WWH) was one of ony two CAWF entrants to achieve the god footprint for housing. It provides homes and services to more than 25,000 peope and works in 14 oca authorities managing more than 9,000 properties. It has produced some exceent guides for pet-owning residents. But its information eafet for residents considering getting a pet is the most impressive as it poses a number of questions to hep tenants seriousy consider the impact of a pet and whether it wi suit their ifestye. This proactive approach to pet ownership has heped WWH buid strong working reationships with a number of eading nationa anima wefare organisations, as we as Cardiff Dogs Home. It aso hods events across South Waes that are designed to promote responsibe pet ownership. During May to October 2008, WWH ran events, some of which coincided with Nationa Noise Awareness Week, that focused on barking dogs and provided advice on how to tacke the reasons for barking. It has aso formed a partnership with Dogs Trust, which has agreed to visit communities and run workshops on responsibe pet ownership, as we as taking about the benefits of microchipping and neutering. Simiar activities have been put on for chidren in the schoo hoidays. Catherine Jones, Head of Performance Improvement Emai: Catherine.Jones@wwha.co.uk Te:

10 Housing: A guide to good practice A PETS POLICY Going beyond the basic standard The provision of a basic pets poicy, which is both enforceabe and enforced, is essentia if there is to be a consistent and effective approach to the issues arising from pets in housing. In order to tacke the root of the probem before it takes hod, however, a more proactive approach must be taken and preventative measures put in pace. Registering pets Pet registration for tenants provides many benefits for andords and oca residents aike. One of the most effective forms of registration is to require a tenants to request permission to keep a pet, with a poicy stipuating that no request wi be unreasonaby denied. This means andords know which pets ive in the majority of the dweings they manage. Whie faiing to register their pet may not in itsef be grounds for action to be taken against a tenant, it does strengthen the case if there are ASB, nuisance or wefare compaints made about a pet in a dweing. Responsibe pet owners wi find that there is a benefit to registration, e.g. if their pet strays nearby, there is a greater chance of it being returned. This is particuary significant for pet dogs as it can cost owners 50 or more to retrieve them from the oca stray-dog kennes. Registration aso heps in emergency panning. Whie anima wefare is not a priority in contingency panning, human wefare and pubic protection are. By having a registration system in pace, staff are protected in emergencies as they wi know which animas they may encounter if they need to enter a premises. Residents are aso protected as staff can organise the remova of a pet if its owner is out, ensuring that the owner doesn t risk their own safety by returning to an evacuated buiding. London Borough of Wandsworth Counci Dog-microchipping scheme for tenants GOLD In 2006, as a resut of a successfu probem-soving partnership approach to tacking ASB invoving dogs, the counci estabished The Action Pan. This document sets out its current poicy, egisative powers and procedures, together with action aready being impemented and proposas for further measures. It was reviewed and updated in 2008 in response to a rather nasty attack on a dog and his owner. The pan was created in consutation with counci members and departments, incuding housing. To address irresponsibe dog ownership, straying and fouing, it was agreed that a dogs owned by counci tenants woud be microchipped and registered by the counci free of charge. The microchipping was funded from the counci s Housing Revenue Account, as it was a justifiabe measure to tacke crime and ASB. To date about 5,000 dogs have been microchipped and registered, with around 2,100 non-socia housing tenants vountariy joining the scheme. The work has had a perceptibe impact. Despite an initia rise in the number of stray dogs in the borough, the number of dogs returned direct to their owner eapt from 43 percent in 2007/08 to 65 percent in 2010/11, saving the oca authority kenneing costs and reducing the stress on the dogs. The number of stray dogs in the borough is currenty decreasing. The counci supported this initiative with a constructive approach to enforcement, using the existing ASB structure. Wandsworth s positive attitude to dog ownership, couped with a we-panned strategy, is a mode of good practice. Whie microchipping woud not have produced these resuts on its own, when couped with registration, effective enforcement and proactive activities, it has proved an extremey effective too in curbing anima wefare issues, particuary with regard to ow-eve ASB with dogs. Mark Cais, Dog Contro Unit Manager Emai: mcais@wandsworth.gov.uk Te: Ian Stewart, Head of Housing Management Emai: istewart@wandsworth.gov.uk Te: COMMUNITY ANIMAL WELFARE FOOTPRINTS

11 Registration does not directy tacke a anima-reated issues but is a usefu too for monitoring and addressing probems and can reduce the ikeihood of issues such as hoarding occurring in the first pace. Microchipping and neutering The RSPCA, aong with other charities that rehome dogs and cats, routiney microchips and neuters animas in our care. Whie neither procedure is cheap, housing providers shoud promote both to residents. At the very east, they coud think about requiring new pet dogs and cats to be microchipped. Microchipping has been used with registration by some andords, particuary for pet dogs, to make traceabiity easier and, in turn, to hep tacke straying, fouing and nuisance and ASB issues. Both procedures aow housing officers to interact with pets and their owners, heping housing providers better understand some of the issues that arise for pet-owning tenants. And, as part of a wider pan or poicy, microchipping and neutering can hep address some of the root causes of wefare and ASB issues. To microchip, a tiny chip is inserted between an anima s shouder bades. It can be scanned for information on the owner, which increases the chance of the pet being returned if ost or stoen. This procedure (incuding registration) costs from 10 to 30, athough some vets and anima wefare charities can hep you provide a discounted service. Neutering is an effective way of preventing unwanted itters, which can produce probems down the ine through irresponsibe and ignorant accidenta owners. It may aso prevent inesses and some unwanted behaviours. As neutering is costy, some andords have set up deas with oca vets or anima wefare charities to provide a number of discounted neutering vouchers. It is worth taking to oca anima wefare charities, veterinary surgeries and oca authority dog and/or anima warden services about heping to raise awareness of neutering. To find out more about both procedures go to: Education Educating residents and staff can pay an important part in tacking some key pet ownership probems. It can take many forms, from printed and onine information to hoding events that incude a vet consutation or discounted microchipping. Loca anima wefare charities may be abe to hep you raise awareness among the oca community. The RSPCA has eafets on responsibe pet ownership ca for copies. Housing officers pay a vita roe in educating tenants. Face-toface contact is an effective but often underrated method of deaing with a compaint. RSPCA inspectors issue warning notices to pet owners who are faiing to meet their pet s needs by handing them to the owner personay so that probems and soutions can be discussed and expained. This ensures that the owner is in no doubt about their responsibiities and how they coud improve the situation. In 2010 the RSPCA s inspectorate achieved a 97 percent compiance rate for advice notices issued 2. Erimus Housing and Tees Vaey Housing Proactive partners GOLD INNOVATOR Award Erimus Housing and Tees Vaey Housing have aways had good, cear housing poicies and tenancy agreements, as we as providing information on responsibe pet ownership, among other things. However unti recenty the companies, which are part of Teesside-based Fabrick Housing Group, were unabe to meet the god footprint criteria of providing discounted microchipping or the sourcing of reguar advice from a reputabe anima wefare source. Over the course of 12 months, the organisations soved both these issues by going into partnership with Middesbrough Counci s CAWF Innovator Award-winning dog warden service, as we as buiding a coser reationship with their oca RSPCA inspector. Middesbrough counci, Erimus and Tees Vaey pooed resources to offer free microchipping for pets at a number of different venues, incuding parks and community centres in the area. The partnership aso secured funding from the neighbourhood renewa fund to offer free neutering to pets in areas where ASB and crime were high. In addition, where there was a wefare concern regarding an anima, the counci woud accompany the RSPCA when visiting premises, with the RSPCA inspector investigating wefare issues and the counci, together with the appropriate housing association, taking up any other issues surrounding nuisance, ASB or crimina activity in their tenancies. This is a fine exampe of how muti-agency partnerships have ightened the oad of housing providers and at the same time aowed them to provide a five-star service to their petowning tenants. Brian Trodden, Area Manager Emai: brian.trodden@erimushousing.co.uk Te: Data suppied by RSPCA inspectorate. 11

12 Housing: A guide to good practice Muti-agency working At a time of shrinking budgets and increasing workoads, working in partnership with other organisations is essentia when tacking some of the issues surrounding pets in housing. It is important to iaise with your oca authority dog warden and/or anima wefare officer to ensure that everyone is cear as to who is responsibe for ensuring that dogs straying on housing property wi be picked up. Partnership work can hep provide training and advice, particuary in the area of anima wefare (see page 11). It is aso important to buid good, oca working reationships with safer-neighbourhood teams, the oca authority and the RSPCA inspectorate. These reationships wi hep you formay or informay agree in which circumstances other partners need to be invoved and what they can provide within their remits. Such cose day-to-day working wi provide housing officers with resources and expertise that they woud not otherwise have, greaty improving the effectiveness of work in this area. Partnership working has proved hugey successfu in tacking ASB with dogs, particuary in London where the poice, andords, oca authorities and anima wefare organisations have worked together to provide education, advice and enforcement on the issue. The RSPCA reguary runs Community Anima Action Events (CAAEs), often in areas where we have received many wefare compaints. CAAEs aim to bring together andords, oca authorities and other wefare organisations to provide education, advice, free veterinary check-ups, fea treatment and often microchipping and neutering too. The schemes are run by the RSPCA s inspectorate and have proved hugey successfu in heping residents understand the importance of anima wefare. Affinity Sutton It is important to ensure that housing officers deaing with anima-reated Educating probems residents are aware of and the basic staff egisation surrounding pets and are comfortabe around the animas they come into contact with. Some andords have arranged for behaviourists and dog handers to provide basic dog handing and behaviour training, which resuts in officers feeing more confident in their enforcement roe. Pease note that the RSPCA beieves it is essentia for behaviourists to be approved cinica In eary anima 2008, behaviourists when the issue go of to: status xxx.xxxxxxxxxxx.xx.xx dogs was just to find beginning a oca practitioner. to be taked about in London, a sma housing association, Broomeigh Housing, contacted us about the CAWF scheme. The organisation had been running events ocay and drawn up a responsibe dog owner s guide. Whie it was not perfect, it showed a huge amount of initiative and a desire to tacke an issue that was impacting on anima and human wefare. Over the next 12 months, Broomeigh became part of Affinity Sutton, one of the argest socia andords in Engand, which then took on the task of tacking irresponsibe dog ownership as we as promoting responsibe pet ownership. Affinity Sutton has since roed out its pets poicy to 56,000 homes across Engand, which shoud have a widespread positive effect on pet ownership. Since 2008 Affinity Sutton has twice updated its comprehensive information for residents on keeping a dog, based on iaison with a number of organisations, incuding the RSPCA, and has aso improved its pets poicy, which underines its status as a God Housing hoder and Housing Innovator Award winner. GOLD INNOVATOR Award Affinity Sutton has aso continued its work with other organisations, hoding community events and offering discounted neutering, free microchipping and expert advice on dog training and diet. Furthermore, housing officers in some of the London estates managed by Affinity Sutton have received basic dog behaviour training to ensure that they are more comfortabe around dogs and better abe to read signs of stress, aggression and possibe wefare issues. Affinity Sutton s positive approach to educating, and engaging with, the pubic is a fine exampe for other housing providers to foow. Sarah Paton, Head of Housing Te: Chery Baker, Neighbourhood Officer Affinity Sutton, Mape House, Masons Hi, Bromey, Kent BR2 9HY Te: Mobie: COMMUNITY ANIMAL WELFARE FOOTPRINTS

13 A PETS POLICY Other considerations Individuas taken into care/hospitaised The responsibiity for the temporary protection of a property, incuding pets, of individuas taken into hospita or care is the responsibiity of the oca authority 3. Under the egisation they aso have powers to seek reimbursement from the owner for any reasonabe costs incurred. Evictions, abandonment, debt recovery It may be necessary in certain situations for andords to evict tenants and it is important that pets are considered during the eviction process, as we as other situations where pets may be eft behind or removed. The RSPCA strongy advises andords to seek arrangements with oca boarding estabishments or reputabe charities to house pets that may come into their care as a resut of evictions or abandonments. Joe Murphy/RSPCA Photoibrary Pets of vunerabe cients paced in sef-contained accommodation Landords responsibe for pacing individua cients in sefcontained accommodation wi need to introduce a pets poicy that not ony encourages responsibe pet ownership wherever possibe but aso ensures that the wefare of any pets is not compromised. In the majority of situations it is hoped that pet ownership is encouraged and doesn t form a barrier to an individua being aocated an overnight hoste or temporary accommodation. For homeess peope or those seeking refuge, e.g. victims of domestic abuse or refugees, their pet is a vaued companion and can often provide a ink with normaity. Organisations providing this type of accommodation are therefore urged to introduce procedures and poicies that enabe owners and pets to remain together, whie ensuring the wefare of the anima concerned as we as the smooth running of the service. The RSPCA s PetRetreat provides an information, advice and pet fostering service for famiies feeing domestic abuse. Through its network of anima fosterers, PetRetreat takes care of pets beonging to famiies who are going into a refuge. Once the owner has a new, safe pace to ive, they can be reunited with their pets. The Hope project run by Dogs Trust has produced an information pack containing guideines for accepting dogs into hostes, sheters and day centres, Detais of PetRetreat and simiar projects can be found in the Directory of usefu contacts on page 15. Eviction: Any pets eft behind by a tenant are regarded as property under the aw (just ike any other items eft behind) 4 so the andord is responsibe for removing them, arranging for their care (ensuring that the anima s needs are met, as defined under the Anima Wefare Act 2006 [s.9]) and then recouping any costs from the former tenant. In this situation, the andord shoud contact the RSPCA immediatey, which wi, with the andord s cooperation, attend to the immediate wefare needs of the animas. However, it is shoud be noted that the RSPCA cannot guarantee the presence of an officer at the time of an eviction. If the andord wishes the animas to be removed from its property whie the RSPCA attempts to ocate the owners, the Society wi seek written acceptance of boarding and veterinary iabiity from the andord. Abandonment: In cases other than those outined above, if the housing provider genuiney beieves that a tenant has eft a property and any pets kept within it with no intention of returning, the oca authority shoud contact the RSPCA. In these situations, there may we be a case for further action under the Anima Wefare Act Debt recovery: The RSPCA has received cas regarding pet owners being tod by baiiffs that their pets coud be seized as part-payment for rent arrears. The additiona stress that this puts on the owner and potentiay on the pet is of great concern. It is, therefore, recommended that a andord seeking to seize property in payment for rent arrears stipuates that pet animas are not to be seized as property. 3 Nationa Assistance Act 1948 (s.48) Duty of councis to provide temporary protection for property of persons admitted to hospitas etc. 4 Torts (Interference with Goods) Act

14 ndon Borough of Wandsworth Counci THE RSPCA A resource for housing providers The aim of this guide to good practice is to provide genera advice for housing providers regarding pets. It is by no means a comprehensive manua, nor does it try to be. However, the RSPCA is the argest, odest and best-known anima wefare organisation in the word and we have a weath of knowedge and experience for you to tap into not ony from our inspectorate, but from education officers, scientists, pubic affairs and campaigns teams, branches, anima centres and hospitas (serving both Engand and Waes). RSPCA 24-hour cruety ine: The RSPCA has a dedicated ine for reporting cruety and wefare concerns that operates 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. The ca team aso deas with emergencies such as trapped or injured animas. The ca is tasked to a member of the inspectorate to investigate. Onine information and advice Our website offers non-emergency advice: and wefare information: Services for oca authorities and housing providers The RSPCA s oca government adviser can provide further information on specific areas of anima wefare-reated issues that reate directy to oca authorities and other housing providers, such as hoarding, iving with widife, and deterring pests. We can aso provide information that indirecty impacts on housing providers, such as emergency panning, stray dogs, status and dangerous dogs, and hoarding. In addition, we can provide briefings on key egisation regarding animas, on request Our oca government adviser can put oca authorities and housing providers in touch with the RSPCA chief inspector for their area. RSPCA Loca Government Adviser Te: Emai: poiticaaffairs@rspca.org.uk Address: Loca Government Adviser RSPCA, Wiberforce Way, Southwater, Horsham RH13 9RS Andrew Forsyth/RSPCA Photoibrary 14 COMMUNITY ANIMAL WELFARE FOOTPRINTS

15 Directory of usefu contacts Battersea Cats & Dogs Home 4 Battersea Park Road, Battersea, London SW8 4AA Te: Emai: behaviouradvice@battersea.org.uk Bue Cross Shiton Road, Burford, Oxfordshire OX18 4PF Te: Fax: Emai: info@buecross.org.uk Cats Protection Nationa Cat Centre, Chewood Gate, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH17 7BR Te: Dogs Trust 17 Wakey Street, London EC1V 7RQ Te: Fax: Emai: customerservices@dogstrust.org.uk Internationa Cat Care Taesebury High Street, Tisbury, Witshire SP3 6LD Te: Fax: Emai: information@fabcats.org PDSA Whitechape Way, Priorsee, Teford, Shropshire TF2 9PQ Te: RSPCA Wiberforce Way, Southwater, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 9RS Te: Fax: Emai via: Wood Green Anima Sheters King s Bush Farm, London Road, Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire PE29 2NH Te: Fax: Cinnamon Trust A charity that assists edery peope who are hospitaised or terminay i. Te: Emai: admin@cinnamon.org.uk Dogs Trust Freedom Project Te: (Greater London and Hertfordshire) Te: (Yorkshire) Emai: freedomproject@dogstrust.org.uk Paws for Kids Te: Emai: petfostering@pawsforkids.org.uk Covers: Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, North Cheshire. PetRetreat (RSPCA) Te: or Emai: petretreat@rspca.org.uk Covers: Avon, Berkshire, Cornwa, Cumbria, Devon, Dorset, Goucestershire, Hampshire, Herefordshire, Ise of Wight, Leicestershire, Rutand, Shropshire, Somerset, south Linconshire, Staffordshire, Surrey, Waes, West Midands, Witshire, Worcestershire, north of Engand. Get invoved in 2014 If you woud ike to shout about good practice in the services you provide, we can hep. We hope that this ceebration of good practice has inspired you to deveop your wefare poicies, for whichever service you provide, as we as encouraging you to enter the Community Anima Wefare s in The RSPCA is in a strong position to use its resources to promote and ceebrate good practice in anima wefare, so we can hep you shout about anima wefarereated good practice in your service provision. To register for an entry pack for CAWF 2014 pease emai: CAWF@rspca.org.uk and put Entry information in the subject ine. Pease make sure that you incude your name, job tite and fu posta address. We wi then send you an entry pack. RSPCA Loca Government Adviser Te: Fax: Emai: CAWF@rspca.org.uk

16 GOLD SILVER BRONZE INNOVATOR Award Cover photo: Andrew Forsyth/RSPCA Photoibrary Roya Society for the Prevention of Cruety to Animas Wiberforce Way, Southwater, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 9RS facebook.com/rspca twitter.com/rspca_officia The RSPCA heps animas in Engand and Waes. Registered charity no The RSPCA ony exists because of pubic donations. RSPCA2014