Dog warden service in East Dorset

East Dorset has an Animal Welfare Officer and a Dog Warden both of whom deal with stray dogs, dog fouling and dangerous dogs. Wherever possible opportunities are used to encourage responsible dog ownership including initiatives such as micro-chipping and advice about keeping dogs.

Stray dogs

You should be aware that it is a legal requirement for dogs to have a collar and tag bearing the name and address of the owner even if the dog is micro-chipped. The majority of strays are picked up following calls from members of the public who have found a dog wandering alone although the Animal Welfare Officer and the Dog Warden will, whilst patrolling, seize any strays they find. If you find a stray dog you are legally required to notify us.

If a dog is picked up as a stray then we will attempt to re-unite the dog with its owner, unless the dog has been picked up before. It is therefore important that your dog wears a collar and tag with your name and address or is micro chipped. Remember that if you move house you will need to change your details with the micro chip database.

Where it is not possible to identify the owner of the dog or where the dog has been picked up straying on a previous occasion it will be taken to kennels and the owner will have to pay the statutory fine together with the expenses incurred before they can claim the dog. Stray dogs that are not re-claimed are re-homed wherever possible however in a very few cases the dog may have to be destroyed.

You can report a lost or stray dog online. Alternatively during office hours contact Public Health Services on 01202 886201. Outside of office hours telephone 01202 886201 and a recorded message will provide details of an out of hours contact number for other matters which cannot wait until the next working day.

Lost dogs

If you have lost your dog you should report it to the Public Health Services division. It may be that the dog has already been picked up as a stray or the Council may later receive a report about the dog. You should also contact neighbouring councils especially if you live near a council boundary.

Dog fouling

It is an offence not to pick up after your dog has fouled and failure to do so can lead to a fixed penalty ticket of £75 or the matter can be referred to the Magistrates Court where the maximum fine is £1000. We receive many complaints about dog fouling each year and the Dog Warden and the Animal Welfare Officer carry out regular patrols to enforce the dog fouling legislation across the district. The Dog Warden is also working with parish and town councils to patrol recreation grounds to ensure those areas used by dog walkers remain free from fouling.

If you wish to report a problem with dog fouling then contact the Public Health Services division.

Dangerous dogs

The Council investigates complaints where dogs have bitten or people have felt threatened by a dog. If after investigating a complaint a dog is considered to have acted dangerously out of control the Council can apply to a Magistrates Court for a control order or in extreme cases for a destruction order. A control order can include steps such as muzzling or only walking the dog on a lead. Part of being a responsible dog owner is to ensure that your dog is under your control at all times.

If you wish to report a dangerous dog then contact the Public Health Services division.

Micro chipping

All dogs picked up as strays by us are scanned for a microchip to try and re-unite the dog with its owner. Veterinary surgeries and the RSPCA and other welfare organisations also scan dogs which are sometimes brought to them and so it is for the benefit of all to ensure that your dog is micro chipped.

You should be aware that even if your dog is micro chipped it is still a legal requirement that the dog wears a collar and tag bearing the name and address of the owner.

Micro chips are implanted just under the dogs skin between its shoulder blades. Each micro chip has a unique number and a database, maintained by the micro chip supplier, holds the name and address of the dogs owner. It is a simple process to amend these details if the dog is sold or if you move house. We offer a micro chipping service at a cost of just £15 per dog. If you would like to have your dog micro chipped you should contact the Public Health Services division to arrange an appointment. Alternatively you can speak with your vet who may also be able to offer such a service.