Stray dogs

The Environmental Protection Act (EPA) 1990, Chapter 43, sections 149-151, deals with the control of dogs. These rules, which were passed by Parliament, give Local Authorities the powers to deal with stray dogs. So what is a stray? Simply put, any dog which is in a public place without it's owner or a person who is responsible for it, is considered to be a stray. This is also true if the dog is wearing a collar and I.D. tag. The Local Authority (LA) Dog warden has the power to seize any dog that he considers to be a stray and impound it until the owner has paid the relevant costs incurred. If, after 7 days, the dog is not claimed, the LA can dispose of it in accordance with the guidelines of the EPA.

Deliberately allowing your dog to stray is both irresponsible and unsociable. If you are not there to control your dog it could be a danger to itself and to the public. As the dogs owner, you are responsible for it's actions. The Dog (fouling of land) Act 1996 came into force on 1 May 1997. This act means that it is illegal to fail to clear up after your dog if it fouls any land which is open to the air and to which the public have access. The penalty for contravening the act is a £1,000 on the spot fine or prosecution in the magistrates court.

If your dog runs into the road and it is proved to be the cause of an accident, you would be liable for any costs and compensation. This could run into thousands of pounds. If your dog is impounded by the dog warden you will have to pay a fine for his/her return:

From April 1 2003 the cost will be as follows:

• For the 1st day or part day £46
• Day 2 £64.50
• Day 3 £86
• Day 7 £132

The dog warden service

The dog warden will help you if you lose your dog, and aims to help prevent stray dogs from being a danger in traffic or a nuisance to people.

In particular, the service aims to deal with problems caused by the four main symptoms of irresponsible dog ownership:

• noisy dogs
• aggressive dogs
• dog fouling
• straying dogs

A stray will be kept safely for up to seven days. Any complaint regarding dogs straying on school premises or interfering with the flow of traffic will be dealt with urgently.

Any complaints about dogs will be responded to as quickly as possible, but always within 2 working days. The dog warden will act in the strictest confidentiality and keep you informed about what they are doing.

Some complaints cannot be dealt with by the dog warden. These will be passed quickly to the appropriate agency (eg the Police or RSPCA).

The dog warden will ensure the Council's legal duties are met, so far as dogs are concerned. They will also regularly patrol beaches and other areas covered by dog related by-laws, and put up anti-dog fouling stickers where needed.

If you have any questions or complaints, please contact the dog wardens.

School talks

Part of our job is educational. Primary schools, we can arrange for a dog warden to visit and talk to pupils about all aspects of responsible dog ownership. If you are a teacher at a school in Plymouth, you can email us for further details.

Tag your dog

Your dog must wear a tag by law when out in a public place.

If we catch a stray dog, and we can't trace the owner, we will keep it in boarding kennels at your expense. If you do not collect your dog within seven days, you will lose the right to reclaim it, and we will try to re-home it.

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