Dogs
Dartford Borough Council now has an Animal Control Officer.
If you find a stray dog within the Dartford Borough Council area, you can within office hours, you can take the dog to Davenden Kennels, Cotton Lane or contact our Animal Control Officer on 01322 343 088.
If there is no answer on this line then please call 01322 343 434 and lodge a request for service.
STRAY DOGS
IF YOU FIND A STRAY
- And the owner is identifiable from the collar and tag, return the dog to him/her
- Take the dog to Davenden Kennels, Cotton Lane
- Contact Dartford Civic Centre on the telephone numbers above.
Dartford Borough Council may, using powers under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 seize any dog caught straying on public land and private land (with the co-operation of the land owner) and impound it until the owners have come forward and paid a release charge. If, after 7 days, the dog is not claimed, it will become property of Dartford Borough Council.
Dartford Borough Council will make every effort to rehome any seized dog into a suitable home.
Dartford Borough Council now operate a 24 hour reception point for stray dogs to be taken to. Please contact the Council if you find a stray dog out of hours and you will be advised accordingly.
IF YOU LOSE YOUR DOG IN THE DARTFORD BOROUGH
- Contact Dartford Borough Council’s Animal Control Officer, 01322 343088 or 01322 343434, we may have already picked your dog up. Also try contacting neighbouring Councils (Gravesend: 01474 337 334, Bexley: 0208 303 7777, Sevenoaks: 01732 227 000)
- Telephone local Veterinary Surgeries and local Animal Rescue Centres.
- Ask neighbours and other local residents. Consider putting up Lost Dog Posters with your pet’s photo on it.
- If your dog is Microchipped telephone PetLog on 0870 6066751 or Pet ID on 01273 836675
- Telephone Battersea Dogs Home Lost Dogs Line on 0901 4778477
Battersea Dogs & Cats Home
Brands Hatch
Crowhurst Lane
Ash
Kent
TN15 7HH
Tel: 01474 874994
Fax: 01474 872855
- Contact doglost, 01302743361
PLEASE BE A RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNER
- Keep a collar and tag, with your name and address inscribed on it, on your dog and keep him under control when in public places (this is a legal requirement under the Control od Dogs Order 1992)
- Vaccinate your pet
- Regularly treat your pet for worms
- Consider training classes and seek behavioural advice where necessary
- Neuter your pet and help to keep the number of unwanted dogs to a minimum. Many dogs in Britain have to be destroyed since suitable homes cannot be found for them. Research from The Dogs Trust shows that approximately 8000 stray dogs were destroyed in 2007.
MICROCHIPPING
Avoid loosing your pet forever by having him/her Microchipped.
A survey by Dogs Trust revealed in 2007 105,000 dogs went missing and only 51% were reunited with their owners
Microchipping is an easy and permanent way to mark your dog by injecting a small chip under the skin of the neck and is relatively painless.
Dartford Council offers a Microchipping service for £26 to those living in the Borough. Please contact the Animal Control Officer for further details or seek advice from your vet.
IF YOU THINK YOUR DOG HAS BEEN STOLEN
- Report the loss to the police as soon as possible. Get in touch with your Council’s Animal Control Service, local vets, neighboring local authorities, rescue centres and the microchip company as soon as you can.
- Use an up to date photo for identification.
- Keep in contact with all the organisations that you have reported your lost dog to.
KEEPING YOUR DOG SAFE
- Never tie your dog outside a shop.
- Do not leave your dog unattended in a car.
- Never allow your dog to stray.
- Never ask a stranger to keep an eye on your dog.
- Be aware of strangers, especially so if they are asking questions about your dog.
- Ensure fencing around your property is adequate and secure and keep a check on your dog when it is alone in the garden.
DANGEROUS DOGS
Under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 and the Dogs Act 1871 the Council has the power to give advice and in some cases take action where it is believed that a dog is placing the public at risk.
It is the responsibility of Kent Police to deal with dog attacks and bites on people.
Dartford Borough Council will deal with complaints alleging dogs intimidating members of the public, acting aggressively and dog on dog attacks.
The banned dogs within the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 are as follows:
- Pit Bull Terrier Type
- Japanese Tosa
- Dogo Argentina
- Fila Braziliero
REHOMING
If you are considering giving a dog a new home please contact Dartford Borough Council’s Animal Control Officer on 01322 343088 and he can advise you on the current dogs needing a home and the procedures involved.
All dogs will be rehomed with a microchip. Homes are checked prior to any agreement and if households include children and dogs they will have to be meet with the dog for rehoming in order to assess compatibility.
There is a reasonable rehoming charge for most dogs housed by Dartford Borough Council.
DBC are now working alongside The Shrubbery Veterinary Centre, Northfleet, in an attempt to reduce the number of unwanted dogs and can now offer all new owners of dogs rehomed from us a 25% discount on neutering and a 10% discount on vaccinations.
REHOMING YOUR DOG
If you can no longer care for your dog, the Council's Dog Control Service cannot take your dog. They will however provide you with advice on how to rehome them.
Organisations which may be able to help are:
- Battersea at Brands Hatch- 01474 874994
- RSPCA- 08705 555999
- Last Chance- 01732 865530
BARKING DOGS
If a dog barks continuously throughout the day or night it can be considered to be causing a noise nuisance.
Dartford Borough Council will investigate your complaint, which may include sending diary sheets for you to complete and return, so that we can determine the nature of the problem. We will also write to the dog owner advising them we have received a complaint about dog noise in the hope that this may resolve the barking nuisance.
If the problem continues, the owner of the dog making the noise will be advised that the matter will be investigated further. An officer from Dartford Borough Council will then need to witness the barking.
We also have the option to install sound monitoring equipment into the property of the complainant.
If the noise is deemed to be a statutory nuisance we will serve an Abatement Notice, requiring the owner of the dog to take steps to reduce the noise problem.
If the barking persists after an abatement Notice has been served the dog owner may be referred for prosecution at a Magistrates' Court.
DOG FOULING
If you wish to report a problem of persistent dog fouling in an area, telephone 01322 343374 or email customer.services@dartford.gov.uk to report the matter.
Efforts will be made to apprehend the offender(s) and to ensure the area has an adequate number of anti dog fouling notices prominently displayed. It helps Dartford Borough Council if a good description of both owners and dogs can be given as well as regular walking times.
