Animals and Pest Control - Frequently Asked Questions
Animal Welfare
- Question: What should I do if I'm concerned about the conditions of a [pet shop], [boarding establishment], [riding stables], [dog breeder]?
- Contact Environmental Health (tel 01322 343374, email customer.services@dartford.gov.uk) as there may be issues that the Council can deal with.
- I want to board my pet while I'm on holiday. Can the Council recommend a boarding establishment?
- The Council cannot make such recommendations. It is always useful to speak to pet owners who have boarded their pets in the establishment you are considering using.
- I'm considering starting up a pet shop in the Borough. Who do I need to notify and what licences do I need?
- You may need planning permission and advice on this should be sought from the Council's Development Control Section. You will need a licence to operate a pet shop which will contain a list of conditions. Early contact with the Environmental Health Services Section (tel 01322 343374, email customer.services@dartford.gov.uk ) is recommended as the conditions will be tailored to the requirements of individual pet shops. Under no circumstances should you set up your business without the necessary permissions.
- I have found a dog wandering around the street by my house. What should I do?
-
By law, you have 3 options:
- Return the dog to the owner. Ask neighbours if they know who owns the dog. You could check the dog to see if it has any identification/address details on its collar - but be careful as the dog may be scared and act aggressively to you.
- Contact the Environmental Health Services (tel 01322 343374, email customer.services@dartford.gov.uk ) and you will be given the details of the kennels to where you may take the dog. If the Dog Warden is available when you call, it may be possible to arrange for the dog to be collected from you (but only if the dog was found within the Borough).
- Take the dog to the nearest Police Station. The Police have a duty to take the dog from you.
- I have lost my dog. How do I find out if the Council has had it handed in?
- Look at the dogs page on this website. You will see a table with a list of charges and beneath that, a link to view photographs of the dogs currently held by the Council. This is normally updated each day but this will depend on the day to day workload. Alternatively, contact Environmental Health Services (tel 01322 343374, email customer.services@dartford.gov.uk ) and ask for details on dogs that have been handed in.
- What happens to the dogs that have been handed in to the Council?
- The dogs have to be cared for and that includes any veterinary treatment that may be needed. If a dog is identified and claimed by a person, there is a release fee that has to be paid (this can be paid by instalments if necessary) before the dog is handed back to the owner. Any dogs that are not claimed after 7 days become the property of the Council. The Council will sell these dogs on to new owners or other organisations for rehoming. Dogs will only be destroyed if they cannot be rehomed.
Dog Warden
- Is it an offence for a dog owner to let their dog foul the footpath?
- No. The law was changed and it is now an offence for a dog owner not to clean up after their dog has fouled, in a public place as designated by the Council. Most of the Borough is designated in this way but only land to which the public has a right of access. For example, if a dog wanders into your front garden and fouls and the owner does not clean up the fouling, it is not an offence.
- The road where I live suffers from dog fouling. What can I do about this?
-
This is a common problem caused by a few inconsiderate dog
owners. You can contact the Environmental Health Section (tel
01322 343374, email customer.services@dartford.gov.uk )
to report the matter and you will need to give your personal
details, which will be treated as confidential information.
The Council will, and has, taken legal proceedings against
those dog owners that do not clean up after their dogs have
fouled.
This can only be achieved if evidence is obtained. In many cases it will not be possible for a Council officer to witness the offence. Most successful prosecutions have been taken using evidence from members of the public, but this would require the witnesses giving written statements and possibly attending the Magistrates Court to give evidence.
Pest Control
- I have bats in my home. What should I do?
- Bats are a protected species so you must not harm them - you should even avoid touching them. Expert advice can be obtained by telephoning English Nature, 01733 455101, fax 01733 455103, email enquiries@english-nature.org.uk
- I have [fleas][bedbugs][cockroaches][wasps][mice][rats] in my home. Will the Council provide a treatment service to help me?
- Treatments can be arranged. View details of these online
- I have found an insect in my home but I don't know what it is. Can the Council identify it for me?
- Yes. Contact Environmental Health Services (tel 01322 343374, email customer.services@dartford.gov.uk ) and arrange to bring the insect to the Civic Centre. If an officer is unable to identify it, it may be possible to arrange for the insect to be sent to a company that will be able to identify it.
