LOCAL AUTHORITY CHARTER FOR THE WELFARE OF ANIMALS

Dog and Cat Breeding and Protection

The Council has a statutory responsibility to enforce conditions in premises where dogs are bred under the Breeding of Dogs Act 1973, and will rigorously enforce it.
The Council is strongly opposed to irresponsible and uncontrolled private and commercial breeding of puppies and kittens, such as puppy farms. It will prosecute unlicensed breeders rather than just issuing a licence if unlicensed breeders are discovered; ensure breeders keep detailed records as required under the Act, so Council officers can check numbers of litters born; check Kennel Club registers, local press adverts and trading standards records to keep an independent check on breeders and middlemen (when checking against a breeder’s KC affix, the Council will ensure it is checked against all the addresses on the KC database. This should pick up any multiple registrations); and introduce annual veterinary inspections in addition to the initial veterinary inspection. The cost of this annual visit will be recovered through the cost of the licence.
The Council does not approve of the breeding of animals for producing changes in bodily form and/or function which are detrimental to their health or quality of life.
To control and protect dogs in the community, the Council will fully utilise its Dog Warden Service. Working with other animal agencies, the Council will encourage responsible ownership by encouraging owners to have pets neutered thereby causing a reduction in the number of stray dogs and resultant problems of fouling, traffic hazards etc.
The Council supports the introduction of a properly financed and organised National Dog Registration Scheme using microchipping as an effective system of permanent identification.
The Council does not approve of the mutilation of animals for cosmetic (non-veterinary) purposes. Tail docking must only be undertaken on the advice of a veterinary surgeon.
The Council will continue to promote responsible dog ownership and believes it has an important role in advising and educating the public.
The Council will endeavour to re-home dogs that come into its care. Dogs will only be destroyed in abnormal circumstances, and then only having taken into account veterinary advice, and always in a humane way. The Council will also encourage the neutering of dogs as part of its animal welfare education activities and audit its canine records on a regular basis.
The Council encourages all dog owners to humanely train their dogs and will make information available on the subject for those who are interested.
There should be strict penalties for owners who persistently refuse to clean up after their animals. A person may be guilty of an offence if they do not clear up after their dog on designated land as defined under the Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996 and be liable for a maximum fine upon conviction of £1000.
If pets, particularly dogs, are causing a noise nuisance, the owners should be recommended to seek help from an animal behaviour counsellor. If the problem persists, they should be given the option of re-homing the animal.