Police hand over stray dog responsibility to councils

[K9]

Hamish Lazari

DEFRA has  announced the date that it intends to transfer responsibility for stray dogs from the police solely to local authorities. A letter sent to councils announces that the handover date will be April 2008. A settlement figure of £4 million pounds has also been agreed but this money will be paid into the general grant that goes to all councils.

The letter mentions that the duty of the council will be to provide a reception centre for dogs and not a collection service, how this will work remains to be seen, what about health and safety risks to a person told to take a dog in their own car to a reception centre, what if the dog attacks the finder when they are bringing the dog in? Would liability transfer to the local authority or reception centre that advises a finder to bring the dog to them?

DEFRA advice includes asking councils to work with amongst others involved with stray dogs, animal welfare charities; somehow it has escaped the notice of DEFRA that the major player animal welfare charities such as the RSPCA stopped working in partnership with local councils so as to force them to deal with stray dogs a number of years ago?

Many dog warden services used to have excellent partnership working relationships with the RSPCA until it stopped taking in stray dogs until they had completed the statutory seven day period in council holding kennels.

As usual the message from DEFRA is confusing and leaves more questions than it answers?

More information can be found on the DEFRA website at:

[K9]

This affects every dog owner in England and Wales so please read.

The 6th April 2008, new and major changes take place that will affect the way that stray dogs are handled.  The police will relinquish their duty of care to local authorities.  Local authorities will be required by law to provide 24 hour cover.  The new law is causing much confusion and being perceived incorrectly by many .

 

The commencement date is 6th April 2008.  However, some local authorities have already implemented these changes.  So please check with your local council to find out what procedures they have in place.

 

The local authorities will NOT have to provide an out of hours collection service, however they will have to provide an ACCEPTANCE POINT (this is where a finder can deliver a stray dog to)  They may, however, choose a third party contracted out service which may provide a collection service.  Again, you need to contact your local authority to find out their procedures.

 

The local authorities and police are responsible for ensuring that members of the public are able to obtain information of the new ACCEPTANCE POINTS and their contact numbers.

 

The police will remain responsible for dangerous dogs and dogs found to be worrying livestock.  The police and local authorities will still have a working relationship with regards to these matters, to ensure that they are deal with effectively.

 

DEFRA (The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) have issued to the following guidelines to local authorities and police.  Click on the following link to read up on all the changes taking place, the requirements and recommendations.

 

http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/localenv/dogs/pdf/straydogs-guidance.pdf