- Public Protection
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- Do It Online
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- Contact Details
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- 020 8303 7777 option 2
- Development and Public Protection
Department,
2a Hadlow Road,
Sidcup,
Kent,
DA14 4AF
- RSPCA Cruelty line:
0870 555 5999
- RSPCA Enquiries Service,
Wilberforce Way,
Southwater,
Horsham,
West Sussex,
RH12 1HG
- Useful Links
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Dog Warden in Bexley
Bexley's dog warden offers a wide range of services from practical management of stray dogs to general advice on both animal nuisance and animal welfare.
Stray Dogs
The Environmental Protection Act 1990 places a duty on Councils to collect stray dogs. A stray dog can be defined as any dog that is in a public place unsupervised. On any one day in Britain it is estimated there are around 500,000 stray dogs that may cause problems in a number of ways e.g. road traffic accidents, attacks on people or other animals, fouling of land, intimidating people etc.
Bexley's Dog Warden will collect any stray dog found by a member of the public and may be able to collect dogs seen roaming. Most dogs are not aggressive but if lost may be confused or nervous, so do not take any risks in trying to restrain a stray dog if you are unsure of its temperament; call the Dog Warden. If you do catch a stray you should either:
- Return it to the owner if the dog carries identification that enables you to contact them
- Contact the Dog Warden during normal office hours
- Take the dog to Bexleyheath Police Station
If the owner can be located the dog will be returned to them, otherwise the
dog will be detained at the Council's kennels and kept for a period of 7 clear
days, after which time the dog becomes the property of the Council and may
be re-homed, passed to a rescue society or destroyed. A dog would only be destroyed
if it could not be re-homed due to illness or behavioural problems. A fee of £100
is payable before an owner may reclaim a stray dog unless the dog carries identification.
In this case, if it is the first time the dog warden has picked the dog up, the
dog will be returned free of charge.
If you have found a stray dog and wish to keep it yourself, this may be possible but you must follow the correct procedure. Inform the Dog Warden who will take details from you and visit you to fill in the appropriate paperwork. If the rightful owner of the dog comes forward within 7 days you must return the dog, otherwise you must agree to keep the dog for at least 30 days.
It is not responsible or fair to other people to allow your dog to run loose on its own. If you do know of a dog that regularly strays, or would like any further help or advice, please ring the Bexley Council on 020 8303 7777 and select option 2.
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What to do if you lose your dog
- Call the Bexley Council on 020 8303 7777 and select option 2 as soon as possible. We may already have collected your dog or know where he is. If not we will take your details and inform you immediately should we receive any information. Leave as many contact telephone numbers as possible.
- Contact Battersea Dogs Home Lost Dogs Line on 0901 477 8477
- Call Bexleyheath Police Station as somebody may already have found your dog and taken him into the police station
- Call your vet
- If your dog is micro chipped, call Pet Log on 0870 6066751 and confirm that they hold your up-to-date contact details
- Call Dog Wardens in neighbouring Councils if you live near the border of another Local Authority.
- Prepare a simple poster with a photograph of your dog on it and ask local vets, pet shops etc to display it
- Consider putting an advertisement in one of the local newspapers
- Use the Internet – there are various sites which help to re-unite lost pets with their owners, for example
 www.doglost.co.uk
- Walk around the local area, particularly places you normally walk your dog.
Talk to people and leave your phone number in case anybody sees him, but do try
to make sure somebody is at home in case he is found and someone tries to return
him to you.
When you have your dog back again
Please remember to advise the people who were trying to help you to find him, and take down any posters you have put up.
Try to ensure it doesn't happen again
- Ensure your dog wears a collar and tag at all times. Most dogs picked up by the Dog Warden do not carry ID because they have escaped from their home or garden and the owner only puts the collar and tag on when they go out for a walk
- Consider having your dog microchipped by the Dog Warden.
- Ensure that your garden is escape proof
- If your dog rushes to the front door when visitors call, shut it away before opening the door; or preferably train it not to
- If your dog cannot be relied upon to come back when called when you are out
for a walk, either keep it on a lead or train it to come back.
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Microchipping
Microchipping is an effective and secure way of permanently identifying your pet. It is a legal requirement that a dog has a visible means of identification, e.g. an identity disc carrying the name and address of its owner. However, these often get lost, fade or get scratched so that they are unreadable and collars can tear or slip off. A microchip is a small implant (the size of a grain of rice) that is painlessly inserted into the scruff of the neck of your dog or cat. It contains a unique registration number that is entered onto an international database, and if your dog or cat is found any vet or animal warden can use a microchip reader to check the number, access the database and contact you to reclaim your pet.
If you've ever lost a pet, you'll know how distressing that can be. Thousands of dogs go missing every year and it's estimated that less than half of them are reunited with their owners because they can't be identified.
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Dangerous Dogs
Bexley Council can investigate and/or give advice on allegations of dangerous dogs or of dog behaviour that causes problems to other people, animals or property.
Most dogs are not dangerous and unprovoked dog aggression is not natural, even with guard dog breeds. Most dogs will choose a quiet life if they can and stay out of trouble. Problems can occur from bad breeding, but usually they are learned and can take many forms; for example nervousness, dominance, territorial or pain induced aggression, chase motivated or dog-to-dog 'arguments'. Often these problems can be cured; for further advice contact the dog warden.
It is an offence under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 to allow a dog of any breed to be dangerously out of control in a public place. Even if an attack has not taken place a dog can still be considered a threat if there are good reasons to suspect that it may injure a person.
Certain breeds of dogs fall into a category of being classed as Dangerous Dogs under this act:
- American Pit Bull Terrier
- Japanese Tosa
- Dogo Argentino
- Fila Braziliero
These dogs must comply with the following;
- They must be muzzled when in a public place
- They must be neutered
- You must not breed from them
- You must not sell or exchange them, or give them as a gift to anybody
If an incident occurs on private land, action can only be taken under the Dogs Act 1871. There must again be reasonable grounds for suspecting that a dog will injure anybody, if a dog is just barking this would probably not be sufficient grounds. This act could possibly also be used if an attack has taken place on other dogs, but probably not cats or other animals as this would be considered to be in the nature of a dog.
What to do if approached by an unfriendly looking dog
There is no simple solution to this, but the following may help;
- Even friendly dogs may often bark at you, as they believe it is their job to defend their territory or protect their owner
- Keep facing the dog but don't stare at it – dogs perceive staring as a threat and may read it as a challenge and attack
- Talk to the dog in a calm friendly voice and if it responds and approaches in a friendly way, stand still and allow the dog to sniff you
- Do not show any fear as a dog will detect this. Keep calm and walk away slowly, speaking firmly to the dog as you do so
- Never run away or past a strange dog or even walk quickly away from it as
it may join in and chase you. You could get bitten as a result. Ensure that children
understand this and that they are also taught not to shout or scream at a strange
dog as the same thing may happen. Even if a dog appears friendly, children should
always be taught to ask if they can stroke it and should never be allowed to
tease a dog by poking it’s eyes or pulling it’s hair. Many dogs have
had to be re-homed or even put down through no fault of their own, but because
they have been tormented by children and the only way they have of saying they've
had enough is to snarl or bite.
Remember that dogs rarely attack, so don't be worried about every dog that you meet. Most dog bites happen because the dog is frightened or defensive; generally speaking if you leave it alone, it will leave you alone. Here is a simple guide to canine body language:
- If a dog stays where it is as you approach or backs off, it probably regards you as a dominant intruder and will be more scared of you than you are of it, and will therefore not attack
- If a dog runs or walks towards you and it's tail is wagging and held quite low, it is probably friendly
- However, if a dog stiffens and holds it's tail high, snarling and staring
at you, it is probably wise not to go any further, especially if it is baring
it's teeth. This type of dog is usually dominant or aggressive, and is trying
to intimidate you.
For further information or advice on any of the above, contact Bexley Council on 020 8303 7777 and select option 2.
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Legislation
There are a number of legal responsibilities relating to dog control, fouling, identification and noise from dogs. Bexley Council considers that these matters are very serious and encourages responsible dog ownership.
Your responsibilities under the law as a dog owner are:
- To ensure your dog does not stray
- To ensure your dog wears a collar bearing your name and address at all times in public places. If you do not wish to put your address on the tag for security reasons, Bexley Council and many other authorities will accept a telephone number instead, but if you are away from the area check this with the local Council for the area you are visiting
- To keep your dog on a lead on all designated roads adjacent to public highways
- To ensure that your dog is not permitted to cause a noise nuisance
- To keep your dog under control at all times and not permit it to be a danger to others
- To remove faeces from public places
- To remove faeces from your own property so that it does not become a nuisance to neighbours by virtue of smell or flies
- To pay attention to dog bans in areas designated as 'no dog areas' e.g. children's playgrounds
- To quarantine to ensure the dog is free from rabies if you wish to take your dog abroad, or return from abroad with a dog (unless the country you are returning from is part of the Pet Travel Scheme. This scheme covers most of Europe and some other countries, and requires the dog obtain a pet passport. To do this, it needs to be micro chipped and vaccinated against a number of diseases including rabies. For more information contact the Pet Travel Scheme helpline on 0870 241 1710)
- To prevent your dog from worrying livestock. Dogs which do this may legally
be shot by the farmer to prevent them causing further damage or suffering. Penalties
for livestock worrying are severe, so if in doubt keep your dog on it's lead.
It is best to avoid fields containing cattle as they can become very aggressive
towards dogs.
Remember you are liable for your dog at all times and for any injury or damage caused by your dog. You are also liable for your dog's welfare and well-being. Failure to adhere to this can lead to prosecution. Each year the RSPCA deals with more and more cases of cruelty, neglect and abandonment, sometimes caused by ignorance as opposed to deliberate cruelty. The animal's suffering is exactly the same whether or not it is intentional.
So ensure that your dog is well cared for, well trained and well socialised and that it does not cause any nuisance to neighbours. Please telephone the Bexley Council on 020 8303 7777 and select option 2 if you are having problems with your dog, or can no longer keep it. We will do our best to advise and help or put you in touch with someone who can. We can also help if you are looking for a training class to take your dog to.
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Dog Fouling
Bexley Council investigates complaints and provides advice on dog fouling.
It is very important to clear up after your dog both at home and when out. The Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996 makes it an offence for a dog walker not to remove their dog's faeces from land to which the public have access. With very few exceptions this applies to most of the open spaces and public land in Bexley. Dog mess left in public places is unpleasant to see, smell or tread in. It is most unpleasant to have to clean dog faeces from skin, clothing or footwear, especially where children are involved. Dog faeces can also carry diseases which can affect other dogs and humans, particularly a disease called toxicariasis, a disease caused by roundworm. The microscopic eggs can remain in the soil for up to two years, and if swallowed develop into larvae which will travel around the body and can cause blindness, asthma, epilepsy and general aches and pains depending where they lodge. Worming your dog regularly will prevent this. Adult dogs should be wormed every six months, expectant bitches and puppies more frequently. The dosage depends on your dog's weight. Worming treatments are available from your vet or pet shop. If in doubt, always consult your vet for advice.
If possible, train your dog to defecate in your garden. Always take sufficient plastic bags or poop scoops with you when you go for a walk. Please ensure that bags are knotted or sealed and place them in a dog waste bin if you are in an area where they are provided, or take them home.
Dog faeces in your garden
It is an offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to allow dog faeces to build up in your garden to such an extent that they cause a smell or fly nuisance to neighbours. Ensure you clean up your garden and dispose of your dog's faeces regularly, particularly in hot weather.
Dog toilets for the garden
You can buy dog toilets to put in your garden and these are an environmentally friendly way to dispose of dog waste efficiently and easy to install. Dog faeces are placed in them and allowed to dissolve with a bio-activator which is flushed through with water. The resulting waste is then dissolved into the ground and has no adverse effect on the garden.
Toilet training your puppy
A puppy needs to go to the toilet very frequently, so put him outside and stay with him both first thing in the morning, last thing at night, after meals and any other times he looks as though he wants to go. He may start sniffing or turning round in circles, looking for a suitable place. You can teach him to go on command by using a word such as "clean" initially every times he goes, and then praise him profusely for going as soon as he has finished, and he will learn the word and know what you want him to do.
For further information or advice please contact Bexley Council on 020 8303 7777 and select option 2.
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Other Useful Information
- Interested in giving a home to a rescue dog?
- Run over or knocked down a dog in your motor vehicle?
- Why should I neuter my dog?
- I have been bitten by a dog. What should I do?
- I think a dog is being cruelly treated. What can I do?
- What should I do if my dog gets into a fight?
- I know of somebody who has a dog that needs veterinary treatment but it's owners cannot afford to pay vets fees, what can they do?
- I need to have my dog re-homed, what should I do?
- I want to buy a puppy. How should I go about finding a reputable breeder?
- Simple Rules for Good Dog Care and Responsible Dog Ownership
- My neighbour’s dog keeps getting into my garden. What can I do?
Interested in giving a home to a rescue dog?
Contact the Dog Warden who will be able to give you some advice and information about local rescue homes and breed rescue societies. We also occasionally know of dogs needing new homes.
Run over or knocked down a dog in your motor vehicle?
Report the accident to the police within 24 hours
Why should I neuter my dog?
Every day in Britain more than 2000 dogs are destroyed because homes cannot be found for them. Many of these are not strays but puppies produced by unthinking 'animal lovers' who don't neuter their pets. If in any doubt about neutering your dog, contact your vet for advice.
A dog has bitten me. What should I do?
You must have the bite treated at the hospital as dog bites are easily infected. If you wish to take legal action against the owner, you should contact the police as soon as possible who can advise you and may be prepared to instigate legal proceedings on your behalf. If you do not wish legal action to be taken, you can contact the Dog Warden. Although Bexley Council has no legal powers in this respect we will contact the owner and advise on measures to prevent a recurrence of the incident.
I think a dog is being cruelly treated. What can I do?
The RSPCA will advise regarding cruelty to animals. Contact their national number to report a problem: 08705 555 999. If they are unable to take any action, you can contact the Dog Warden for further advice. They may be able to contact and advise the owner on your behalf, especially if a nuisance is also being caused.
What should I do if my dog gets into a fight?
Never try to intervene directly as you may get bitten, even by your own dog. Fighting to establish supremacy is a natural behaviour in dogs, and if you know your dog has this tendency you must establish strong domination and do not let anybody take your dog out who cannot control it properly. It is important to teach your dog the word ‘leave’ and then you can use this if another dog approaches to avert a potential confrontation. The Dog Warden can give you further advice and information about pack hierarchy and establishing leadership.
I know of somebody who has a dog that needs veterinary treatment but cannot afford to pay vets fees, what can they do?
There are 285 Peoples Dispensary for Sick Animals practices and hospitals across Britain providing free veterinary treatment to pets of needy owners. The nearest one to Bexley is at Thamesmead and the telephone number is 020 8311 6695.
I need to have my dog re-homed, what should I do?
The Animal Welfare Officer can offer advice and help with re-homing.
Please contact 020 8303 7777 and select option 2.
I want to buy a puppy. How should I go about finding a reputable breeder?
For a free list of reputable breeders contact the Kennel Club. Always see a puppy with preferably both parents, but at least with its mother. A good breeder will interview you and be concerned that you can offer the puppy a good home, and will be prepared to help with any problems you have once you have purchased the puppy.
Do your research and ensure that you choose a breed of dog suitable for your lifestyle. Other things to consider are:
- Can you afford to keep a dog? Apart from the initial cost of buying dog and equipment, there are the everyday expenses of food etc, medical expenses and pet insurance, other expenses such as boarding fees for when you are away on holiday, training classes, grooming costs if necessary – the estimate for the cost of a dog over it's lifetime is £9,600
- Do you have the time for a dog? You need time to train, groom, care and socialise a puppy, play with your dog and exercise it in all weathers
- Is your house suitable for a dog? Do you have a garden, which is securely fenced, is your house big enough and if you have a landlord are you allowed to keep a dog?
- Are you or is any member of your family allergic to dogs, and are you fit enough to exercise it and prepared to use a pooper-scooper to clean up after it?
Simple Rules for Good Dog Care and Responsible Dog Ownership
- Train your dog in basic obedience so that it will be under control at all times
- Feed your dog at regular times and with a nutritionally balanced diet
- Feed your dog from its own dish, which should be kept apart from those of the family and washed up separately
- Keep your dog on a lead anywhere near a road, or where there are farm animals, and avoid fields where there are cattle
- Do not allow your dog to foul public areas, or if it does, always clean up faeces
- Remember your dog's bark can be a nuisance
- Provide your dog with it's own bed
- Never take your dog into a food shop
- Worm your dog and treat it for fleas regularly. Keep it clean and well groomed
- Consider having your dog neutered
- Make proper arrangements for the care of your dog when you go on holiday
- Register your dog with a vet of your choice as soon as you get it – do not wait for an emergency. Get advice from your vet about vaccinating your dog against potentially serious diseases
- Never leave your dog in a car in hot weather – be careful about leaving it in a car at any time – dogs have been stolen from locked cars
- Make sure your dog gets adequate exercise – but do not feed it for an hour before or after a walk
Remember – a dog is for life, not just for Christmas. Never give dogs or puppies as Christmas presents, even if you are sure the recipient really wants one.
Christmas is the worst time for a new pet to be brought into any home, as the normal day-to-day routine is usually abandoned. Although it is an exciting time for us, it can be a bewildering and frightening time for an animal entering a new and strange environment.
My neighbour’s dog keeps getting into my garden. What can I do?
There are no laws regarding the trespass of dogs. If a dog of its own accord enters land without permission but does no more, the owner is not liable under civil law for the trespass; nor is it a criminal offence.
If the dog causes any damage whilst trespassing, the law is not clear but it is possible that the dog’s owner will be held liable for any damage caused.
If a dog bothers you by regularly straying into your garden Bexley Council can advise further. They can contact an owner on your behalf if you are able to supply the address.
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Complaints about dogs
The Council does have legal powers that it can enforce if an animal kept by someone else is causing an unreasonable and significant nuisance. The areas in which Bexley Council may be able to offer assistance are usually related to noise caused by barking, or smells from faeces in a neighbouring property. Environmental Health can investigate alleged nuisance complaints where the person suffering the problem is able to identify the source address and is willing to give their own contact details. Please contact 020 8303 7777 and take Option 2 to register a complaint.
Further information related to noise nuisance.
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