Dog Control Service

Responsible dog ownership
Micro-chipping
Fouling

Dog Bins
Lost dogs
Stray Dogs
If you find a dog

Dangerous or vicious dogs
Noisy dogs
Rehoming your dog
Contact the Council's Dog Control Service

Responsible dog ownership

Collar and tags:

It is a legal requirement under The Control of Dogs Order 1992 for a dog to wear a collar and tag in a public place. The tag should identify the address and contact details of the owner. Failure to do so could result in a fine
Have more than one tag engraved at a time so you can replace a lost tag immediately. Many dogs are picked up by the Council having only recently lost their tag and are waiting to have a replacement
Never put your dogs name on the tag
Write your contact details on the inside of your dogs collar, just in case the tag falls off
Keep your dogs collar and tag on at all times. Avoid removing it when at home

Training your dog:

Dogs should attend dog-training classes with their owners to encourage good and proper behaviour when out in public places. Correct training will reduce the risk of your dog running off when not on lead and will also help with interaction between dogs and people
Teach your dog to always come to you when called and continue to practise when he goes out of sight while on a walk
Even if your dog is friendly, do not allow it to jump up at people or at other dogs, they may be fearful of your dog
Be aware that not all dogs like each other. If you see a strange dog nearby, never assume it will get on with your dog
Do not allow your dog to chase other dogs or children

Micro-chipping

It is strongly recommended by the Council's Dog Control Service that you have your dog micro-chipped. The process only takes a few moments, is virtually pain-free and is there for life. The micro-chip contains a unique number that corresponds with the dog's address and owners contact details, recorded at the same time the micro-chip is fitted. The details are stored on a central database.

If your dog is picked up as a stray, it is scanned by a dog warden or vet for it's unique number. The details are then retrieved from the database allowing the dog to be returned to its owner. Remember to update your records if you move house or transfer ownership of your pet.

We provide a Microchipping service by the Animal Welfare Officer and the charge is £18. Please call 01732 227000 if you would like your animal chipped.

Your dog is still required to wear an identity tag even when micro-chipped
Have a tag attached to your dog's collar to state that it is micro-chipped. This way a member of public may then take your dog to a place where it can be scanned
Keep your dog's microchip number on your mobile phone along with the microchip company's number. This way you can call the company as soon as possible to report your dog as missing
Remember to update your details when you move house, as your dog will be registered to the last known address.
Ask your vet to scan the dog on each visit to check that the chip is still functioning properly
If you have been given the registration forms when your dog was micro-chipped, ensure that they are sent off as soon as possible. Your dog will not be registered if you still have the forms

Fouling

Fouling is not a crime. FAILURE TO PICK IT UP is the crime. You could be given a £50 fixed penalty ticket by the Council or taken to a Magistrates' Court and fined up to £1,000 if you fail to clear up after your dog that has fouled in a public place. This applies to almost everywhere except agricultural and forestry land.

Dogs mess is unpleasant and dangerous as it can spread disease. It is also one of the most common complaints caused by dog owners.

Teach your dog to go to the toilet in your garden, this will then reduce the amount of poop scooping when out in a public place
Teach your dog to toilet on command. This way, you can plan where your dog goes and will not miss any accidents
Always carry more than one poop bag. Your dog may be caught short more than once on a walk
Do not walk your dog in public places if it is unwell with an upset tummy. It will be difficult to clear it up and will pass on infection to other dogs

You can download our Dog Fouling Leaflet ( PDF File 213KB file details)) which provides more detail.

Dog Bins

If you wish to request a dog bin to be emptied, please contact the Council on 01732 227000. If you need a new dog bin to be located, you will need to contact your local Parish or Town Council - you can contact the Council on 01732 227000 for details.

Lost dogs

If you have lost your dog, contact the Council's Dog Control Service as it may have been seized as a stray and taken to kennels. Also make contact with your local police station, vets and rescue kennels and centres.

Some organisations to try are:

Battersea at Brands Hatch - 01474 874994
RSPCA - Advice Line 0300 1234 555 / Cruelty Line 0300 1234 999
Last Chance Animal Rescue - 01732 865530
Doglost.co.uk - 0844 8003220 or e-mail admin@doglost.co.uk

Also, report your lost dog to other local authorities bordering Sevenoaks District.

If you think your dog has been stolen:

Report it to the police as soon as possible. Get in touch with the Dog Control Service, local vets, neighbouring local authorities, rescue centres and the micro-chip company as soon as you can
Ensure that you have an up to date photo of your dog that will help with identification
Put up posters/flyers in the area where your dog was last seen, include libraries, local shops, vet surgeries and dog training clubs
Keep in contact with all the organisations that you have reported your dog to

Keeping your dog safe:

Never tie your dog outside a shop
Never leave your dog unattended in a car
Never allow your dog to go out on its own at any time
Never ask a stranger to keep an eye on your dog
Never lose sight of your dog while on a walk
Do not assume that your dog will come back to you if out of sight
Be aware of strangers, especially so if they are asking questions about your dog
Ensure your fencing is adequate and secure
Regularly check on your dog when it is alone in the garden
Never offer a reward for the return of your dog
Beware of unknown vehicles visiting or around your property. If need be, take a note of the vehicle and number plate

Stray dogs

It is a legal requirement under The Control of Dogs Order 1992 for a dog to wear a collar and tag in a public place. The tag should identify the address and contact details of the owner.

Failure to do so could result in a fine.

The District Council will pick up any dog they believe to be straying and take it to kennels for up to seven days. If the owner does not claim it by the eighth day the dog becomes the responsibility of the District Council.

Please note:

A tag or microchip is used only to confirm the identity of the owner of a dog, it does not guarantee that the dog can be returned to the owner immediately, and does not guarantee that the dog will not be taken to kennels
Owners are responsible for ensuring that the details held with the chip company are correct and updated
A Council fee of £80 will be charged, plus kennel fees
Kennel fees will be charged for each day (or part of a day) and include the day the dog is picked up and the day the dog is returned
Kennel fees increase daily until the fees are paid

The District Council provides an out of office hours dog collection service during evenings and weekends. The dog will be taken to kennels and held until ownership can be checked and confirmed and the fees paid. Your dog will not be returned before the next working day.

An overnight stay in kennels will cost £80 plus two days kennel fees.

If you lose your dog after 16:45 on a Friday evening, including anytime on a Saturday or Sunday, you will not be reunited with your dog until Monday (or the next working day) and you will be charged for each day the dog is in kennels. Losing your dog after close of business on a Friday evening will incur the Council fee of £80 plus four days of kennel fees. The fees must be paid to the District Council on the next working day by 4pm for the dog to be returned that day.

Again, if the dog is lost over a public holiday period, the kennel fees will increase for the appropriate number of days and the dog cannot be returned before the next working day.

If you find a stray dog

If you find a stray dog and feel able to contain it, you should contact Sevenoaks District Council's Dog Control Service immediately on 01732 227000 so that arrangements can be made to collect the dog.

Please give the Animal Welfare Officer as much information about the dog and where it was found as they may already have had a report of it being lost.

Please offer water to the dog but do not feed it as some dogs do not travel well and become more distressed with a full tummy. The dogs general welfare will be assessed at time of collection and food and water offered as appropriate.

Whilst the District Council will, where possible, make every effort to reunite the dog with its owner immediately, if it is unable to do so, the dog will be taken to kennels. If a dog is collected outside of business hours it will be taken to kennels immediately.

Please note that the District Council will only collect a stray dog if it is contained in a secure place.

Dangerous or vicious dogs

There is a requirement to keep any dog under control, not to put a person in fear of being bitten or of having another dog or animal attacked as well as specific guidelines for keeping and controlling some types of dogs contained in the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

Contact the police if a dog attacks you, or Sevenoaks District Council's Dog Control Service for any other issues:

If your dog has aggressive tendencies, avoid places where there are other dogs and people
Keep it on lead and under control at all times
If you see a dog acting in an aggressive manner, avoid approaching it, try leave the area in a calm manner, keep your own dog on lead and under control, keep your children close to you
Never run away from, shout at or tease an aggressive dog

Noisy dogs

Barking comes naturally to dogs, but the constant barking or whining of a dog can be disturbing or annoying for the neighbours. Often the problem occurs when the dog's owner is out of the house and so the owner doesn't know until someone complains. In law, a barking dog can be a noise nuisance which can be investigated under the Environmental Protection Act.

There are many reasons why a dog barks:

Loneliness
Boredom or frustration
Attention seeking
Defending its territory
Medical problem

Dogs are social animals and enjoy company. If at all possible, try not to leave your dog alone for long periods. Barking can soon become an uncontrollable habit. Try to:

Feed and exercise your dog before you go out
Make sure its bed or basket is comfortable
Leave its favourite toys
Check that the room is not too hot or cold
Check that there is adequate ventilation
Get a neighbour or relative to visit during the day
Leave a radio on at a reasonable sound level
Leave a light on if you are coming back after dark
Teach your dog to cope without you for short periods
Change/vary your routine of leaving and coming home.
Seek help from a behaviourist or dog trainer

Further help and information is available from the Council's Dog Control Service or try the following websites and documents to download:

The Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors or Pet Advisory Committee
Defra has issued two leaflets that offer guidance to dog owners:
Constant Barking can be avoided and Is your dog barking too much?
www.direct.gov.uk - for Animal and Welfare Advice
www.dogstrust.org.uk has information and fact sheets about all aspects of owning a dog, including behaviour, health and care, responsible ownership, training, dog law and more.

Rehoming your dog

If you can no longer care for your dog, the Council's Dog Control Service can 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
Rescued Animals in Need (R.A.I.N)

In exceptional circumstances the Council may be able to accept your dog as a gift and undertake to rehome it. All reasonable steps will be taken to ensure the new home is long lasting. However, there may be a charge for this service.
No dog will go for animal research and all contacts will be subject to home checks before being released by our charity contacts.

Contact the Council's Dog Control Service

You can contact the Council's Dog Control Service for more information on any of the above services via e-mail environmental.protection@sevenoaks.gov.uk or by telephone on 01732 227000.

Sevenoaks District Council,
Council Offices,
Argyle Road,
Sevenoaks,
Kent
TN13 1HG

01732 227000