News

Police to hand over stray dog responsibility to Council

 

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 £4million has also been agreed but this money will be paid to the general grant that goes to all councils.

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Poole fines for walkies in wrong area

 

A warning has gone out to dog owners in Poole that from Friday 7th September, walkie in banned areas could lead to a £75 fine.

 

Dog control orders have been issued by the Borough of Poole, restricting dogs to being kept on a lead on the prom between Western End, Sandbanks and the Bournemouth border from May 1 to September 30.

 

Dogs are not allowed on the beaches between Western End and Branksome Chine beach office from May 1 to September 30 and they are banned from Hamworthy Park playground at all times.

 

Borough of Poole's officers will be enforcing these and will issue fixed penalty notices when necessary. The fine is £75 if paid in 14 days and £50 if paid in seven. Failure to pay could lead in prosecution.

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'Rental' dogs cause concern

 

The Kennel Club has expressed its 'deep concern' about a new scheme in America called FlexPetz which is coming to the UK in October. The scheme supplies dogs on a rental basis to people who don't have time to own a dog full time.

 

Said Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary: "The concept of renting out dogs as a 'timeshare' equivalent is detrimental to the dog, leading to all kinds of confusion for the animal. It also raises questions about the kind of person who is making money at the dog's expense; what happens when the dog gets older and no one wants it; and what happens in the situation where people who are renting the dog don't want to give it back?

 

"There are already plenty of opportunities in the UK for people who don't feel they have enough time to own a dog to be able to take part in dog-related activities. These include volunteering to walk dogs from a local rescue centre or helping dog-related charities that run schemes to send their dogs 'out' for the weekend to socialise while they are in training, such as Hearing Dogs for Deaf People. These dogs need or support first - and there's no charge to people for the privilege!"

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Cats at risk from dog flea treatments

 

The lives of hundreds of pet cats in the UK are being put in danger by well-meaning owners using flea products intended only for use on dogs, according to The Feline Advisory Bureau (FAB), the cat welfare charity. FAB has joined forces with the Veterinary Poisons Information Services (VPIS), part of the Medical Toxicology Unit at Guy's and St Thomas' hospitals, to once again warn owners of the dangers of using dog flea preparations on cats following the publication of a recent report in a feline veterinary journal.

 

The VPIS report highlighted the lethal risks of permethrin-based dog spot-on treatments being inappropriately applied to cats. Toxic effects can also occur from cats coming into close physical contact with dogs in the same house, through sharing beds or grooming kit that have been appropriately treated with permethrin.

 

These products which are well known within the pet trade, have been mistakenly or unwittingly used on cats, frequently causing severe illness and even death.

Cats poisoned with permethrin may need 2-3 days of intensive veterinary treatment to aid recovery.

 

FAB and VPI are urging cat owners to check very carefully when treating their cats with spot-on products. Owners should ensure they do not sue ones designed for dogs, and especially not those that contain permethrin.

 

Advice should be sought from a vet or a qualified professional on the most appropriate, safe and effective products to use on cats.

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The Animal Welfare Act 2006

 

From 6th April 2007 animal welfare law is being improved.

Not only is it still against the law to be cruel to an animal, you must now ensure that all animals welfare needs are met.

 

          

 

What does the new law do?

Makes owners responsible for ensuring their animal’s welfare needs are met. These include the need:

 

  • For a suitable environment (place to live)
  • For a suitable diet
  • To exhibit normal behaviour patterns
  • To be housed with or apert from other animals (if applicable)
  • To be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease

 

The new law also increases the minimum age a person can buy an animal to 16 and

prohibits animals as prizes to unaccompanied children under this age.

 

Anyone who is cruel to an animal or does not provide for its welfare needs, may be banned

from owning animals, fined up to £20,000 and/or sent to prison.

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Dog ID: the law

 

Under Section 2 of the Control of Dogs Order 1992, all dogs must wear a collar and identity tag in public

place. The tag must show the owner’s name and address. Dog wardens can enforce this law and fines

of up to £5,000 can be given for an offence. (This does not apply when the dog is being used for sporting purposes, during the capture or destruction of vermin, when driving or tending cattle or sheep, for dogs used on official duties with the armed forces, customs and excise or the police force, when carrying out emergency rescue work, or for any dog  registered with the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association).

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