Dog related issues

The dog wardens are part of the community protection team and oversee matters relating to dog issues, in particular stray dogs and dog fouling. They can be contacted on 01432 261761.

• Stray dogs
• Dog fouling
• Dangerous dogs
• Noise nuisance from dogs

Stray dogs

A dog may be seized and detained as a stray dog if it is found in a public or private place where it should not be and:

• Appears to be without its owner or
• Is not under the control of its owner or a person representing them

If we seize a dog as a stray, we will keep it in a safe and secure kennel until the owner claims it or it is re-homed. We always undertake reasonable enquiries to identify and contact the owner so that they can collect their pet as soon as possible.

If a stray dog is not collected within 7 days, where possible it will be re-homed. However, in extreme circumstances, where a dog cannot be re-homed, it may be put to sleep.

If we seize your dog as a stray, you will have to pay a set fee before we can release the dog into your care.

In order to avoid your dog being seized:

• Keep it under control at all times
• Ensure that it is wearing a collar and tag which clearly identifies your name and address/telephone number. It is an offence if you fail to comply with this.

We also recommend that your dog is micro-chipped, as this will allow us to return your pet to you quickly.

How do I report a stray or lost dog?

If you identify a stray dog or wish to report your dog as lost, please call the stray dog service on 01432 261761. This service operates seven days a week from 8am - 9pm.

Stray dog charges

Service	Fee
Statutory collection fee for a dog collected as a stray	£25.00
Additional administration charges: 1)  If the dog is taken to a kennel 2)  If the dog can be returned to the owner without being taken to a kennel	1) £50.00 2) £30.00
Kennel fee (per day)	£8.00

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Dog fouling

An owner failing to clean up after their dog is of considerable concern and is often raised at public meetings. Whilst the dog wardens can't be everywhere in the county all of the time, they will target particular areas where dog fouling has been raised as a concern. Community protection team enforcement officers also support them.

If a person is identified as failing to remove their dog's faeces, they may be issued with an £80.00 fixed penalty notice, or possibly prosecuted.  A Dog Control Order covers this.

There really is no excuse for owners failing to clean up after their dogs and enforcement officers will take a robust approach when offences are committed.

To request the clean up of dog mess or a new dog waste bin, please contact streetscene on 01432 261800 or email streets@herefordshire.gov.uk

Dog fouling penalties

Offence	Penalty
Dog fouling fixed penalty under Dog Control Order	£80.00
Maximum fine (Magistrates Court)	£1,000

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Dangerous dogs

If you think a dog may be dangerous then you must report it immediately - dial 999. If it is not an emergency please call the dog warden service on 01432 261761 during office hours or, at other times, your local police office.

A dog is dangerous if there are "grounds for reasonable apprehension that it will injure any person".

A dog can be dangerous because of:

• its behaviour, e.g. growling, barking or running at a person
• its location, e.g. a stray dog in a school playground, busy road, railway line

When reporting a dangerous dog, please provide the following information:

• location and, where appropriate, direction of travel
• time seen
• breed/description
• reason why you think it is dangerous 
• owner's name and address if known
• your own contact details
• any other relevant information e.g. dog injured

Banned types of dogs

• Pit Bull Terrier
• Japanese Tosa
• Dogo Argintino
• Fila Brasileiro

If you believe the dog is one of the banned breeds in the list or you know of the location of one of these dogs, please contact West Mercia Police on 0300 333 3000 and ask to speak to the dog section.

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Noise nuisance from dogs

The environmental health team investigate noise nuisance caused by dogs. For further information, please visit the noise pollution page.

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