Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council has proved that it takes the lead in caring for stray dogs by winning the RSPCA Gold Community Animal Welfare Footprint Award for the third year running.
The accolade recognises the quality of the service provided by Dog Warden Laura Yeates, the Environmental Health team and the Community Safety Patrol Officers in the treatment and welfare of stray dogs, the out-of-hours service and the initiatives and partnership working done to promote responsible ownership.
Warden Laura Yeates routinely deals with strays in public areas and works with a number of re-homing charities to find places for unclaimed stray dogs. The environmental health team supports the service by dealing with dog welfare issues, noise complaints relating to dog barking and dog fouling complaints.
Dog owners are expected to keep their pets under proper control, are legally required to ensure they wear a collar and ID, so they can be reunited if they escape.
Any dog that is dealt with as a stray will incur a release fee, kennelling charge and possibly, an out-of-hours’ fee and dog owners are also reminded that all dogs over eight weeks old must be microchipped and registered or they risk prosecution and a £500 fine.
Cabinet Member for Regulatory Services and the Environment Cllr Hayley Eachus said: “Congratulations once again to Laura and the team for winning this prestigious award in recognition of the high standards of the council’s animal welfare service.
“I would appeal to all dog owners in the borough to ensure that their pets are kept safe, are tagged and microchipped, which means you can be reunited as quickly as possible if they go astray.”
For more information or to request a booklet, please call 01256 844844, email customer.service@basingstoke.gov.uk or to view the booklet online visit www.basingstoke.gov.uk/animalresponsibilities
