Animal welfare
Animal Welfare Concern Report Form
Animal Welfare Enforcement Policy (pdf)
Animal Welfare Licensing Policy (pdf)
If you are concerned about the welfare of an animal or require advice on the needs of your own animals you can contact the council and report the matter. All calls will be investigated by the Animal Welfare and Licensing Inspector and action taken if deemed necessary.
Within the council, animal control is a high profile service, providing not only the control of stray dogs, but also many other aspects regarding Animal Welfare.
The Animal Welfare and Licensing Inspector also deals with:
- Noise from animals
- Nuisance / aggressive dogs (If a person is injured by a dog it should be reported to the police on 101 before it is reported to the council)
- Dog fouling
- Stray animals
- Animal welfare matters
- Animal licensing
- Anti-social behaviour involving animals
Three Rivers District Council has adopted the powers given in the Animal Welfare Act 2006 which places a duty on animal owners/keepers to ensure the needs of their animals are met. This also includes individuals whose responsibility is temporary i.e. they look after an animal while the owner is away.
The Act places a duty on those choosing to keep animals to meet the basic needs of those animals e.g:
- The need for adequate and appropriate food
- The need for water
- The need for prompt veterinary care when needed
- The need for the animal(s) to be able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns
- Any need it has to be housed with, or apart from other animals
- The need to be protected from pain, injury, suffering and disease
Enforcement action can and will be taken against owners who fail their responsibilities towards their animals.
As of 1 April 2016, a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) in relation to dog control came into effect across the Three Rivers district. The PSPO was further extended in April 2022.
The PSPO can be downloaded below.
Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) Dogs 2022 (pdf)
Animal Welfare