Animal Welfare

Stray, lost and found animals

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.

If you would like to know more on any of the issues raised or indeed any other related matters then please call or email the Animal Welfare Officer on the contact details shown.

General service provided

The control of stray dogs under the Environmental Protection Act 1990
Noise Control under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (barking dogs and other animal noise)
Dangerous Dogs Act 1989
Dogs Fouling of Land Act 1996. Including bin installations, dog fouling notices and 'poop scoop' bags
Animal Boarding Establishment Act 1963
Pet Animals Act 1951
Permanent pet identification in the form of Microchipping

Cruelty to animals - who should you call

If you suspect that an animal of any kind is being subjected to any form or cruelty then the only organisation that can legally deal with this is the Royal Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) to contact the National Cruelty Helpline 0870 555 5999.

If you would like to know more on any of the issues raised or indeed any other related matters then please contact Barking and Dagenham Direct.

We have links with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in enforcing national legislation governing the health and welfare of farm animals. This includes responding to complaints of neglect or ill treatment of livestock on farms, during transport or at markets.

The identification and registration schemes that are in place to control animal movements are also overseen by us, along with the issuing of animal movement licences for on farm movements and movement to slaughter.

Our aims and what you can expect from us

We aim to help ensure that animals in the borough help to enhance the quality of life of those that live, work and use the borough.

We do that by:

Licensing and regulating the premises that sell, board and breed animals for sale. We also licence and regulate horse riding establishments
Registering and regulating the ownership of dangerous wild animals
Enforcing Animal Health legislation such as that used to control infection
Catching stray dogs
Investigating and controlling dangerous dogs

What can you expect if you contact us?

We will provide advice and information about our services
We can advise you on self help measures, where appropriate
We will respond within 2 hours to reports of stray dog sightings
Matters which do not require immediate attention will be allocated to an officer who will contact you within 2 working days, and may make an appointment to visit

What can you expect if we investigate a complaint?

We will keep you informed and let you know when we have completed our investigation, and its outcome.

More about us

Our Noise and Nuisance Team can also help with complaints about nuisance animals and barking dogs.

We also carry out all the statutory functions that in the past was the responsibility of the Animal Welfare service. These include collecting stray dogs and animal licensing.