Summary
Eastleigh Borough Council has worked with Hampshire Constabulary to introduce ‘dog behaviour contracts' that can be used in response to residents' concerns about dangerous dogs and their owners. The contracts are used to promote responsible dog ownership and secure long-term improvements in the behaviour of owners. While the contracts are not legally binding, they are used as an alternative to resource intensive court processes and can more rapidly secure the outcomes that local communities are looking for.
Background
Irresponsible dog ownership has become a daily nuisance for many local residents and can quickly produce a deep sense of fear at the heart of a community. Issues created by irresponsible dog owners are increasing, including noise nuisance, anti-social behaviour, strays and biting incidents.
Councils and police, with essential support from charities, are responsible for responding to complaints about dangerous dogs and encouraging responsible dog ownership. However, it is widely accepted that they do not have the right tools to tackle this growing issue and it is difficult to ensure that communities feel their concerns have been resolved.
Earlier this year, the Government consulted on a range of proposals that could be introduced to tackle the issue of irresponsible dog ownership. This included tools to tackle anti-social behaviour, compulsory micro-chipping for dogs and changes to the law on private property. The LGA welcomes the long-awaited attempts by Government to improve the tools available to address this issue.
In the meantime, councils have been working hard with delivery partners to respond to residents concerns about dangerous dogs. Councils have focused on developing projects that secure long-term improvement in the behaviour of dog owners and can help prevent dog biting incidents from occurring.
The problem in Eastleigh
Eastleigh Borough Council and Hampshire Constabulary received regular complaints from residents about a range of issues associated with dog behaviour. These included noise nuisance, out of control dogs in public spaces, attacks by dogs on other animals and threatening behaviour. The issues associated with a single dog owner can impact on the daily lives of a whole community.
Unfortunately, even where formal enforcement action through the courts was possible, this was an extremely resource-intensive option for Eastleigh Borough Council and the police. Court action could take months and even then the result would frequently fail to resolve residents concerns.
How was it tackled?
Eastleigh Borough Council developed a simple voluntary agreement that could be offered to owners of dogs causing issues, rather than taking formal enforcement action. The ‘dog behaviour contracts' are used to remedy the immediate concerns of local residents and secure longer-term improvements in dog ownership that could prevent issues from reoccurring.
Each contract is tailored, but can include conditions relating to muzzles, fencing, micro-chipping, neuturing and training. All contracts include timescales for meeting conditions and a formal end date.
‘Dog behaviour contracts' appeal to dog owners because they remove the threat of more formal court action. The contract provides the opportunity to engage with the owner in a less confrontational manner, making them more open to changing their behaviour.
The conditions included in the contract are not only led by the knowledge and experience of officers, but also the concerns of residents. Residents are often reassured by the more informal approach, because it does not involve putting the dog down or prosecution, yet still improves their daily lives.
While the contract has no formal legal standing, the dog owner admits any original offence as part of signing the contract and therefore it can be readily used as evidence in court if necessary.
Who was involved?
Hampshire Constabulary have been involved from the outset, because the issues associated with irresponsible dog owners also create ongoing complaints to the police and ultimately can result in dog biting incidents.
Eastleigh Borough Council has found the partnership with Hampshire Constabulary very useful, not least because contracts are badged and witnessed by the police. This adds credibility to the contract in the eyes of both the offender and community.
Outcomes and impact
Eastleigh Borough Council currently has 15 dog control contracts in place. Conditions outlined in all of the contracts have been met by the dog owner, no more complaints have been received from local communities about these owners and the need formal action has been prevented. This has resulted in direct resource savings. It could also be argued that the conditions laid down to improve the behaviour of the owner will improve the welfare of the dog concerned.
Lessons learned
- At an initial visit only take a blank contract and discuss with the owner what conditions it might include. This helps the owner to share responsibility for the content and understand exactly what is expected.
- Keep the contracts simple.
- Always speak to the dog owner in the first instance as sending a letter or referencing the contract in writing can cause confusion and offence.
- Any requirements relating to microchipping can often be provided free with the support of charities.
- Engage the police from the outset and use branding for the contract.
Next steps
Eastleigh Borough Council is now sharing their lessons more widely, including through national and local networks. A similar approach is being applied in a number of Hampshire local authorities.
