Animal welfare
The
Council is responsible for issuing licences to animal establishments
within the Borough and can therefore act on reports of abuse, neglect
or concerns over animal welfare within these establishments.
We can also investigate problems with odours, waste or contamination by animals within the borough but we are unable to address issues of animal welfare in private properties.
Dartford Borough Council works closely with the RSPCA and similar welfare organisations and alongside the Animal Welfare Act 1996 and Pet Animals Act 1951.
If you have concerns over animals being kept privately, the following organistaions will be able to help:
Dogs Die in Hot Cars
During the warm weather the inside of a car can get very hot, very quickly. If you leave your dog in your car, the heat can have a detrimental effect on the animal a lot sooner than you may think.
When the temperature reaches 22C/72F outside, the temperature inside a car can reach 47C/117F within an hour. Leaving your window open or covering your windscreen has very little effect on cooling the vehicle down.
It is a legal requirement under the Animal Welfare Act to care for your animal and if you put your pet at risk and leave your dog in a hot car you could face prosecution.
Dogs in hot cars can begin to pant very quickly. This can be the start of heatstroke. Once a dog has heatstroke it can die very quickly.
If you see a dog locked in a car during hot weather please contact the RSPCA’s 24-hour Cruelty line on 0300 1234 999 or call Dartford Borough Council’s Animal Control Officer on 01322 343088 or Kent Police on 01622 690690.
RSPCA
If you need to report an act of cruelty, neglect or concern about the welfare of an animal, call the RSPCA's 24-hour national cruelty and advice line on 0300 1234 999.
Animal Samaritans
The aims of Animal Samaritans are to rescue, provide care and shelter for unwanted, abandoned, neglected or ill-treated animals and to provide new homes for them wherever possible. To assist owners of pets to meet veterinary fees where they are unable to meet such fees themselves. Phone for North West Kent branch 01474 703542
- Website: www.animalsamaritans.org.uk
Premises Requiring Licenses
The types of premises which require licenses are:
- Riding establishments (per horse)
- Animal boarding establishments (cats and dogs) Apply Online
- Dog breeding establishments
- Pet shops
- Dangerous wild animals
- Zoos
Primarily the object is to protect the health safety and welfare of the animals concerned and ensure the conditions and accommodation they are held in is adequate.
With regard to the Dangerous Wild Animals and Zoo licences, another prime requirement is to protect public safety and ensure the security of the animals.
Riding establishments are monitored to ensure all of the above conditions are in place as well as ensuring adequate rest for the horses.
Initially all new applications are inspected by the Authority's Veterinary Surgeon. Thereafter all licensed animal establishments within the Borough of Dartford are inspected twice yearly.
The Councils Veterinary Surgeon is required to conduct annual pre-licence inspections of all riding establishments and dangerous wild animals establishments.
Currently the Authority has no licensed Zoo within the Borough.
