Dogs as Model Citizens

HART District Council has launched a campaign to encourage dog owners to enrol

their dogs in dog training classes as well as getting them micro chipped.

The council says that while ownership has lots of benefits for both animals and humans  dog owners must make sure that their dog does not cause a nuisance with fouling, noise pollution by barking or howling or  being out of control when out in a public place.

There are many dog training clubs within Hart and some of them offer training schemes such as the Kennel Club Good Dog Citizen Scheme.  This scheme allows both dog and owner to progress from Bronze through to Silver and Gold awards.

There is also the Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme Puppy Foundation Assessment. This informal and non-competitive course provides a means of socialising puppies and lays down a foundation for further education and training of both dog and handler.  

Hart’s Dog Warden Service is working in partnership with Practical Pooches, a local dog training school (www.practicalpooches.co.uk) to promote responsible dog ownership and training.  Practical Pooches offers the first training class free with no obligation.

Cllr Susan Band, Portfolio Holder for Health and Housing says: “As a dog owner myself I am fully aware of my responsibilities to my dog and to residents of the district. A well trained dog does not present a threat to community safety”.

There is currently no requirement for dogs to be microchipped although they are required by law to wear a collar and tag with the owner’s name and address when in a public place.  However, the council recommends that owners should consider having their dogs implanted as a secondary method of identification.

The council offers subsidised microchipping for dogs, appointments can be booked by telephoning the dog warden on 01252 774420.  The Dog Warden Service will be offering microchipping surgeries around the district to promote responsible dog ownership throughout the year.

Hart’s Deputy Leader, Cllr Stephen Parker, has his own story of the benefits of microchipping.

His family cat Coco went missing on December 3.

“I did all the usual things such as posters on lampposts, in shop windows and leafleting the area  where he was lost but there was no response.”

On January 2 –after a lot of bad weather-he was called by a local vet to say that someone well away from the area where Coco had gone missing had found him in their home. They had taken him to the vet who had traced the Parkers from the chip.

Added Cllr Parker: “If it was not for the chip we would never have seen him again or known his fate.”